Can we go beyond timber and manage for both timber and non-timber forest

products? Case of rattans near Kisangani (D. R.

Congo)

Kahindo J-M. (PhD, UNIKIS)Mate J-P. (PhD, UNIKIS)Nasi R. (PhD, CIFOR)

International Meeting ATBC and SCB, 12 – 16 June 2011, Arusha

Problematic

Logging for timber

Principal concern of forestry

for decades:

sustained production of

timber products.

Many, if not most,

national forest development

plans and valuation studies

have therefore neglected to

incorporate NTFPs into

management strategies

Multiple forest useIn recent decades,

research and NGO

attention has focused on

the potential for Non

Timber Forest Products

(NTFPs) to play an

important complementary

role to timber and

agriculture in rural

livelihoods.

Importance of the NTFP sector in DR Congo

Not enough is known: only scarce data on

Congolese NTFPs and rattans is available

NTFP sector especially developed in rural areas NTFPs largely used

Subsistence purpose;

Commercialization

Importance of the Rattan sector in DR Congo (1/2)

Rattan resource = One of the most important NTFPs largely used in D. R. Congo

Rattan diversity:11 over 22 african

species

Importance of the Rattan sector in DR Congo (2/2)

Rattan exploitation = economic potential and alternative option for wood consumption (furniture)

Rattan in and around Kisangani

(1/2)

provide income to solve Rate (%)

Food complement 37

Health fees 17

Other needs (school, equipment)

33

Source of additional income in rural areas:

E. haullevilleana commercialisation: monthly 25 – 50 $ / household

Rattan in and around Kisangani

(2/2)

L. secundiflorum’s forest potential: 700 linear meters of cane/ha (not

exploited); Good regeneration (1 bud/clump/month)

Sustainable harvest of Rattan = Alternative or complement to timber exploitation

E. haullevilleana commercialization: 81 591 meters sold monthly (in urban

markets) Rattan consumption:

Rattan furnitures present in 98% urban households

Studied species (1/2)

1- L. secundiflorum

Split canes:

Basket & Hat’s frames

A robust species of rattan:

• Wide leaflets• Acanthophylls up to 4 cm

long

Studied species (2/2)2- E.

haullevilleana Source of cordage and

weaving material in rural and urban areas

Provides raws and items for local and national trade in D. R. Congo

A slender to moderate rattan

• Leave bifid (younger stages)

• Slender acanthophylls, up to 3.5 cm long

Research site

Location:

• Yoko Forest Reserve: evergreen tropical rain forest;

• South of Kisangani city: left bank of the Congo river (Km 21 - 38)

Area: 6975 ha;

Climate: Af Koppën type, refering to Kisangani: 1800 mm per year; 28°C

Monitoring for demography of 267 clumps :

159 L. secundiflorum

108 E. haulllevilleana

Data collection

From different light regimes (closed canopy; partial; total)

With different harvest treatment (0; 3/4; 4/4)

Global results(Extracted from Kahindo’s Thesis)

Species Recruit. Init. Mort.

Laccospermasecundiflorum

T 0.075 0.211 0.198

T x L

0.018* 0.159 0.375

Eremospathahaullevilleana

T 0.031* 0.008 *

0.067

L < 0.001**

0.052 0.173

(*) Significant effect at the 0.05 level

Kahindo (2011)

Combined effectsT x L

Separate effectsT L

Treat./Light Effects on Recruitment

Under full light: Max recruitment with total harvest

Under partial light: Max recruitment with partial harvest

Under full light: Harvest all adult canes Under partial light: Favour partial harvest of adult canes

1- L. secundiflorum

Interaction Treatment x Light

Max recruitment under full light

Max recruitment with partial harvest

Treat./Light Effects on Recruitment

Separated effects

2- E. haullevilleana

Apply partial harvest on clumps &

Favour full light conditions

Harvest

Light availability

Conclusions&

Suggestions

Conclusions

2- Neither light availability nor harvest treatment has a significant effect on stem’s mortality within the clump of studied rattan species;

2 main conclusions:

1- Full light conditions favour the recruitment and growth initiation of E. haullevilleana ; this parameter also affects the recruitment of L. secundiflorum, but through an interaction with harvest treatment;

Suggestions

1- Rattan harvesting could be a complementary activity to logging for timber

2- Apply silvicultural treatments susceptible to provide better light conditions and so favour regeneration within the rattan clumps;

3- Practice sustainable harvest by applying appropriate cutting techniques according to the rattan species and light conditions;

4- Promote rattan enrichment planting in disturbed areas in order to increase stock and provide addditional incomes in forest areas around Kisangani and in D. R. Congo.

UNIKIS

E U

Many th

anks

Aksanti s

ana