THE FOREST OF WISDOM ,BAMBOO PLANTATION

Bamboo plays an important role in rural development of Indonesia. Bamboo is found in natural forests, plantation forests and in community forest areas in many villages of Indonesia; mostly in Java, Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya, and Nusa Tenggara. Some of the Indonesian bamboo species have been cultivated by people for hundreds of years in their back yards and gardens. It is one of the multipurpose plant species cultivated almost in Indonesian rural areas.

Bamboo culms are commonly used as construction materials of the households in rural area whereas bamboo handicrafts provide an important additional income. The wide uses of bamboo抯 give more employment opportunities and better income distribution. Millions of bamboo culms and thousands of tons of bamboo shoots are harvested annually. Socio-economic roles of bamboo in Indonesia is significantly viable. Bamboo in many parts of Indonesia is the most universally useful plant known to mankind. Life would be completely different without it.

So far, there is no national inventory data available on bamboo natural forest and plantation forests. No attempts have been made to design and to collect those data yet, even by any Government, private and NGOs organization as well. Some estimation predicted that there are more than 5,000,000 ha of natural bamboo forest areas in Indonesia, mostly grown in lowland and mid-highland tropical rain forests in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya, Nusa Tenggara islands, and Java. The planted bamboo forests are also found in Sumatra (for examples in the districts of Simalungun, Tapanuli Utara and Karo), Sulawesi (for examples in Tana Toraja high-lands, Gowa, and Minahasa), Maluku and Irian Jaya as well.

In East Java, Yudodibroto (1985) reported that there are a total of 26,000 ha of bamboo forests are found in Banyuwangi, of which 7,700 ha is reported economically productive to supply a paper mill. A second bamboo forest complex located in Gowa, South Sulawesi, over an area of 24,000 ha.

Some important bamboo抯 in Indonesia such as Bambu betung (Dendrocalamus aspers); Bambu gombong (Gigantochloa verticulata); Bambu hitam (Gigantochloa atter); Bambu tali (Gigantochloa apus); and Bambu tutul (Bambusa vulgaris) grow in the side of river, with the elevation ranged 300m to 3,700m above sea level. These have been grown naturally in most of major islands such as Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara.

In 1993, it was estimated that over the next 10 years, 1.25 million hectares of rattan plantations would be established. Some of that area would be developed under government-assisted projects. Furthermore, recognizing that the export ban抯 effect of depressing prices would create hardship in the short-term for small-scale rattan producers. Development projects were considered as a means of offsetting this effect while also supporting efforts to increase the proportion of cultivated rattan in non-forest lands. Rattan plantation were also conceived of as an important means of maintaining supplies of large diameter canes such as manau which were in short supply. From the 11.50 million ha of forest rattan areas, the estimation of production capacity for all species is about 12,391,477 tons. According to the survey carried out by The Ministry of Forestry and Estate Crops in 15 provinces in 1986, there were about 696,900 ton per year of Annual Allowable Cut (AAC). However, the utilization of rattan is still far below the production capacity that only 120,000 tons have been extracted.

Bamboo is classified into Graminacea Forestry, some of bamboo species are native to Indonesia area. The distribution of this plant is in the area with temperature about 9-36^oC, minimum commodity 80% and annual rainfall 1000 mm.

In Indonesia bamboo exist almost in all major islands, mostly in Java where the distribution and population are higher than the other islands. Most of bamboo scattered in the area which have climate type A,B,C,D,E and F. The wet area is commonly exist more species, and the drier the area the smaller the number species of bamboo. In the driest area, it can only be found one species of bamboo which is bambu duri (Bambusa blumeana).

Instead of climate, the bamboo plantation is affected also by the altitude, the higher the area the higher the number of species. Bamboo can be found in the area with altitude from 0 to 3000 m. The other factor which affect bamboo is the fertility of land. Moreover, bamboo can grow in either dry or wet land. Like bamboo, rattan exist and grow in most of Indonesia islands, such as in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

There are indications of active community-based management of rattan forest resources within many village areas. In some cases, harvesters from other villages may gather rattan within the boundaries of a given village provided they have the promission of village leaders who in turn perceive they have management control over traditional forest lands. Many times such perceptions are not backed up by formal land use allocation. But even where the MoF&EC has given permits harvesting and planting obligation. There is still a risk because of logging or conversion to cocca farms (kebun coklat), either illegal and uncontrolled or sanctioned by other MoF&EC officials. With the decree of the Minister of Forestry and Estate Crops 1998 on community forestry may provide a mechanism for recognizing and protection sound rattan (and forest habitat)

Bamboo conservation.

The Government of Indonesia has consider the sustainability of bamboo in order to fulfill the need of economic and ecological demand. Any program on bamboo development is emphasized on the 揑nsitu" where the activity is conducted in area and the 揈xsitu" where the conservation activity was done in the alocated area.

In order to improve the bamboo conservation activity, the government provide training and extension on the use of bamboo, which consider its sustainability. The government provide information on the input to sustain the bamboo and rattan resources in orther community, non government organization, and private company pay attention to conserve this important resources.

In general, harvesting of rattan to be done by the farmer as an additional income. The farmer has an experience in selecting the rattan to be harvested. They take only those who has big and medium diameter. The smaller one is usually conserved for the next harvesting. In addition, it is reported that the capacity of rattan production is about 12.391.477 ton, while the annual allowable cut (AAC) exist is about 696.900 ton, and only 125,000 ton/year product realization. This means that the harvesting of rattan has considered the conservation aspects.

Bamboo plantation in Indonesia was done using traditionally propagation which still face many problems. The traditional propagation used the offsets, the cut of culms with rhizome, and culm segments. Local people prefer this first method of propagation because young clumps are quickly produced. For propagation by rhizome cutting or offsets, 1 and 2 year old culm are used. One draw back of this method is the risk of impairing the health and vigor of the mother plant when preparing many offsets. Other problems are the transport of the bulky material which is susceptible of drying out, and the high labor costs involved in the collecting the offsets for mass propagation on a large scale (Dransfield and Widjaja, 1995).

In West Java, the local people have observed that the best mother plant for propagation by culm cuttings is a culm which has produced shoots twice or is 2 years old. Either the whole culm or culm segments can be used as vegetative propagates. If the whole culm is used, it is buried. The second method involves culm patrons bearing 1 or 2 nodes taken from culms at the age of 6 months to 2 years, usually 1 year, depending on the species. The branches are pruned to a length of 10-20 cm and foliage is removed. Cutting are planted horizontally at a depth of 5-10 cm, 1 node cutting can be planted obliquely with the node buried. Other methods of propagation by brash cuttings, layering and tissue culture, and cultivation up to the present was conducted mostly on experimental scale.

Although rhizome cuttings are traditionally the preferred mode of vegetative propagation, culm cuttings have the advantage that more cuttings can be obtained from one clump and the cost of transport handling and labor are lower.

Bamboo research on cultivation in Indonesia is in an early pioneering stage. The natural resources were more or less ignored by the authorities as well as scientist, resulting in shortages of data and information, and few researches being conducted on this valuable commodity.

Up to the present, most of the research was conducted on taxonomy and specification of the species, while research on propagation techniques was conducted on and off.

The major utilization of bamboo are as follow :

a. Utilization of bamboo culm.

In Indonesia utilization of bamboo culm for construction as well as for non-construction purposes have been recognized for long time. For example for building material B. bamboo抯, B. blumeana, B. vulgaris, Ad. asper, G. apus, G. atter, G. pseudoarundinacea are commontly used. In some part of Indonesia local people prefer to use B. atra, B. forbesii, Schizostachyum brachycladum as well as G. apus, G. scortechnii, S. zollingeri for making basket. For raw material of paper the species of B. bamboos, B. blumeana, D. strictus are used. For musical instruments such as 揳ngklung" G. atroviolacea, G. atter, G. levis, G. pseudoarundinacea, G. robusta or D. asper and G. apus, G. scortechnii and S. latifolium are used. For furniture the favored species use are G. atroviolia and D. asper (Dransfield and Widjaja, 1995).

b. Utilization of bamboo shoot

In Indonesia bamboo shoot has many local names such as bung in East and Central Java and iwung in West Java. It is know that some bamboo shoots can not be eaten because of their bitter taste. Among the species of bamboo in Indonesia that their bamboo shoots can be eaten are aur bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), ater (Gigantochloa atter), gombong (Gigantochloa pseudoarundi-nacea), jalur (Schizostachyum longispi-culatum), and betung (Dendrocalamus asper) (Muchtadi 1994). Some companies produce bamboo shoot production they are use Dendrocalamus asper, Bambusa vulgaris, and Bambusa latifolius.

In the future development of bamboo shoot industry has a very good prospect. Indonesia have a lot of bamboo species that produce a good taste bamboo shoot. Domestic market as well as export market are very bright, but the main constarints are the low price of canned bamboo shoot and maintaining continous bamboo shoot production throughout the year.

Rattan industry was increased since 1986. The major product which is processed in this industry are furniture, baskets, waving and others.

The steps in processing rattan are as follow:

ΠWashing.

Washing entails the removal of stil intact inner epidermis of the leaf sheath adhering to the cane and the silcified epidermis of the cane as well as dirt encrusted on the stem. The removal of the remaining part of the leaf sheath is a tedious and slow process. There are several methods of cleaning rattan applied in Indonesia. What was observed was the use of a metal ring through which the canes are passed. While it is claimed that a person can wash 200 to 250 pieces a day, observation indcates that it would be physically difficult to attain this. This would mean washing a sega piece.

� Drying.

The primary aim of drying rattan is to reduce its moisture content to less than 20% to prevent the attack of stain fungi and wood boring insects especially during storage. Staining can occur within 24 hours after cutting. It is important to wash te rattan soonest and subject them to drying before staining occurs.

The rattan is dried on platforms raised about 50 cm from the ground. The platform is made of wooden poles or with bamboo stingers or entirely of lumber. The usual material used is iron wood or ulin wood (5 cm x 8 cm) which is sid to last for over 20 years. One such platform can contain as much as 2 tons. Drying the rattan can take from 7-10 years when sunny and can extend to 15 days or more when cloudy. When it rain the materials are converted with plastics. The drying stock is turned 2-3 times a day to improve uniformity of drying by allowing the materials at the middle and bottom better exposure. In some instances village processors contract the labor for sulfurizing and drying. A person can work on an average of 2mt per day. On this basis the estimated cost of drying 1kg of rattan at the farm level is Rp.11 in Sampit, Central Kalimantan while in Southeast Sulawesi it is Rp.6.13

Ž Sorting

Sorting which is done after drying is done to segregate the rattan according to diameter classes and quality. In practice, however, rattan is sold as a lot of mixed grades. Grade classification indicates that on the average, 20% falls under the first class, 55% under the second class and 25% under the third class. Sorting also includes the culling out of defective cannes such as those infested with stain as well as those with cuts and bruises. Immature portions of the cane re also removed. An estimated percentage weight loss of 3% occurs in sorting.

� Bundling

Rattan is bundled in weights of 50 kg or 100 kg with the latter s the more predominant practice. Bundling sometimes include the trimming of the ends immediately before trying up the materials. The estimated rate of bundling is about 500 kg per person pr day making the cost of this operation in Sampit to be Rp.6.0/kg and Rp.3.5/kg in Southeast Sulawesi.

The rattan is also straightened for easier processing in the succeeding steps of production. In some instances the rattan is placed over a charcoal stove to heat it a little before is straightened while in other factories it is done without pre-heating. It is estimated that one person on the average would be able to straighten the equivalent of 300 kg per day. Thus, the labor cot I Rp.10/kg in Sampit and Rp.5.83/kg in Southeast Sulawesi. Practically no weight loss is incurred in this process.

Orders for peels (skins) and cores (wickers) are usually made for particular lengths. It is, therefore, necessary to cut the rattan to these lengths. This step likewise allows the culling out of defective portions of the cane where there are cuts and bruises and other defects. The material cut are also shorted out according to length and diameter. The labor cost of this step based on a production of 350 kg per day is Rp.8.58/kg in Sampit and Rp.5/kg in Southeast Sulawesi. In this step, it is estimated that bout 10 percent of the original weight is lost.

Production of skin is done by passing the rattan through a peeling machine that peels off the skin leaving a central portion called core which becomes the raw material for the production of wickers and other side cores. For the smaller diameter rattan the material is peeled on 4 sides leaving a square core. The larger ones allow the peeling off of 5.6 oer sometimes 8 peels. If narrow skin is required the resulting core assumes a multi-pointed-stanshape . Usually 3 persons man one peeling machine. The labor cost here is Rp.18/kg and Rp.10.5 respective for Sampit and Southeast Sulawesi. The waste generated is about 9 percent of the original weight.

The role of bamboo and rattan in other sector.

Many sectors, outside forestry, agriculture and environment, are involved and related to the bamboo and rattan. Those are Industry, Trade, Tourisme, Culture and Education. The Ministry of Industry has a role in developing industry whose materials from rattan and bamboo. While Ministry of Trade has a role in promoting export of bamboo and rattan products. Ministry of Tourism, Cultural and Education has a roles in promoting musical equipments and handicrafts which are interesting to the tourist. With the various roles of many sectors, the existence of bamboo and rattan is very important. Bamboo and rattan are the sources which can be used in their activities. Moreover, at recent time the bamboo plantation atract many tourist.

List of Native, introduced and cultivated bamboos in Indonesia.

Picked up from amboos" by S. Drnsfield and E.A. Widjaja

1. Bambusa amahussana Lindley

Bambu nitu (Ambon)

Native in Ambon and Seram

2. Bambusa atra Lindley

Loleba (Moluccas), Nena (Sangihe)

Native of New Guinea, Moluccas, Sangihe islands

Cultivated elsewhere, e.g. in Bogor Botanic Garden

3. Bambusa balcooa Roxb.

Origin is probably in nothern India and Bangladesh

Only known from cultivation. Cultivated in Java

4 Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss

Spiny bamboo, thorny bamboo in English

Bambu duri (Indonesian), Pring ori (Javanese)

Native in India to southern China, including Thailand and Indo-China

Cultivated thoughout the tropics in South-East Asia. East Java in Indonesia.

5. Bambusa blumeana J.A. & J.H. Schultes

Spiny bamboo, thorny bamboo in English

Bambu duri (Indonesian), Haur cuck (Sundanese), Pring gesing (Javanese)

Origin is unknown, but probably in Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands and Borneo.

6. Bambusa forbesii (Ridley) Holttum

Sasa, Akoya, Warire (Irian Jaya)

Distributed in New Guinea, New Britain, Cape York Peninsula in Australia

Found in highlands of Irian Jaya.

7. Bambusa heterostachya (Munro) Holttum

Origin is unknown, only found in cultivation

Introduced into Batam Island

8. Bambusa multiplex (Lour).) Raeuschel ex J.A. Schultes

Hedge bamboo, Chinese dwarf bamboo in English

Bambu cina, Buluh pagar, Aor selat (West Kalimantan)

Only cultivated, but origin is probably in Indo-China and southern China

Widly cultivated thoughout the tropics and subtropics including South-East Asia.

9. Bambusa polymorpha Munro

Probably originated from Myanmar

Grown outside its natural area in botanic gardens, like in Indonesia

10. Bambusa tulda Roxb

Extends from nothern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand

Introduced on a small scale elsewhere, e.g. in Java.

11. Bambusa tuldoides Munro

Native in southern China and Vietnam

Widly cultivated as an ornamental, often as a hedge

12. Bambusa vulgaris Schrader ex Wendland

Common bamboo in English

Bambu kuning (yellow culms), bambu ampel (green culms), Domar (Ambonese)

Originated in the Old World, probably in tropical Asia.

Most widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics.

13. Cephalostachyum pergracile Munro

Widespread in India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and Yunnan in China.

Cultivated outside its natural area like in Lampung, Indonesia.

14. Dendrocalamus asper (Schulter f.) Backer ex Heyne

Giant bamboo in English

Bambu betung (Indonesian), Awi bitung (Sundanese), Buluh batung (Batak)

Origin is not cerain, but probably South-East Asia.

Planted thoughout tropical Asia like Sumatra, East Java, South Sulawesi, Seram, western Irian Jaya in Indonesia.

15. Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz.

Origin is not known. Native area is India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China and others.

Planted in botanical and experimental gardens in the tropics and subtropics.

16. Dendrocalamus giganteus Wallich ex Munro

Giant bamboo in English

Bambu sembilang (Indonesian)

Origin is probably in Myanmar and Thailand

Introduced and planted is many botanical gardens in Indonesia.

17. Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro

Taiwan giant bamboo, ma bamboo in English

Bambu Taiwan (Indonesian)

Origin is not known precisely but found in cultivation in Taiwan, Myanmar and China.

Introduced into Indonesian in 1980.

18. Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro

Native to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos

Introduced into Bogor and Lampung in Indonesia.

19. Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees

Widespread and native in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma and Thailand

Cultivated often only in botanical or experimental gardens like in Indonesia.

20. Dinochloa scandens (Blume) Kuntze

Climbing bamboo in English

Cankoreh (Sundanese)

Found only in West Java.

21. Gigantochloa achmadii Widjaja

Buluh apo (Simalur and Sumatra)

So far found only in the Island of Simalur and in West Sumatra.

22. Gigantochloa apus (J.A. & J.H.Schultes) Kurz

Buluh tali, Pring tali, Pring apus (Javanese), Awi tali (Sundanese)

Probably native to Myanmar and southern Thailand

Introduced into Java and now widely cultivated and naturalized at Moutn Salak in West Java, spread to South Sumatra, Central Sulawesi and Central Kalimantan.

23. Gigantochloa atroviolacea Widjaja

Black bamboo in English

Bambu hitam (Indonesian), Pring wulung (Javanese), Awi hideung (Sundanese).

Only known from cultivation.

Widely cultivated in Central and West Java, in Southern Sumatra occationally.

24. Gigantochloa atter (Hassk.) Kurz

Bambu ater (Indonesian), Pring legi (Javanese), Awi temen (Sundanese), Pereng keles (Maudrense), Buluh jawa (Eastern Indonesia).

Origin is unknown.

Widely cultivated in rural areas of Java and other islands occuring wild.

25. Gigantochloa balui K.M.Wong

Buluh abe (Kalimantan)

Origin is uncertain but possibly in Indo-China.

Always found in West Kalimantan in Indonesia.

26. Gigantochloa hasskarliana (Kurz) Bacher ex Heyne.

Buluh lengka tali (Indonesian), Buluk busi (Kalimantan); Dayak Kenyah, Buluk sorik (Sumatra: Tapanuli)

Native to Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan in Indonesia to be wild and cultivated.

27. Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merrill

Buluk suluk (Kalimantan), Buluh trup (Dayak)

Origin is unknown.

Commonly cultivated in western Borneo, Indonesia.

28. Gigantochloa manggong Widjaja

Pring manggong (Banyuwangi, East Java), Tiying jahe (Balinese)

Origin is unknown.

Grows widely in Eastern Java (Meru Betiri National Park, Soko, Licin, Kalisetail) and in Bali (Candikuning, but rare. Occationally planted in botanical or experimental gardens (Java: Purwadadi, Bandung).

29. Gigantochloa nigrociliata (Bü se) Kurz

Bambu lengka (Indonesian: Sundanese), Awi ular (Banten), Tiying tabah (Balinese).

Origin is unknown.

Grows widely in West Java and Nothern Sumatra.

30. Gigantochloa pruriens Widjaja.

Buluh belangke, Buluh regen (Batak Karo), Buluh yakyak (Gayo).

Distributes in North Sumatra.

31. Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea (Steudel) Widjaja.

Buluh gombong, Pring surat (Javanese), Awi andong (Sundanese), Buluh batung danto (Padang, Sumatra).

Origin is unknown, only found in cultivation.

Widely cultivated in Java, Bali, Sumatra and Mentawai Islands in Indonesia.

32. Gigantochloa ridleyi Holttum.

Tiying kaas, Tiying aya (Bali).

Found only in cultivation in Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and Bali in Indonesia.

33. Gigantochloa robusta Kurz.

Awi mayan (Sundanese), Tiying jelepung (Balinese), Buluh riau (West Sumatra).

Origin is unknown.

Found widely in Java (Banten, West Java and Banyuwangi, East Java)

34. Gigantochloa scortechinii Gamble.

Buluh kapal (Sumatra).

Found in Sumatra, naturalized in disturbed forest or cultivated in and around villages.

35. Gigantochloa wrayi Gamble.

Buluh dabo (Sumatra).

Native to Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand.

Found cultivated in Southern Sumatra and probably cultivated in villages.

36. Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz

Muli, berry bamboo in English

Occurs naturally in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nort-east India.

Widely introduced into botanical garden.

37. Nustus elegantissimus (Hassk.) Holttum

Awi eul-eul (Sundanese, West Java).

Endemic in Pangalengan area in West Java, altitude about 1000 m.

38. Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex A.& C.Riviè re

Fishpole uncue (Javanese)

Originates from temperate and subtropical Southern China and Japan.

Introduced and naturalized at Merapi Mountain in Central Java.

39. Racemobambos raynalii Holttum

Found in Irian Jaya.

40. Schizostachyum blumei Ness

Awi tamiyang (Sundanese)

Probably natine in Borneo

Occurs in Sumatra and introduced into Java occasionally.

41. Schizostachyum brachycladum Kurz

Buluh lemang (Indonesian), Buluh tolang (North Sumatra), Buluh sero (Moluccas).

Widespread in South-East Asia.

Occurs in Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Bali and Luzon as cultivated and naturalized.

42. Schizostachyum caudatum Backer ex Heyne

Buluh bungkok, Bambu buta (Lampung)

Endemic to Lampung, Sumatra.

43. Schizostachyum gracile (Munro) Holttum

Buluh alar (Riau), Buluh giling (Lampung)

Distributes in Southern Peninsular Malaysia and Eastern Sumatra.

44. Schizostachyum grande Ridley

Buluh lemeng (Sumatra)

Natine in Nortern Sumatra.

45. Schizostachyum iraten Steudel

Awi tamiyang, Awi bunar (Sundanese), Pring wuluh (Javanese)

Natine in Java, Sumatra and Bali.

46. Schizostachyum latifolium Gamble

Buloh suling (North Sumatra)

Natine and widespread in Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, occationally planted in villages.

47. Schizostachyum lima (Blanco) Merrill

Buluh toi (Moluccas)

Natine to the Philippines, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

48. Schizostachyum zollingeri Steudel

Bambu lampar (East Java), Buluh telor, Buluh nipis (Sumatra)

Naturally occurs in Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam and Southern Thailand.

49. Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble.

Monastery bamboo, umbrella-handled bamboo in English

Bambu jepang, Bambu siam (Indonesia).

Native in Myanmar and Thailand.

Widely cultivated in other tropical regions, especially in South-East Asia.