Demographic Effects of Collecting Rattan Cane and Their Implications for Sustainable Harvesting

: Rattan, Old World climbing palm, is an extremely valuable nontimber forest product whose canes are gathered for both market and nonmarket uses. I evaluated the effects of harvesting commercial rattan, Calamus zollingeri Becc., on genet survival and ramet demography in two primary forest sites near Lore Lindu National Park in Sulawesi, Indonesia. I monitored 168 permanently marked C. zollingeri genets for 4 years and surveyed random transects for C. zollingeri genet and ramet populations and evidence of cane harvesting in 1996 and 2000. Cane harvesting had no significant effect on genet survival or mean ramet densities. However, current cane extraction rates significantly reduced mean cane lengths and total available cane throughout the area during the study period. Based on observed genet and ramet populations and average cane growth rates of 1.4 m/year, the sustained-yield harvesting potential of C. zollingeri is approximately 101 m and 56 m/ha/year in the two study sites. Although C. zollingeri exhibits life-history traits well suited to sustained-yield harvesting, including production of multiple canes, cane resprouting following harvest, rapid cane growth, and widespread abundance below 1100 m, current harvest rates exceed growth and yield, and supplies of cane are being depleted. Rattan harvesting is widespread in Lore Lindu National Park. Approximately 18% of the park (42,000 ha) is likely subject to intensive and unsustainable extraction of C. zollingeri. Resumen: El ratan, palma trepadora del Viejo Mundo, es un producto forestal no maderable extremadamente valioso cuyas canas son colectadas tanto para usos de mercado como no mercado. Evalue los efectos de la cosecha del ratan comercial, Calamus zollingeri Becc., sobre la supervivencia de genet y demografia de ramulas en dos sitios de bosque primario cerca del Parque Nacional Lore Lindu en Sulawesi, Indonesia. Durante 4 anos monitoree 168 genets de C. zollingeri marcados permanentemente y revise transectos aleatorios en busca de poblaciones de genet y ramulas de C. zollingeri, asi como evidencia de cosecha de canas en 1996 y 2000. La cosecha de canas no tuvo efecto significativo sobre la supervivencia de genets ni las densidades promedio de ramulas. Sin embargo, las tasas de extraccion de cana actuales redujeron significativamente la longitud promedio de las canas y la disponibilidad total de canas en toda el area durante el periodo de estudio. Con base en poblaciones observadas de genets y ramulas y las tasas promedio de crecimiento de canas de 1.4 m/ano, el potencial de cosecha de produccion sostenida de C. zollingeri es de aproximadamente 101m y 56m/ha/ano en los dos sitios estudiados. Aunque C. zollingeri exhibe caracteristicas adecuadas para cosechas de produccion sostenida, incluyendo la produccion de canas multiples, rebrote de canas despues de la cosecha, crecimiento rapido de canas y amplia abundancia debajo de los 1100 m, las tasas de cosecha actuales exceden el crecimiento y produccion, y las reservas de cana se estan agotando. La cosecha de ratan es extensiva en el Parque Nacional Lore Lindu. Es probable que aproximadamente el 18% del parque (42,000 ha) este sujeto a la extraccion intensiva y no sostenible de C. zollingeri.