Non-timber forest products and the forest-based small-scale enterprises play a major role in the livelihood of over 100,000 Indonesians. More employment is generated by opportunities to collect, trade and process non-timber forest products than by tropical timber exploitation, at a far lower ecological cost to the forest. Of all the non-timber forest products, rattan is by far the most important economically, accounting for 3.6% of Indonesia's total average annual export earnings from forest products and nearly half of the earnings from non-timber products in the early 1980s. Supplying 90% of the raw rattan traded on world markets, in 1984 Indonesia employed some 83,000 to 100,000 people in the collection, trade and processing activities. During the following years, rattan production experienced rapid expansion in Indonesia, being 6.5% of total forestry export earnings in 1988.

Approximately 600 species of rattan are found throughout the Old World Tropics. They occur most abundantly in Asia and the western Pacific, in a diverse range of forest types and at elevations from 0 - 2900 meters above sea level. Rattan collection is simple, all the collector needs is a machete for cutting the rattan and removing the sheath. The techniques are the same, whether collection takes place in the forest or in plantations. The knowledge required for collecting and cultivating rattan has traditionally been passed from generation to generation.

Until it reaches a first-stage processing center, the only treatment given cut rattan by collectors is air-drying and for some varieties the removal of the outer coating on the stems. This is done by wrapping the rattan around a tree trunk and rubbing it back and forth, or by washing the canes with sand at the river's edge. The bundled rattan is then sold to a trader who takes it down river by boat to a first stage processing center.

Processors re-wash and re-sand the rattan as they receive them from traders. These cleaned rattan are then air-dried on racks in the sun for 7 to 14 days, depending on their-size, degree of dryness upon arrival and weather conditions. Following this, rattan are separated by size. The small rattan are smoked in sulphur-burning cabinets for at least 12 to 24 hours. Larger canes are boiled in a mixture of diesel oil and other ingredients for 20 to 60 minutes, stacked at a slant or rubbed with sawdust to remove excess oil and air-dried for 5 to 14 days in an upright position. Large canes are sometimes bleached with sulphur as small rattan are. Both processes are meant to preserve the rattan, bring out the best of its colour and protect it against pests. The diesel treatment is applied to eliminate waxy components of the rattan. The canes are finally sorted out according to size before final sale to wholesalers and retailers.

CANE FURNITURE

The Raw Material

Rattans are climbing palms that provide the raw material for the cane furniture industry. Rattan or Cane is a natural renewable resource which is a member of the Palmae family. The jungle habitat favored by cane is most often found in third world countries around the world with the majority coming from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, where it is the most important forest product after timber. There are approximately twenty-five species which are used commercially.

Today's harvesting policies work on a seven year cycle, thus allowing the cane to renew itself naturally. The rattan is cut at about 3 feet above ground level, leaving sufficient time for new growth. There are approximately 600 species found in the forests of the world. Some cane varieties such as Batang and Umbula, can grow at the rate of 3 inches per day making it highly sustainable. Rattan is usually harvested from the wild, the workers sever the stems with an axe and pull them down from the canopy.

The Manufacturing Process

Rattan goes through a number of different processes after being harvested prior to being made into furniture. Firstly it is cut and boiled to remove excess sap and to improve flexibility, durability and appearance. Washing and treating the rattan develops and unifies the colour.

Once treated the inner bark, known as Lapping, is split into strips, this is used for wrapping and weaving of the backs and seats of the furniture as it is very strong. The basic frame of the furniture is made from the centre cane and the larger canes, this can be shaped to the required design.

The production for the furniture is very labour intensive and provides much needed employment for thousands of workers in the cane producing areas of the world. The skills necessary to produce a woven or shaped product are jealously guarded and some designs can take several days of labour to produce.

Cane Furniture

Cane furniture, as previously stated, is made from sustainable harvested raw materials. This means that it is an environmentally friendly product. Cane is also used for it's strength, its versatility and its natural beauty and the finished product is usually stained or lacquered to bring out its natural tones. Rattan furniture can be beautiful and can last a lifetime. Locally rattans are made into a wide variety of useful products including baskets and mats.


DEFINITIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS

WICKER
Wicker is not a material in itself, but rather an overall classification of furniture woven from anyone of a variety of materials.

RATTAN
Presently the largest source used in the production of wicker furniture. Rattan is a climbing vine, which commonly grows to lengths of 600 feet and diameters between 1/8 inch to more than 2 inches. The harvesting of rattan occurs between 7 to 15 years from the start of the new growth. Rattan unlike bamboo has a solid core, this makes it ideal for use in the making of furniture.

CANE
This is the stem of large rattans. It can be used to make natural or stained wicker furniture.

BAMBOO
These are large tropical grasses, which commonly grow to over 100 feet. It can grow at a tremendous rate, sometimes over 36 inches in a day. There are approximately 500 to 1000 varieties.



REED
This is the name given to items made by weaving swamp grasses. The term is also used for the core of the rattan vine. Reed was used as a material on the early American wicker chairs.

WILLOW
This grows in the northern countries of Europe and regions of America. It has value due to its rapid growth and for the production of light durable wood. Willow retains natural moisture which makes it long lasting and easily woven.