Prospects for sustained‐yield harvesting of rattan (Calamusspp.) in two Indonesian national parks

Abstract

Calamus exilis and C. zollingeri are coppicing, clustering rattans that possess characteristics favorable to sustained‐yield cane harvesting in protected areas, including high population densities, year‐round cane availability, minimal adverse effects on other species when harvested, well‐developed trade networks, and strong market demand. Cane resprout and growth rate studies suggest that C. exilis can be repeatedly harvested at four year intervals; a longer, but as yet undetermined interval would be required for repeated C. zollingeri harvesting. Although ecological and economic aspects of C. exilis and C. zollingeri appear promising, sustainable harvesting by local people faces significant social and political constraints, including ill‐defined resource access and tenure arrangements, the absence of local village management organizations and harvesting guidelines, and weak political and economic power of rattan collectors and villages vis a vis outside commercial interests.