Introduction
National Forest Policy 1987 (Revised 1992) has underlined the need for non-timber forest resources sustainable management to be implement in order to ensure the interests of resource-based industries. Bamboo cultivation project is an effort by the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) in introducing the results of non-timber resources with potential for commercialization.
Permanent Reserved Forests were managed according to the concept of sustainable forest management since the beginning of the 20th century. At present, with a shift in demand and requirements of the public for a variety of forest products and services, the concept of sustainable forest management has been expanded to cover other areas such as forest protection functions and non-wood production.
-
Bamboo belongs to the group of family Gramineae grasses. It grows in temperate regions in semi-tropical area which has the open and well drained environment. Bamboo can be classified into two types of growth which are monopodial growth (single stem), and sympodial (clump). Bamboos in Malaysia belong to sympodial growth.
Differences between Monopodial and Sympodial Bamboo
Monopodial Simpodial The growth in single The growth in clump Grow in a temperate climate Grow in a tropical climate It is estimated there are 59 bamboo species in Peninsular Malaysia which are from seven genera of Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Racemobamboos, Schizostachyum, Thyrsostachys and Gigantochloa.
The amount and percentage of bamboo clumps in Peninsular Malaysia
(based on the National Forest Inventory-5)
Many products can be produced from bamboo such as chopsticks, furniture, musical instruments, toothpicks, picture frames, handicrafts, and ornamental. In spite that, Bamboo also being use for landscaping gardens for public recreation and private area.
Species Bamboo And Commercial Use In Peninsular Malaysia
-
Species: Bambusa blumeana
Local Name: Buluh duri
Use: Chopsticks, furniture, musical instruments, toothpicks.
-
Species: Bambusa heterostachya
Local Name: Buluh galah/ tilan/ paring/ pengat
Use: Pole, picture frame, toothpicks, satay skewers.
-
Species: Bambusa vulgaris
Local Name: Buluh minyak/ aao/ aro/pan/gading
Use: Ornamental, toothpicks, satay skewers, chopstick.
-
Species: Gigantochloa levis
Local Name: Buluh beting/pering
Use: Bamboo sprout
-
Species: Dendrocalamus asper
Local Name: Buluh betong/bisa
Use: Bamboo sprout
-
Species: Gigantochloa ligulata
Local Name: Buluh Tumpat Tikus/belalai
Use: Picture frame, bamboo sprout.
-
Species: Gigantochloa scortechinii
Local Name: Buluh semantan/rayah/ gala/paao
Use: Handicrafts.
-
Species: Gigantochloa wrayi
Local Name: Buluh beti/raga
Use: Handicrafts, satay skewers, toothpicks.
-
Species: Schizostachyum brachycladum
Local Name: Buluh lemang/nipis/ padi/pelang/urat/rusa
Use: Handicrafts, ornamental, toothpicks.
-
Species: Shizostachyum zollingeri
Local Name: Buluh dinding/ nipis/ kasap/telor
Use: Handicrafts, satay skewers, toothpicks.
-
Species: Bambusa vulgaris var.striata
Local Name: Buluh gading
Use: Ornamental.
-
Species: Schizostachyum grande
Local Name: Buluh semeliang/Semenyeh
Use: Picture frames, handicrafts.
-
-
Rattan belongs to the family of Palmae and classified in the largest group of the subfamily Calamoideae. There are 13 genera of rattan in the world. They are Calamus, Calospatha, Ceratolobus, Daemonorops, Eremospatha, Korthalsia, Laccosperma, Myrialepis, Oncocalamus, Plectocomia, Plectocomiopsis, Pogonotium and Retispatha.
In Peninsular Malaysia, there are about 107 species of rattan comprising 8 genera where are only 20 species being identified to have market value. Among them are Calamus Manan, C. ornatus, C. turnidus, C. scipionium, and C. Caesius.
Generally, rattan grows in moist areas and will be decreased in number when an area is always experiencing change in humidity. In Peninsular Malaysia, rattan can be found from the coast to the mountains. However, the most suitable habitat for rattans is in dipterocarp forest.
Based on the National Forest Inventory 5 (NFI-5), there were 268,644,319.85 clumps /rattan cane which have been surveyed and the result showed that Calamus manan has the highest percentage compared to the other types of rattans. The fraction is as table 1.
Table 1: Fraction of clump / rattan cane by type
The most economic contribution from rattans is through processing furniture and handicrafts. Among the furniture are chairs, tables, beds, and utensils. The most important species in rattan-based industries in Peninsular Malaysia are Calamus manan and Calamus caesius.
Species Local name Use Calamus manau Rotan manau Furniture Calamus scipionum Rotan semambu Furniture Calamus tumidus Rotan manau tikus Furniture Calamus ornatus Rotan dok Furniture Calamus caesius Rotan sega Furniture Calamus javensis Rotan lilin Bonding materials Calamus laevigatus Rotan tunggal Furniture and handicrafts Calamus axillaries Rotan sega air Furniture and handicrafts Calamus speciosissimus Rotan sega badak Furniture and handicrafts -
Calamus manan at Compartment 7/15, Bukit Kesing Forest Reserve, Terengganu
-
Calamus manan at Compartment 7/15, Bukit Kesing Forest Reserve, Terengganu
-
Pictures shows the seeds of Calamus manan in compartment 26, Behrang Forest Reserve, Perak
-
Pictures shows the seeds of Calamus manan in compartment 26, Behrang Forest Reserve, Perak
-
