Many forecasts have been made ever the last decades regarding the future of forest products at the turn of this millennium. The magic number 2000 is now not too far anymore and almost all of us will witness this event and may compare the predictions with the reality. I feel quite sure by announcing a bright future for bamboo, rattan and also palmstem utilization.
At this IUFRO meeting it is appropriate to remember that the Project Group PS.04 was started 1977, just 25 years ago, after its creation at the IUFRO Congress 1976 in Oslo. At this time the interest in bamboo and related species was still restricted to certain countries, such as China, India, Bangladesh and Japan, where bamboo had its value since ever. A regional or true international cooperation hardly existed. During these 25 years, however, the situation has changed drastically.
The non-timber woody resources have gained international priority much in contrast to their earlier treatment as ‘minor forest products’. The need for sustainable use of the limited resources, the limitation in the availability of timber, population increase, the creation of job opportunities especially for women in rural areas are only few of the reasons behind this development.
Intensified bamboo research has contributed much to better management and utilization. Four big regional workshops for bamboo were held in Singapore (1980), Hangzhow (1985), Cochin (1988) and Chiangmai (1991), sponsored by IDRC in cooperation with IUFRO, with more than 300 papers. Several conferences took place at other occasions, such as IUFRO Congresses.
A network with 12 projects in 9 countries was created through IDRC, fostering a regional cooperation in Asia. Bamboo Information Centers have been established in Beijing/China and Kerala/India, providing invaluable access to the widespread and often hidden, substantial literature. Special journals for bamboo research have been created and numerous bamboo societies were founded, such as in Australia, Canada, China, Europe with national chapters, India, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and USA with regional chapters.
Besides these activities, but also due to this organisational framework, many valuable results have been achieved and are already widely applied, especially in the areas of breeding, vegetative propagation, stand management, shoot production, preservation and products development.
Only few examples may be given:
1. In China a National Programme was started in 1992, in order to increase the bamboo production up-to the year 2000 from presently 8.0 million tons towards 16.0 million tons with 1.74 million ha new plantations reaching a total of 5.27 million ha.
The production of fresh bamboo shoots should be developed from presently 1.25 million tons up-to 3.0 million tons, the processed shoot products from 200 tons up-to 500 tons. The production of plywood should reach 400 M3 in the year 2000. Bamboo plywood is increasingly used to replace timber, e.g. for the loading plane of trucks. In 1990, 6.3 M3 were used for 32 cars.
2. In Costa Rica, a National Bamboo Project has started some years ago for building 750 bamboo houses, especially for the Indio’s in the Reserved Areas, with the intention of building 3,000 houses annually. Plantations of Guadua angustifolia were established to supply the necessary culms, which are also used for building-up small scale industries. The example is followed by other countries in the region.
3. In India 3 million tons (1988) bamboo are used for pulp/paper with increasing tendency.
However, there are also setbacks and limitations, which have to be solved, like premature felling of culms, the need for effective, environmental acceptable preservation methods, insufficient knowledge about culm properties and behaviour for technological advanced products.
In a recent study on research, needs for bamboo to the Year 2000 (IFAR 1991), gaps in the utilization research of bamboo were outlined as follows:
(a) Utilization of Bamboo Shoots (For Food and Cash) by:
i. Better survey of species with edible shoots and analyses of nutrition;
ii. Better stand management for production with special attention to harvesting cycles and fertilized applications;
iii. Better protocols for shoot treatment and preservation including research and dehydration, salting and canning.
(b) Properties of Culms by:
i. Selection of new forms and species of high utility and their introduction;
ii. Studies on correlations between species and their properties and traditional utilization;
iii. Synoptic overviews of anatomical, physical/mechanical and chemical properties;
iv. Significance of various tissues and their arrangement in relation to seasoning, preservation and splitting;
v. Effect of harvesting age (senescence) on properties.
(c) Durability and Preservation:
i. Develop guidelines for bamboo preservation.
ii. Develop data on the durability of different species and their uses in different environments.
iii. Develop methods for better preservation, e.g. through sap- displacement treatment.
(d) Evaluation of Technologies for Utilization:
i. E.g., high temperature drying as an anti-splitting technique;
ii. Microwave bending to flatten bamboo;
iii. Steam explosion for chemical digestion.
(e) Product Development:
1. Improvement of handicraft techniques including quality aspects and equipment;
2. Improvement of processing and diversification of product designs especially for bamboo furniture and decorative bamboo articles;
3. Waste utilization.
4. Improvement of industrial and other uses specifically for composites (particle boards, oriented particle/strand boards, fibre boards and bamboo section boards) as well as chemical utilization (membranes; conversion to fodder).
5. Improvement of other products, e.g., for medical purposes, Tabashir production and bamboo wine.
(f) Strategic Research on Building Uses:
Use of bamboo in housing schemes has been un-coordinated and technology transfer could be accelerated with specific attention paid to:
1. Basic research and development;
2. Jointing to facilitate construction;
3. Architectural strategies;
4. Development of a design code.
(g) Paper and Pulp Utilization:
A strategic review is needed because; this use is important in some areas and is decreasing in others. Further potential needs assessment in the light of the value of individual species.
(h) Outlook:
Considering that, at least 2.5 billion of people depend on or use bamboo and that the value of bamboo products worldwide is estimated about 7 billion US $ annually, concentrated efforts are necessary to develop this great potential further.
Rattan:
Rattans, the climbing palms in the tropical rain forest of South-east Asia and also West Africa, provide the most important “minor forest” products. Ninety per cent of the world’s rattan is harvested from the wild, the remainder from the few plantations. From the about 600 species (with about 350 from Calamus) only about 25 are used commercially so far.
The annual revenue from rattan exceeds US $ 6.7 billion with a distinctly increasing demand, especially by western countries for furniture. In spite of its high value for a great number of rural people and for export earnings, rattan has long been neglected by research and development.
This situation has changed drastically since about 10 years, mainly due to inputs by the IDRC. Regional conferences were held in Singapore (1979, 1985), Kuala Lumpur (1984) and Chiancjuai (1987), a Rattan Information Center at FRIM, Kepong, Malaysia and a Rattan Research Network with 9 projects in 8 Asian countries were established.
The concentration on a few species and an over-exploitation without consideration of sustainable management has led to resource exhaustion in many parts. So far only two species, Calamus caesium and C. trachycoleus, have been successfully cultivated.
Thus, the utilization of more species, the reduction of the considerable losses during transport, storage and processing as well as the establishment of large rattan plantations with adequate techniques and their careful management became high priority to secure the material resource.
This is not only important for export earnings, but even more to provide and extend the job opportunities in rural areas for processing and manufacturing. Recent research has contributed to enlighten the relations between structure, taxonomy and behaviour to make wider use of the rattan potential.
The gaps in utilization research were summarized as follows:
(a) Value of Individual Species:
Only ca. 25 of the ca. 600 species are considered to be commercial.
Research requirements include the formation of a database which will list:
(i) All species with botanical and local names;
(ii) Distribution of species;
(iii) Uses of species and
(iv) Standard trade names.
Analysis of data should group species into those primarily used, those in a secondary and those neglected in order to amplify with data on:
1. Availability of materials and accessibility;
2. Growth characteristics;
3. Size attributes (length, thickness, etc.);
4. Processing properties and usability and
5. Susceptibility to biological deterioration.
A number of neglected species which are thought to have potential for specific uses should be researched and data accumulated on:
(i) surface appearance;
(ii) Physical properties (SG, density);
(iii) Strength properties (bending, compression, splitting) and
(iv) Anatomical properties compared with commercial species.
(b) Processing Technology:
Traditional processing practices continue to provide low output, lower quality, reduced market acceptance and waste.
The following areas require enhanced research:
(i) Tissue Aspects:
Methods are needed to recognize immature stems and the effects of tissue maturity on properties and processing.
(ii) Biological Deterioration:
Research is needed to reduce fungal staining and insect attack; susceptibility of species; and effect of cutting season, storage and processing technologies on deterioration.
(iii) Seasoning and Drying:
Methods for seasoning should be evaluated through:
(a) Comparisons of traditional methods and advanced methods such as kiln drying and high frequency drying;
(b) Timing schedule of drying;
(c) Effectiveness of drying methods against deterioration and mechanical defects; and
(d) Development of appropriate machinery to dry rattan in the forest.
(iv) Boiling:
Boiling is a common practice but its effects are not understood properly. Evaluation should survey methods (schedule of cooking oil mixtures) effects on physical, mechanical and chemical properties as well as color, quality of appearance and durability.
(v) Processing:
Strategic research is requested on criteria for selection of species and material and technologies to:
(a) Improve curing, bleaching, peeling, splitting, etc.;
(b) Machining and workability including survey of machinery, cutter tools, and jointing technology as well a bending and webbing;
(c) Improve quality control and
(d) Reduce waste.
(c) Finishing and Preservation:
Required special attention to assess:
(i) Cost effective methods, in relation to materials and chemicals used (including country restrictions for certain chemicals);
(ii) Effects of technologies on strength and quality;
(iii) Adhesive and absorption properties and
(iv) Coloring of rattan for furniture.
Products Development:
Applied Research is needed on:
(i) Combination of poor quality skin with plastic coatings;
(ii) New products for panels and walling and
(iii) Waste utilization including leaf sheets.
Palmstem Utilization:
Palms are the third most important plant group in the world, surpassed only by grasses and legumes. Since the IUFRO Congress in Montreal palm stem utilization falls into the objectives of PS.04. Palmstem utilization serves mainly two purposes, to dispose economically the stem of averaged palms and to substitute rare timber.
The utilization has concentrated so far mainly on Cocos nucifera, with intensive research efforts on the trunk of oilpalm, Elaeis guineensis. But about 20 more species of the round 3,000 palms are exploited by people and their stem may be used.
In this respect, the IORC palmwood utilization research network in Asia should be mentioned with 7 projects in 4 countries, besides Coconut and Oilpalm, research is directed on properties and uses of Anahau (Livistonia rotundifolia), Aren (Arenga spp.), Bunga (Areca catechu), Nibang (Oncosperma tigillaria), Buri (Corypha elata), Palmyrah (Borassus ssp.), Sago palm (Netroxylon sagu). The widespread information has been accumulated in a bibliography with nearly 1,200 references for palm species.
In a recent National Seminar on oil palm trunk and other palm wood utilization in Kuala Lumpur the present information was discussed along the following lines:
1. General characteristics and properties of palms;
2. Distribution and availability;
3. Importance as alternative source of lignocellulose material;
4. Current rises and potential areas of utilization;
5. Current technologies of processing, seasoning and product conversion, and
6. Research strategies for future developments – social and economic aspects.
It will certainly be necessary to utilize the vast material source from palm stems more efficiently until the year 2000 by:
I. Disseminating the available knowledge as technical leaflets to the users
II. Improve processing economy
III. Marketing of palm stem products.
A thorough evaluation of prospects and limitations by Killmann and Tesora (1990) emphasizes the great potential of coconut timber on domestic markets with potentials for some other species such as Borassus spp., Phoenix spp., Hyphaene spp., and Elaeis guineensis.
Among the few options, the production of gypsum-banded particle boards from a number of palms appears promising.
Conclusion:
The importance of bamboo, rattan and palmstem utilization as material resources as well as employment opportunities especially in rural areas has drastically increased in recent years. In several countries dynamic programmes have been initiated to extend production and utilization of these products, so that their economical value will certainly be substantially higher in the year 2000 than presently.
The numerous research efforts and conferences have tremendously increased our knowledge about taxonomy, propagation, management, properties and processing. But it appears doubtful, if the utilization of the material resource has been extended accordingly. There is still a wide gap between research and application, which has urgently to be overcome.