Toga Silitonga
Senior Researcher
Agency for Forestry Research and Development
Ministry of Forestry
Introduction
NWFPs production and status
Trends in NWFP use
Conclusions
References
The Indonesian archipelago consists of more than 13,000 islands covering an area of 200 million hectares and over 500 million hectares of sea. The country has 25,000 flowering plants, 4,000 species of land fauna, and numerous aquatic species.
These figures reflect Indonesia's fantastic tropical biodiversity. Some 10,000 of the flowering plants are categorized as trees, although only a few hundred of them are presently being commercially exploited for timber. In addition to timber, however, Indonesia's forests are endowed with a tremendous number of non-wood forest products (NWFPs). This paper mentions only a few of the economically important ones. Many of the NWFPs, although playing a significant role in the lives of rural dwellers, are left out of the statistics.
History indicates that a large number of NWFPs such as drug plants, gum, and honey were harvested from forests long before timber was considered a major forest product. For many years, such NWFP-producing plants have been harvested on an unsustainable basis. During the last decade, the role of Indonesia's NWFPs diminished relative to timber, due to a rise in revenue from timber exports (Table 1).
Some 90 NWFPs have entered the domestic and overseas market. The revenue obtained from these resources may be small in economic terms, but as renewable resources the NWFPs are now indispensable.
The value of Indonesian NWFPs is well-known both in monetary terms and with respect to genetic diversity. Present harvesting practices, however, are often unsustainable and have in some cases led to the extinction of species.
At present, the NWFPs of Indonesia are classified as follows:
1. Non-woody plants such as rattan, bamboo, illipe nuts, roots, fruits and drug plants.2. Resinous material and gums which are widely used in industry for paints, adhesives and various extractives.
3. Essential oils and fats which are obtained from leaves, roots, bark, fruit and flowers by water or chemical extraction.
4. Unclassified NWFPs, which belong to any of the above categories.
5. Fauna and derived products, including reptiles, mammals, and birds (live or preserved.)
Table 1. National revenues from the exports of wood and non-wood forest products from Indonesia, 1985-89
|
Year |
Wood Exports (1,000 US$) |
NWFPs Exports |
||
|
Flora (1,000 US$) |
Fauna (1,000 US$) |
NWFPs Share of Total Exports (percent) |
||
|
1985 |
1,213,059 |
176,202 |
10,701 |
15.4 |
|
1986 |
1,505,904 |
206,515 |
9,028 |
14.3 |
|
1987 |
2,428,652 |
274,800 |
11,112 |
11.8 |
|
1988 |
3,037,760 |
268,563 |
1,748 |
8.9 |
|
1989 |
3,659,568 |
310,223 |
36,401 |
9.5 |
Non-woody plants
The most prominent non-woody NWFP exports are rattan, bamboo, patchouli leaves, iles-iles (Amorphophalus variabili), temu lawak (Zingiberaceae), sage (Metroxylon spp.), and several medicinal plants. In 1988, non-woody forest product exports, such as rattan, netted US$ 192.5 million in earnings for Indonesia. The number of people engaged in rattan cultivation, trade and handicraft production was 117,000 in 1985.
In recent years, the rattan industry has evolved from its earlier state when it was dominated by small and medium producers. Over 380 rattan industries, with small-to-large production capacities, are now operating, employing more than 150,000 people (Peluso, 1989).
Bamboo is another valuable NWFP. Thirty-five bamboo species are found on almost every island of Indonesia. Although there are 50,000 hectares of bamboo plantations in East Java and South Sulawesi, the bulk of bamboo comes from the rural areas. In 1989, the value of bamboo exports, reached $1.2 million. The major portion of bamboo and derived products, however, is consumed by the domestic market. In 1985, consumption of bamboo totalled 146 million stalks (Silitonga, Prahasto, and Priasukmana, 1990).
Dominant bamboo species in Indonesia include Dendrocalamus asper, Phyllostachys aurea, Schizostachyum blumei, Gigantochloa apus, and 30 other species which have been cultivated. To low-and middle-income Indonesians, bamboo is regarded as both art and necessity.
Medicinal plants are also classified as non-woody forest products. The gathering of such plants is done by collectors or by herbalists in rural areas. In many cases the collectors grow them in small plots in their gardens. Information on commercial harvesting of these plants is scarce. Perhaps the best information on the distribution and characteristics of medicinal plants in Indonesia is still the work of Heyne, presented in his 4-volume publication completed more than four decades ago (Heyne, 1947).
Resins and Gums
A 1990 report of the Central Bureau of Statistics indicated that in 1989 over 20 different resins and gums were exported. Resin of pine, jelutung, francincense and Arabic gums were at the top of the list. Exports of resinous and gum products in 1989, totalled 40,688 tons, valued at US$ 22 million.
Most resins and gums are extracted from pine (for pine resin), Vatica and Dryobalanops (for Arabic gum), and Dyera (for jelutung).
The potential of resin from pine in Indonesia is constantly growing. Among the uses of NWFPs, the cultivation and tapping of pines and resins is the best organized. In 1983, natural and planted pine forests, covered 747,000 hectares in Indonesia. Some 600,000 hectares are grown in Java alone. Since 1983, the pine forests have been expanded at a rate of 15,000 hectares per year. By the end of the century, pine forests could cover over 1 million hectares in Indonesia. The tapping of pine for resin on Java is very important. Usually the tapping starts with 11-year old, or older, pine stands. More than .70,000 hectares of pine forests in Java were being tapped in 1988, producing 3,827 tons of resin and 5,240 tons of turpentine. Resin collection is usually done by a team of three who are assigned to 3 hectares of forest. The pine stands in Java provide work for at least 70,000 people.
Patchouli oil is a natural resource of western Indonesia. Yearly exports exceed 650,000 tons, valued at more than US$ 11.5 million.
Illipe nuts, produced by Shorea spp., are used locally and in the perfume industry. In 1989, exports of illipe nuts totalled 2,319 tons, valued at US$ 3.7 million.
Perhaps the most peculiar NWFPs from Indonesia are resins of francincense from Styrax benzoin and the resin of gaharu or garro from Aquilaria spp. and Gonystilus spp. The resin of francincense is found only in Indonesia. The best quality of gaharu is also produced in Indonesia. The price for gaharu reaches as high as US$ 500 per kilogram, depending on the extractive content and the stage of maturity. These two prominent products are widely traded for cultural uses.
Essential Oils and Fats
Numerous essential oils can be obtained by extraction or distillation of roots, leaves, stems, bark, exudates, and flowers of various species. Most of the essential oils have similar basic components such as terpene and oxidized hydrocarbons.
Conversely, fats are generally formed in mixtures of ester, glycerol, and fatty acid. Fats may be rendered by solution, extraction, or by hot and cold pressing. Essential oils from NWFPs are used as essence, flavoring agents in perfumes and cosmetics, and in food manufacturing. Fats have a variety of uses as household items. Essential oils and fats already sold in export markets include patchouli, turpentine, sandalwood, eucalyptus, and cananga. Exported fats include tengkawang oil, refined of castor, tuna oil (kemiri), garro wood, and others.
Refined ricinus of castor, is an important hydraulic oil, lubricant and medicine. Tung oil is used for water proofing and as a drying oil. Tengkawang oil (illipe nut oil) has been exported for production of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics (lipstick in particular), high quality soaps, margarine, and chocolate bars. Castor oil is produced by extracting fat from the Picinus communis plant seeds.
Exports of essential oils and fats in 1989 totalled 45,792 tons and earned US$ 50 million in foreign exchange.
Unclassified NWFPs
NWFPs not included in the above categories are grouped as "unclassified NWFPs." Notable products in this group are sandalwood from Santalum album, Macadamia nut (Aleurites mollucana), Cassia vera, gambir (Uncaria gambir), and charcoal. Total exports of the unclassified NWFPs for 1989 were 87,112 tons, which earned US$ 69. 1 million.
Wildlife and Wildlife Derived Products
Wildlife and wildlife-product exports from Indonesia are increasing rapidly. During the last decade, the total sales increased from US$ 2.4 million in 1981 to US$ 36.4 million in 1989.
These unique commodities could produce income both directly and indirectly. Direct income may be obtained from trade of the wildlife and derived products. Macaque and other monkey species used for research purposes, for example, have been exported in considerable numbers.
At this time, wildlife species fall into the following categories:
· Protected by public law
· Soon to be protected
· Rare species (those included in IUCN's Red Data Book)
· Limited protection
· Unprotected
Average earnings from unprotected wildlife sales from Indonesia amounted to $11 million per year. Many breeding centers for monkeys, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, snails, and other species now are found in Indonesia. Ten years ago, this trade did not exist.
Indonesia has 37 wildlife exporting companies. Most of the trade does not adhere to the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
Significant indirect income is derived from wildlife in the form of nature-based tourism. In 1985, 4.4 million tourists entered wildlife sanctuaries, paying the government 17.7 million rupiah in entrance fees. These numbers are expected to increase dramatically in coming years.
Shifting cultivators and forest dwellers are the principal collectors of a wide variety of NWFPs for commercial and for subsistence purposes. In most cases, they switch from one product to another, or from collecting and selling products to participating in other economic activities, influenced by changes in price and availability of the NWFPs. Certain products are known to be cultivated either in home gardens and ladangs, or planted in the forest. In many regions, planting forest land is a means of claiming the forest land.
Rattan has been planted by Indonesian forest dwellers for over 100 years. Although most rattan comes from natural forests, much of the smaller diameter rattan is harvested from plantations. Large diameter rattan needs 15 to 20 years before it is harvestable. These slow-yielding plants are usually less desirable. This situation calls for serious attention if shortages are to be overcome.
The irregular demand for NWFPs has partly resulted in a strategy by the collectors that allows them maximum flexibility. This strategy requires not only a broad-based knowledge of the forest, but also the exploitation of different products as the need or demand arises.
Dependence on other forest products results from locally generated needs. Peluso (1989) noted that certain villages in Apo Kayam, Kalimantan, are known for their traditional healers who have extensive knowledge of forest plants for traditional medicine. From this area comes a ginseng-type of medicine, locally known as "Pasak bumi" which is famous in other parts of the country as an aphrodisiac.
The total value of NWFPs consumed domestically, although very high, is difficult to trace. No reliable data are available on the value of NWFPs used domestically.
The statistics on non-wood forest products presently available in Indonesia cover only a few of the economically most important products. Many NWFPs may be considered minor in terms of economic value, but they make a significant contribution to the sustainability of the forest ecosystem. These are frequently left out of the statistics and are difficult to identify.
For many decades, Indonesia has been producing and exporting many important NWFPs. Rattan, Styrax metroxylon, gaharu gums, and patchouli, are among the most important. Many of Indonesia's NWFPs are unique to the country.
In recent years, NWFPs have attracted more attention because the very existence of the tropical forest and its biodiversity are threatened.
Seasonality in NWFP collection fits the rhythm of yearly activities of forest dwellers. Although forest product collection may provide only a part of a household's income, it may be crucial for the family. NWFPs may make the difference between a household's position above or below the poverty line. Losses, or lack of opportunity to collect forest products, will leave gaps that need to be filled by other activities.
Rice container made from finely woven split rattan.
Department Kehutanan dan PT Herza Agrokarya Pratama. 1991. Industri Khutanan Indonesia. Jakarta.
Heyne, K. 1947. Tumbuhan Berguna Indonesia. Terjemahan Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kehutanan. Jakarta.
Mangundikoro, A. 1983. Strategi dan Pola Pengembangan Hutan Pinus. Proceeding Symposium Pengusahaan Hutan Pinus. Jakarta.
Menorah, K. D. 1989. Minor forest products: prospects for development. Department of Forestry and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Jakarta. (Unpublished).
Peluso, Nancy Lee. 1989. The role of non-timber forest products in shifting cultivation communities and households. current knowledge and prospects for development. Department of Utilization, Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Jakarta.
Prahasto, H. and S. Irawati. 1990. Kajian Perkembangan Industri dan Perdagangan Rotan. Makalah dalam Industri Hasil Penelitian Rotan. Department Kehutanan. Jakarta.
Silitonga T., H. Prahasto, and S. Priasukmana. 1990. Recent progress in rattan trade. Industry and Resources Development. Proceedings Rattan Seminar. Department of Forestry. Jakarta.
Yudodibroto, H. 1985. Bamboo research in Indonesia. Proceedings of the International Bamboo Workshop, Hangshow, PRC. pp. 33-94.
