Why Bamboo: November 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Why Invest in Bamboo?

Every year, precious tropical hard woods and forests are being cut down, slashed and burned. Restoring those natural forests would take several generations, therefore we need to find faster solutions that can substitute conventional wood application and continue to convert CO2 into oxygen. The answer is Bamboo!
Bamboo belongs to the family of grasses and is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It is NOT a tree, but quite simply grass… In just 1 growing season, stems reach their full height. It takes another 3 years, however, for the bamboos to harden and reach maturity.
Every hectare with bamboo produces 30,000 liters of water/year and has an “underground network” root system, some 20 Km (12 miles) long. This same network enriches and protects the soil from erosion, giving life and nutrients to the top layer.
Cotabato Catch Basin needs Bamboo
With the high absorption rate of bamboo as it needs plenty of water on its clocked growth of 1.20 meters overnight, it would substantially reduce the water flow of the major rivers contributing the logging of waters at Ligwasan Marsh. Bamboo is then best recommended to plant along Pulangi River and Rio Grande de Mindanao and along other rivers bucketing to the catch basin. Intermittent flooding would be significantly reduced.
Bamboo also captures CO2 and converts it into oxygen, substantially more than regular trees. Recent studies indicate that the potential for atmospheric carbon dioxide fixation in the first six years of Guadua Bamboo (monopodium specie of bamboo genera, like moso bamboo of Japan) growth from new sowings is 54 metric tons per hectare. Hardwood and softwood trees at fully matured stage could only absorb CO2 at 8 metric tons per hectare. Trees are poor competition for carbon sink and carbon sequestration compared to bamboo.
Bamboo has been classified as having over 1500 different uses, including fences, furniture, laminates, music instruments, food products and every part of a building. Asian cultures have a saying that a man is born in a bamboo cradle and goes away in a bamboo coffin. Everything in between is possible with bamboo.

Captive Market
Based on the memorandum issued by DENR pursuant to EO 879, all schools in public elementary and high school should use bamboo desks by 2011. An amount of Php 11,692,505.00 was allocated for the Cotabato Province for the purchase of bamboo desks and tables and other furniture. Kidapawan City DedEd Division alone has a total budget of Php 1,019,604.00 for bamboo furniture. And the total amount allocated for the province is only twenty five percent (25%) of the total purchases for the SY 2010-2011. With the cost of an armchair at 900.00 each, if the whole budget for DepEd Kidapawan City Division alone would purchase armchairs, it would need 1,133 armchairs, now, an engineered bamboo armchair needs four (4) bamboo poles at choice cuts, then it needs 4,532 poles for materials and needs 5.6 hectares (200 clumps per ha/ 4 poles per clump) of bamboo forest, and that would save also 5.6 hectares of timber and rainforest.

2. What kind of bamboo should we grow in Cotabato Province?
For every bamboo plantation, we will use the most commercially used bamboo specie like Apos, kawayan Tinik, botong, Bayog, Kiling, ornamental bamboos like Buddha’s Belly, Iron Bamboo, Chinese Bamboo and among others.
Flowering occurs only ONCE in a lifetime for bamboos. After that, they slowly fade away and die. Growing bamboo from seeds, will give bamboo a life span of 100 years, and guarantee us a healthy, strong and vigorous bamboo plantation.

3. Where are we growing bamboo?
Because of the quantity of rain and the type of soil, almost anywhere in Mindanao, bamboo is suitable. But due to topographical location, the catch basin was situated in the low lying towns and barangays of North Cotabato. So, we have chosen these places where we will start planting bamboo. Flooding is the perennial problem of the areas near Ligwasan Marsh. Silts and giant water lilies are generally blamed for the rising of water in Cotabato City and the areas traversed by Rio Grande de Mindanao.
As far as the elders of Barangay Maluao, a barrio of Pigcawayan Municipality, narrates the situation in the past, the Maluao river is full of rock boulders and pristine water, large fishes like giant carp, haluan (snakehead), katipa (catfish) puyo, kagang (rivercrabs) and gurami, sigwil is also plenty along with paitan, inggat-inggatan, pahi (freshwater prawn), kasili (eel), box turtles, magkal (phyton), wild boars, deers, alamid (wild cats), iguanas, giant monitor lizards, kagwang (tarsier), flying squirrels and plenty of pako-pako (fern) and gabi, edible parts of the gabi are the talbos (udag variety), takway (runners) and tubers. Birds of various species like tulihaw, kalaw, miyaw-miyaw(owl), kusi (parrots).
To say the least, the Maluao River is teeming with life, the perfect symbiosis of Flora and Fauna, nowadays, the turbulent mud water during torrential rainfalls or even dried up Maluao River during dry spell is all you can see, carabaos wallowing in the water and flies resting on their head along with the stubborn paitan is all you can see if you try nature tripping in the Maluao River. It is almost the same story to the other areas of North Cotabato. Timberlands are gone, monocropping was introduced, unsustainable farming practice, poisoning of rivers and the long list of man made damages against nature.
We would like to bring back to its near previous situation, the flourishing situation of North Cotabato by introducing the fast growing bamboo plant, the cash grass and miracle plant. We choose these places because of the presence of natural grown bamboo and the availability of high quality parcels.
4. Bamboo Investment Plan
Each hectare would generate an income of Php300, 000.00 per annum (after 5 years - Abra Region Reference)
Bamboo can be grown at a minimal cost. The estimated investment cost for commercial plantation for one hectare amounts to Php 59,770.00 with a working capital of Php 32,500.00. The Net Income before tax is calculated to reach Php 58,407.67. Without considering the land cost, this undertaking is expected to have a Return on Investment of 316%. The Gross Profit and Net Profit Rate are 98% and 63% respectively.(DTI – Industry Briefs) Approximately, after one (1) year, the investment will be recovered. Thus, the project is worthwhile to embark on.

This includes:
• Land with a Certified Title registered in your name or your company’s name. This land is located on one of our designated locations, best suited to grow bamboo.
• 100 (10 x 10) 210 (7 x7) bamboo seedlings, skillfully planted. If we plant bamboo in 2011, we can harvest the first ones in 2016 and from there on, every year, without re-planting! In 2016, we can harvest 20,000 Linear Meters of solid 6” building material from each and every hectare we planted in 2011. That generates a passive income every year from 2016 on until 2110 … (almost hundred years of continuous income, which could support until the fourth generation of your brood…)
• Full time maintenance (fertilizing, cleaning, pruning) and consultancy. Bamboo in maximum high yielding status, just make sure all seedlings are carefully planted, fertilized, irrigated, and weeds are eliminated. Existing groves are pruned, and cleared from over-mature culms to ensure a healthy bamboo plantation.
Just watch your money grow, every day!
These profits are calculated by the amount of bamboo "trees" that can be harvested per year per hectare

A Sensible Way
We think that the world financial crisis is a good moment to make a stop and start thinking seriously about the future of our planet and the people living on it. If we don’t change radically and start to respect nature, we will go the wrong way and further destroy our beautiful earth.

If - on the contrary - we start to look more closely at what mother earth offers us as a strong, sustainable platform for a steady, ecological growth, we will do “the right thing“. Bamboo is our best friend out there. It is native, available and of the highest quality we can possibly dream of.

We Believe…
We strongly believe in the ecological and economical strengths of growing bamboo as a substitute for wood, as a natural building material and a producer of oxygen and water.
When planting bamboo in an orderly way, we can harvest it in a never-ending cycle of beautiful, straight, strong, earthquake-resistant poles.
We do know that we can build sustainable and affordable houses, bridges, schools and hotels and make a fair amount of money as well. Remember that your little bamboo forest produces enough bamboo to build almost 30 low cost housing every year!
By teaching and promoting the possibilities with bamboo in a certain region, local communities will copy our activities, which should result into a large bamboo community center or cooperation. Obviously we cannot do this alone, therefore we ask passionate investors to join our efforts and also teach and share their knowledge in their particular field of interest.
Our ultimate goal is to set up a cooperation that includes all kinds of private sectors, investors and Local Government Units who are passionately and would be involved with bamboo in all its application.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Specie Conservation Project on Bamboo(source:BAMBOONET)

Australia – Philippine Partnership in Bamboo for Sustainable Regional Development (Outcomes from an ACIAR funded Project)

Australia –Philippine Partnership in Bamboo for Sustainable Regional Development (Outcomes from an ACIAR funded Project)

Rationale

Conservation and enhancement of renewable resources and the natural resources base are priority issues for both Australia and the Philippines. Bamboo is well suited to the twin concerns of both countries. It is a perennial plant with multiple uses ranging from subsistence to commercial food, to processing into building and furniture. Bamboo products are not listed in the major commodity databases. However, it is estimated that 12 kg of bamboo products are used per capita in Asia annually, with annual harvest of 30 million tons of timber products and more than 2 million tons of edible vegetable shoots worldwide. Total trade in bamboo products has been estimated at US$4.5 billion/year. This figure however, does not include the subsistence uses of bamboo and its by-products.

In Australia, commercial bamboo growing is new. Most bamboo farms are small, and usually a side-business to other primary production. Approximately, c.150 enterprises have engaged in bamboo growing whether for shoots and/or timber.In the Philippines, the largest demand for bamboo goes to the furniture and handicraft sector. Locally, increasing demand for bamboo furniture is driven by the increasing cost of wood furniture and the heightened interest in traditional and ethnic furnishings not only in residential households but in commercial establishments as well.Due to the downturn in the output from the timber-logging industries worldwide, it is anticipated that bamboo will increasingly substitute for wood. However, under current levels of productivity, acute scarcity in the Philippines is also forecasted for bamboo poles. Assessment of bamboo resources relative to national pole requirements indicates inadequate supply for sustained yield. Given the worsening status of forest resources now, there is a need to increase the areas planted to bamboo and the yields of existing bamboo plantations and natural bamboo stands. With the six years implementation (2001-2006) of the ACIAR funded project on bamboo, through the collaborative efforts of the Central Queensland University (CQU), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystem Research and Development Services (DENR-ERDS Regions 6 and 10); Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU); Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI); and the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) together with some local private enterprises, good silvicultural and management protocols that will provide bamboo raw material of suitable quality to satisfy current and anticipated demands were developed. With this at hand, it is hoped that extension of research results through this symposium will not only underpin its adoption, but will further enhance the relevance of this research.

The symposium aims to fortify the bamboo industry by extending the research results to a wider audience and to promote and encourage the adoption of the generated silvicultural and management technologies. Specifically, it intends:

Objectives:

a)To present research results of the project

b)To encourage more planting and establishment of premium bamboo species

c)To present the economic prospects of bamboo growing and processing in the Philippines.

d)To promote awareness on the socio-economic and environmental importance of bamboo

e)To provide avenues for the sale of basic products from small-scale entities;

f)To address the constraints (both biological and institutional) to the expansion of the bamboo industry.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

BAKIT KAWAYAN?

BAKIT KAWAYAN?

Rimmon A. Paren

Master in Business Administration- Senior Student

Central Mindanao Colleges

Kung ang niyog ay itinuturing na Tree of Life, ang kawayan ay The Other Tree of Life. Lahat ng bahagi ng kawayan ay may kagamitan,walang masasayang.

Ang industriya ng kawayan sa bansang tsina ay nagbibigay lunas sa polusyon dahil sa kakayahan ng kawayan na mag absorb ng mapanirang usok na siyang dahilan ng Global Warming. Ang isang ektarya ng kawayan ay kayang higupin ang isang dosenang tonelada ng Carbon Dioxide na ibinubuga ng mga pabrika , usok ng mga sasakyan at walang habas na pagkakaingin.Ang punong kawayan ay tinaguriang carbon sequestrator at sa kakayahan nito na magbuga ng oxygen na 35% higit na mas marami kaysa sa ibang punongkahoy.

Kasabay nito ay ang kakayahan ng kawayan na magpigil ng tubig ulan para maiwasan ang madalas na pag guho ng lupa at mga pagbaha sa mababang bahagi ng lupain.Ang ugat ng kawayan ay kayang mag “bind” o pagtahi tahiin ang bahagi ng lupa hanggang sa anim na metro kwadradong lawak at lalim. Sa mga gilid ng sapa at ilog ay mainam din itong gawing pananim sa pag iwas ng mga pag guho. Inirekomenda na limang metro kwadrado ang distansiya kung ang kawayan ay gawing river embankment support. Mainam din ang kawayan na gawing pananim sa water conservation area ng mga water districts dahil mas malinis at dalisay ang tubig na sinala ng ugat ng kawayan.

Sa usaping pangkabuhayan, maraming gamit ang kawayan, ang industriya ng plantasyon ng saging ay nagangailangan ng maraming supply ng kawayan na gawing pantukod o propping. Mas malamig din ang bahay na maraming bahagi nito ay gawa sa kawayan tulad ng bamboo tiles flooring, bamboo panels para sa dingding at Bamboo fiber board sa kisame. Mabisa at matibay din itong pamalit sa kahoy dahil sa tibay at tatag ng punong kawayan o ang binibigyang konsiderasyon ay ang tensile strength nito. Ang bisikletang gawa sa kawayan ng Calfee Design sa US ay naibebenta ng $2,700 o katumbas ng humigit – kumulang sa 80,000 pesos dito sa Pilipinas. Marami na ring modernong kasangkapan na bamboo inspired tulad ng Asus Laptops,cellphone casings, ipad, IPOD, electric outlet/switch cover, furnitures, speakers, damit, flavone products, baby clothings, bedsheets, cosmetics at mga novelty items. Ito ay ilan lamang sa maaring maging gamit ng kawayan sa pagpapalago ng industriya ng kawayan sa pangkabuhayan.

Matagal mamatay ang kawayan, ayon sa pag aaral, umaabot ito ng 120 taon ngunit ayon sa ating mga kababayan ay walang kamatayan ang puno ng kawayan. Dito natin makikita ang konsepto ng sustainable livelihood at kaakibat ang pangangalaga ng kalikasan. Ang punong kahoy ay aabot ng mula sampu hanggang apatnapung taon bago magamit, at kung sakaling ito ay puputulin upang pakinabangan, maghintay na naman ng sampu hanggang apatnapung taon para tumubo at lumaki upang palitan ang nasirang puno. Subalit ang kawayan ay mula tatlo hanggang limang taon ay puwede ng simulan ang pagputol ng maari nang pakinabangan.Ang argumeto ay ang pag-gamit ng tao ng mga biyaya ng kalikasan, kagaya ng pagkalbo ng kagubatan dahil nga gagamitin ng tao ang mga troso sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan. At kung sakaling may puputulin na puno ng kawayan upang pakinabangan, may natitira pang klaster ng puno na tutubo at yumabong haggang sa dumami na ang puwedeng pakinabangan.Ang kawayan ay bahagi ng ating kultura, panatilihin ito at payabungin.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang kawayan ay maaring maging pagmulan ng bio-oil sa kakayahan nitong mag bigay ng 50.40k na bio-oil kumpara sa sorghum/tubo na 9.7k lang. sa 2,000 ektarya ay kaya nitong mag bigay ng hanggang 70 toneladang biomass feedstock, at may makukuha ka pang pagkain mula sa shoots o rhizomes nito, hindi into kumpetensiya sa pagkain para sa produksiyon ng enerhiya.

Nabigyan na rin ng pagpahalaga ng Regional Development Council and Industry Clustering program para sa kawayan. Dito sa probinsiya ng Cotabato, ang Nakayama Technologies ay nangangailangan ng 7,000 na puno ng apos at botong para gagawin nilang bamboo panels/planks at ito sy bibilhin na semi processed, ito ay nangangahulugang magkaroon ng kabuhayan sa mga kanayunan.

Kaakibat nito ay ang panawagan sa mga pinuno ng pamahalaan na bigyang pansin ang kawayan, ang pagtatala ng dami at bigyan ng pondo para sa pag aaral, pagsasanay at seryosong sagutin ang problema ng Climate Change o mga pagbaha. Tulungang hikayatin ang mga magsasaka pataniman ng kawayan ang mga lugar na halos din a mataniman dahil nasira sa mga abono, pestisidyo at landslide. Ang mga pampang ng sapa ay mainam ding pataniman ng kawayan para sa pagpigil malakas na agos ng tubig.

Kasabay nito ang panawagan sa mga environmentalist, bamboo enthusiast, bamboo artist, bamboo ornamental plant lovers, mga may plantasyon ng kawayan lalo na sa botong at apos na variety, na dagdagan pa ang pagsisikap at pagpupunyagi. Para sa dagdag na kaalaman tungkol sa kawayan, maaring bisitahin ang ating blogspot na anythingaboutbamboo.blogspot.com.

“Mahalin natin ang kalikasan at pasiglahin ang industriya ng kawayan”.

Main Non Wood Forest Product included in DENR AO No. 31 series of 1991

Main non-wood forest products

The most important NWFP of the Philippines are rattan, bamboo, fibres, vines, palms and exudates. Other NWFP include essential oils, dyes, wild food plants, medicinal plants, honey and butterflies.

General information

In the Philippines, NWFP are classified and referred to as "minor forest products". They are an important source of food for rural people, the principal source of fibre and forage and a valuable raw material for furniture and handicraft manufacture in the cottage industry. NWFP are also used in the manufacture of pulp and paper, plastic, paint and varnish, soap and shampoo. These products are also important sources of materials for low-cost housing, food and beverages, clothing materials, medicine and other valuable products. NWFP have provided people who live in or near forest lands, especially subsistence upland farmers and the unemployed or underemployed in the lowlands, with sources of income (Neri 1994).

The Philippine Forestry Statistics contains production figures for certain NWFP (trade and market values are not included).

Table 1. Production of selected NWFP from 1990 to 1998 (in thousands of units, kg or by piece)

NWFP	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Almaciga resin (1000 kg)	943	780	634	576	1 231	1 059	890	310	261
Anahaw leaves (pc)	2	41	33	42	10	14	10	34	19
Bamboo (pc)	984	892	704	475	360	307	627	183	448
Buri midribs (pc)	58	16	-	-	-	42	15	2	2
Elemi (kg)	-	8	-	-	-	-	13	-	-
Hinggiw (kg)	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Nipa shingles (pc)	8 023	14 719	12 634	9 018	6 283	8 332	8 429	4 899	6 745
Diliman and other vines (kg)	89	104	163	84	90	66	381	33	-
Salago bark (kg)	6					-	-	-	-
Split rattan (1000 kg)	10	568	30	1	4	24	17	2	5
Tanbar (kg)	30							-	-
Unsplit rattan (lm)	19 266	25 732	22 693	24 845	19 088	17 457	24 613	19 519	10 463

Source: Philippine Forestry Statistics (1998)

Most NWFP are gathered from the forest although many plants are domesticated and are grown in backyard gardens by indigenous people, upland settlers and also by the urban populace.

While some NWFP are exported in raw form, others are utilized by the gatherers themselves or sold to local processors or manufacturers. Most of the processors are cottage-type or backyard-level industries employing not more than 20 workers. There are about 250 medium to large firms which are involved primarily in the manufacture of rattan and bamboo furniture for export. With the declining importance of wood-based industries, and the prospect of more restrictive logging bans, attention has shifted to the development of NWFP-based industries. Wasteful utilization and the destruction of much of the country's forests have also resulted in the depletion of several NWFP (Neri 1994).

At present, there is a growing export demand for finished and semifinished products such as Philippine rattan furniture, baskets and other native products made of indigenous raw materials such as vines, barks, roots and bast fibres. Other manufactured NWFP exports include buri and pandan placemats, handbags, wallets, purses and similar articles of palm and bamboo, buntal and buri hats. The total export value in 1998 for basketwork (wickerwork), Christmas decorations and other manufactured materials were US$66 189 066; US$83 345 578 and US$14 006 498, respectively (DTI Markets of Philippine Merchandise Exports, January to September 1997/1998). On the other hand the total export values for selected NWFP-based furniture in 1998 were US$1 436 368; US$79 475 485 and US$1 606 138 for bamboo furniture, rattan furniture and buri furniture, respectively (Philippine Forestry Statistics 1998).

The extraction and gathering of NWFP on forest land is regulated legally by the government through the issuance of licences or permits, but an undetermined quantity of NWFP is extracted illegally (Neri 1994).

PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS

Utensils, handicrafts, construction materials

There are about 62 species of rattan found in the Philippines and 12 of these are of commercial value: (palasan (Calamus merrillii); limuran (C. ornatus var. philippinensis); tumalim (C. mindorensis); sika (C. caesius); panlis (C. ramulosus); malacca cane (C. scipionum); lambutan (C. halconensis); apas or lukuan (C. reyesianus); kurakling (C. microsphaerion); tagiktik (C. filispadix); ditaan (Daemonorops mollis) and hiyod (D. pedicellaris).

Rattan has played a major role in the economy of the Philippines’ flourishing furniture and handicraft industry. The rapid growth and expansion of the rattan industry has caused a heavy drain in the domestic supply of rattan canes. From 1993 to 1997 rattan furniture and handicraft exports earned a total of US$600 million (Philippine Forestry Statistics 1997) growing at 14 percent annually in the same period. Rattan products were exported to the United States, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and France. Similarly within that period, the Philippines imported from China, Hong Kong and Singapore approximately US$2.8 million of raw rattan poles to supplement the local supply.

Regulations have been applied to rationalize the development of the rattan industry. Separate areas are allocated for large and small entrepreneurs. If the rattan production areas are within lands reserved for or occupied by tribal groups, priority is given to the tribal groups (Neri 1994). However, illegal harvesting of high quality rattan canes still continues.

There are around 32 species of bamboo found in the Philippines. Bamboo species suitable for furniture, handicrafts, and novelty items are: kauayan tinik (Bambusa blumeana); kauayan kiling (B. vulgaris); giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper); bayog (D. merrilianus); kayali (Gigantochloa atter); bolo (G. levis) and buho (Schizostachyum lumampao) (PCARRD 1991).

Bamboo areas are estimated to range from about 39 000 to 52 000 ha. It is distributed physically as follows: 20 500 to 34 000 ha from forest land; 2 236 ha from government plantations; 3 037 ha from private plantations and 13 434 ha from natural stands. From these bamboo stands, the projected potentially available culm production ranges from 29 million to 52 million poles harvested every year (Virtucio et al. 1983; RP-German Forest Resources Inventory Project).

Bamboo export consists mainly of basket/basketware (92.47 percent) and furniture (7.41 percent). Philippine bamboo is exported to 36 countries. The United States is the single biggest market for furniture. Other major buyers are Spain, France, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands (FOSTER-Asia 1998).

Palms, for example buri (Corypha elata), nipa (Nypa fruticans), kaong (Arenga pinnata), anahaw (Livistonia rotundifolia) and sago (Metroxylon sagu) and vines such as hinggiw (Ichnocarpus frutescens), diliman (Stenochlaena palustris), lukmoy (Rhapidophora monticola) and nito (Lygodium circinnatum) are well represented in the Philippines. Palms are as important as bamboo and rattan. There are about 123 native palm species in the Philippines plus other introduced palms classified as either "climbing" or "erect" a nd about 149 vines and bast fibre species. These are the primary raw materials for the basketry industry. Ninety percent of the total production of the basketry industry is for export (DOST 1996).

Palms have several uses. For instance nipa (Nypa fruticans) sap can be used for alcohol, wine, sugar and vinegar; its leaves can be used for bags and hats; its fruits are used as medicine for intestinal worms; leaves are also used to make shingles for roofing and walls for low-cost houses; the midribs are made into brooms and the petioles are used as fuel. The fermented juice is a popular local drink (Neri 1994). In 1998 the production of nipa shingles was 6 746 000 pieces (Philippine Forestry Statistics 1998).

In 1998 exports of buri were 13 708 kg (US$38 580) (Philippine Forestry Statistics 1998).

Production of anahaw leaves decreased from 48 000 in 1981 to 19 000 pieces in 1998. The trunk of the anahaw is used for handicrafts, utensils and construction materials; the leaves are used for roofing, the buds are eaten and the plant is also used as an ornamental.

Diliman (Stenochlaena palustris), nito (Lygodium spp.), lukmoy (Pothos spp.) and baling-uai (Flagellaria indica) are some of the more important climbers. Diliman is used chiefly as tying material in the preparation of fish traps because of its durability in salt water. It is also used for making ropes and baskets. Nito is the name used for different species of Lygodium, although the most common and widely used species in the country is Lygodium circinnatum. It is used in the manufacture of baskets, hats, bags and other fancy articles. The central cylinders of the roots of Pothos are used in baskets. Baling-uai is a vine used in tying, in sewing nipa shingles and in making baskets (Neri 1994).

Salago (Wikstroemia spp.) is a shrub with an exceptionally high fibre potential. Fibres extracted from its bark are excellent materials for the manufacture of high grade paper used in bank notes, cheques, paper for legal documents and other specialty papers requiring strength and durability. Four species of this genus are known for their quality fibres, namely: small leaf salago (Wikstroemia indica); lance leaf (W. lanceolata); large leaf salago (W. meyeniana) and round leaf salago (W. ovata) (Brown 1921).

Table 2. Salago plantations areas

Region	Total area (in ha)
Ilocos (Region 1)	1.70
Southern Tagalog (Region IV)	16.44
Bicol (Region V)	199.00
Western Visayas (Region VI)	284.12
Central Visayas (Region VII)	1 153.77
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)	45.31
Eastern Mindanao (Region IX)	10.05
Northern Mindanao (Region X)	305.25
Southern Mindanao (Region XI)	7.59
Total	2 023.23

Two manufacturers of handmade paper in Cebu City are exporting salago products (i.e. slippers and ladies’ bags for export to Germany). The average export price for salago fibre was observed to be increasing steadily from 1986 to 1990. In 1998 a total of 645 840 kg of salago bark valued at US$443 990 were exported to China, Japan, Korea and Thailand.

In the Philippines, there are 40 known species of pandan (Pandanus). Among the most important pandan species in the Philippines are: bariu (Pandanus copelandii); taboan (P. dubius); alasas (P. uzonensis); oyango (P. radicans); sabutan (P. sabotan); karagomoi (P. simplex); common or beach pandan (P. tectorius) and pandan layugan (P.exaltatus).

The pandan leaves are used for making coarse and fine baskets, bags, hats, mats, picture frames and other novelty items. Pandan leaves are good material for making low-cost cocoon frames for silkworm production. The wood of some pandan species is also used in the manufacture of splints for making baskets.

It is estimated that there are 58.88 billion stems of pandans in the Philippines. Pandan placemats are exported to Canada, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United States. In 1998, the total export of pandan placemats was 56 770 pieces, valued at US$(FOB)90 934.00 (Philippine Forestry Statistics 1998).

Exudates

Gum- and resin-producing plants, such as: piling liitan (Canarium luzonicum); Almaciga/Manila copal (Agathis philippinensis); Benguet pine (Pinus kesiya); apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorus) and Manila elemi (Canarium luzonicu) are distributed widely in open areas and in second growth forests throughout the Philippines.

Resins and gums (especially Manila copal and Manila elemi) are the main NWFP exported in raw form. Almost all resins that are produced are exported. In 1998, 355 000 kg of Almaciga resin with an FOB value of US$254 000 and 221 000 kg of Manila elemi with an FOB value of US$448 000 were exported. There are insufficient processing factories in the country.

Table 3. Export of Manila copal and Manila elemi from 1990 to 1998

Year	Manila copal		Manila elemi
Year	Quantity (1 000 kg)	Value (US$FOB1000)	Quantity (1 000 kg)	Value (US$FOB1000)
1998	355	254	221	448
1997	281	365	162	436
1996	326	258	353	947
1995	328	252	259	621
1994	387	249	269	464
1993	382	243	330	686
1992	273	164	176	295
1991	363	242	146	251
1990	288	211	611	1 064

Source: Philippine Forestry Statistics (1998)

Medicines

More than 80 percent of the Philippine population uses herbal remedies. Most original information on drug-producing plants is derived from traditional practitioners, known locally as herbolario.

The creation of the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP) has provided scientific groundwork for the development of herbal medicines in the Philippines. Through this programme, four herbal pharmaceutical plants were established in the Philippines (i.e. Tuguegarao and Cagayan in Luzon Island, Tacloban City in Visayas Island and Cotabato City in Mindanao Island). At present, the production of these four Department of Health (DOH) plantations is limited to the following herbal drugs: lagundi (Vitex negundo), sambong (Blumea balsamifera), yerba buena (Mentha cordifolia) and tsaang gubat (Carmona retusa) (Board of Investment-Department of Trade and Industry 1999).

The exports of herbal products are minimal. Various countries such as China, Romania, Iran and Iraq have shown interest in importing herbal medicines such as lagundi and sambong from the Philippines.

Perfumes and cosmetics

More than 50 plants have been identified to contain essential oils. Plants that have the potential for commercial extraction include citronella (Andropogon nardus), salai/tanglad (Cymbopogon citratus), moras (Vetiveria zizanioides), ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata), kalingag (Cinnamomum mercadoi), lumbang (Aleurites moluccana) and baguilumbang (Aleurites trisperma) (DOST 1992; Neri 1994). Due to inefficient manufacturing practices, the essential oil industry of the Philippines has to import more than 90 percent of its raw materials. The cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries imported essential oil products worth US$96.5 million in 1997 (Bureau of Export Trade Promotion, Department of Trade and Industry 2000).

Herbal soaps and shampoos and other care products are becoming popular too, especially with the urban populace.

Dyeing and tanning

Plant dyes are used for colouring mats, textiles and in food products. For instance, the highlanders of Mindanao use sikalig (Morinda bracteata), sibukao (Caesalpinia sappan) and talisay (Terminalia catappa). Sappan wood (sibukao) from Caesalpinia sappan has been exported.

ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Honey

Annually, NATRIPAL (United Tribes of Palawan) is marketing 200 to 300 gallons of honey mostly to local tourist markets and traders in Manila. In 1997 deliveries of honey totalled six tonnes.

Medicine

Demand for monkeys as experimental animals (a source for polio vaccine) and the legal phase-out on the collection and trade of wild monkeys have encouraged commercial companies to engage in the captive breeding of monkeys. Six companies are involved in the trade of animals for experiments.

Other non-edible animal products

Butterflies (e.g. Graphium agamemnon) are bred and traded in commercial quantities and exported as pupae and dried adult specimens (DENR-UNEP 1997).

REFERENCES

Asia Pacific Centre for Research. 1994. The commercial propagation of salago for fiber production. A feasibility study on the DOST-TAPI-PCARRD.

Brown, W.H. (ed.) 1921. Minor products of Philippine forests. Manila, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry.

Decena, A.A. & Decena, L.T. 1992. Socio-economic profile of the Philippine vine handicraft industry. FPRDI Journal 21 (1&2): 81–96.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 04. Revised regulations governing rattan resources.

DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-63. New rates of forest charges pursuant to Republic Act No. 7161 (R.A. 7161) and based on the FOB market price of forest products.

DENR Administrative Order no. 2000-64. Regulation in the cutting/gathering and/or utilization of anahaw palms.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST). 1992. Essential oil production. Techno Brochure 03. Series 1992.

DOST. 1996. The basketry industry. March 1996.

Escobin, R.P. & Banaticla, Ma. C.N. 1997. Identification handbook of Philippine commercial and potentially commercial woody forest vines. Annual Progress Report , NRCP F-127.

Escobin, R.P.; Rojo, J.P. & Pitargue, Jr. F.C. 1997. Identification handbook of Philippine bast fiber producing trees and shrubs. Proj. no. FPRDI-1997 0005 (1-96-101-3101-1) TR.

Foundation for Sustainable Techno-environmental Reforms in Asia, Inc. (FOSTER- Asia). 1998. A study on bamboo processing.

Gonzales, L.L. & Virtucio, F.D. 1989. Lukmoy and nito: the promising vines for cottage industries. Canopy International, 15, 1: 8–10.

Guerrero, C. 1999. The quality of forest honey in Palawan. Voices from the Forest No 1. February, 1999.

Neri, B.S. 1994. Non-wood forest products in Asia-Philippines. FAO docrep. X5334e09.Ortiz, F.A. & Robillos Y.U. 1980. Essential oils in some Philippine plants.

Philippines Council for Agriculture,Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). 1991. The Philippine recommends for rattan. Series no.55-A. Los Baños, Laguna., PCARRD.

PCARRD. 1991. The Philippine recommends for bamboo. Series No. 53-A. Los Baños, Laguna, PCARRD.

Philippine Forestry Statistics. 1998. Forest Management Bureau. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City, Manila.

National Statistical Coordination Board. 1993. Philippine standard commodity classification manual. Makati, Manila.

Serrano, R.C. 1988. Profile of selected non-timber forest products. Book Series no. 67/1988.Los Baños, Laguna, PCARRD.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This report has been realized within the framework of the EC-FAO Partnership Programme "Sustainable Forest Management in Asia". The contents are based on available information at FAO headquarters in Rome, as well as on a report provided by Mrs Nimfa Torreta.

The following persons have also contributed to the preparation of the report: Ms Mayumi Quintos, Division Chief, Forest Management Bureau; Dr Ramiro Escobin, Researcher, Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI); Dr Eustaquio Aragones, Researcher, Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI); Dr Justo P. Rojo, Retired Scientist, Forest Products Research and Development Institute; Dr Aida B. Lapis, Researcher, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau; Dr Agustin Pinol, Researcher, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau.

Additional information on NWFP in the Philippines would be appreciated and duly acknowledged.

CONTACTS

Forest Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (FMB, DENR)
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (PAWB-DENR)
Bureau of Investment, Department of Trade and Industry (BOI, DTI)
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB)
University of the Philippines, Los Baños, College of Forestry and Natural Resources (UPLB-CFNR)

ANNEX 1. FOREST SERVICES

Mangrove ecosystems and national forest parks provide various benefits. Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs and support for fishery production in coastal waters. They serve as recreational areas for bird watching and wildlife observation. National forest parks have aesthetic, recreational, sociocultural, scientific, educational, spiritual and historical values.

Table 4. Visitors to selected protected areas in the Philippines

Region/name of park/protected area	Number of visitors		Total number of visitors	Income generated (in pesos)
	Local	Foreign
National Capital Region (NCR) Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center	380 689	0	390 689	3 332 088
Region 1 Bessang Pass National Park	12	1	13	2 340
Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) Mt Pulag National Park Mt Data National Park	1 237 1 855	0 1 809	1 237 3 664	63 625 0
Region 2 Mt Pulog National Park Penablanca Protected Landscape (formerly Callao Cave National Park)	200 8 957	0 176	200 9 133	11 225 0
Region 3 Angat Game Refuge and Game Sanctuary Mt. Arayat National Park	54 5 225	4 549	58 5 774	0 54 350
Region 4-A Mainland Aurora National Park Mt Palay-palay Mataas na Gulod Mt Banahaw-San Cristobal (Quezon Side) Alibijaban Island Wilderness Area	24 521 0 14	0 0 0 0	24 521 0 14	0 2 367 0 0
Region 4-B Mt Iglit-Baco National Park	62	2	64	0
Region 5 Bicol National Park Mayon Volcano National Park Mt Isarog National Park Libmanan Caves National Park Bongsalay Mangrove Forest Reserve Bulusan National Park	2 490 9 308 6 481 399 224 1 159	0 25 0 1 0 19	2 490 9 333 6 481 400 224 1 178	31 500 13 585 32 975 1 420 0 12 775
Region 6 Bulabog Putian National Park Sampunong Bolo Bird Sanctuary Silay Outdoor Recreation Area (SORA)	11 664 266 9 080	13 0 4	11,677 266 9,084	0 0 0
Region 7 Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary Apo Island Protected Landscape	2 718 783	185 1 371	2 903 2 154	47 453 68 655
Region 8 Mahagnao Volcano Lake Danao National Park	212 837	21 75	233 912	0 9 023
Region 9 Mt Dajo	0	0	0	0
Region 10 Initao Mt Kitanglad Range	6 062 1 255	4 35	6 066 1 290	41 029 37 225
Region 11 Mt Apo	14	17	31	0
Region 12 Sacred Mountain Mt Apo National Park	0 0	0 0	0 0	0 0
Region 13 Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Siargao Is. Prot. Landscape & Seascape	115 2	11 7	126 9	0 930.00

Source: Quarterly Regional Statistical Report 1999 (compiled by: Management Information System and Statistics Unit, Planning Staff, Parks and Wildlife Bureau, DENR)

QUANTITATIVE NWFP DATA OF THE PHILIPPINES

Product

Resource

Economic value

Bamboo Biodiversity