Bukidnon: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is enhancing its long-standing Rattan Gene Bank in Bukidnon to meet the growing demand for rattan products.
According to Philippines News Agency, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna announced that the initiative aims to ensure a steady supply of high-quality planting materials for the rattan industry in the Philippines, thereby alleviating the pressure on the country's natural forests. This strategic move follows an 18.1 percent increase in the Value of Production Index for wood, bamboo, cane, and rattan articles in April, which has significantly heightened the demand for raw materials across the nation.
Secretary Cuna emphasized that the plan aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to expand livelihood opportunities linked to ecosystem protection and foster nature-based industries. The surge in production by manufacturers, primarily in the furniture and handicraft sectors, underscores the necessity for sustainable rattan plantations to decrease reliance on wild rattan sourced from forests. "By investing in science-based restoration and sustainable supply chains, we're ensuring that livelihoods endure for decades," Cuna stated.
The DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), through its Forest and Wetland Research, Development and Extension Center (FWRDEC), is spearheading the upgrade of the Rattan Gene Bank. This effort is expected to produce quality planting materials for plantation development, thereby bolstering the supply of raw materials for furniture and handicraft producers while conserving native rattan species.
Forester Joel Orella, who leads the project, outlined plans for a permanent nursery and a 10-hectare rattan plantation within the Malaybalay Experimental Forest in Bukidnon. Additionally, the project includes training for various stakeholders, including people's organizations, local government units, DENR field offices, Indigenous Peoples communities, and private stakeholders, on seed collection, nursery management, and plantation establishment. "We are creating opportunities for communities while ensuring that future generations will continue to protect and benefit from our native rattan resources," Orella noted.
Among the first beneficiaries is the Woodstock Forest Stewards Association in Bukidnon. Its members will be trained to propagate rattan wildlings and seedlings, providing them with an additional income source by supplying plantation developers, government greening programs, and private buyers.
The five-hectare Rattan Gene Bank, established in 1992 within the Malaybalay Experimental Forest, conserves 30 native rattan species and serves as the country's living repository of rattan genetic resources. The Philippines is home to an estimated 64 to 80 rattan species and varieties, according to the DENR.
Cuna highlighted that strengthening the gene bank is part of the government's broader effort to protect forests while creating economic opportunities for rural communities. "President Marcos has been clear that caring for our ecosystems must also create opportunities for our people. Every forest we protect and every coastline we restore strengthens communities and builds a more resilient future for the country," he added.
ERDB Director Lormelyn Claudio stressed that the bureau's research aims to benefit both people and industry. Partnerships with communities ensure that the agency's research addresses actual needs on the ground, empowering residents to become active stewards of the country's natural resources.
