For the purpose of sustainable utilization of non-timber forest products, the West Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service conducted a workshop on the Policy on Utilization and Trading of Non-Timber Forest Products of light red meranti (tengkawang) on August 30 in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. 31 participants representing the technical units of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, tengkawang practitioners and farmers in West Kalimantan participated in the workshop. The event was organized by the West Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service together with FORCLIME and the Kalimantan Tengkawang Network.

The workshop aims to discuss policies related to the Tengkawang trade system. In addition, this meeting was also to share experience of the Tengkawang Kalimantan Network in tengkawang processing and marketing.

Next to economic value, Tengkawang nut has an important cultural meaning for locals and is referred to as the “tree of life”. The nut can be processed into vegetable oil, while its derivatives can be used as basic ingredients for producing  food, lubricants, waxes, medicine and cosmetics. Tengkawang/meranti tree which is an endemic plant of West Kalimantan is the species of red meranti (Shorea stenoptera).

In addition to data and information on tengkawang production from various places in West Kalimantan, participants also made a list of recommendations related to the new Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.20/MENHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 concerning Protected Plants and Wildlife Species. In the previous regulation (PP 7/1999 concerning Protected of Plant and Wildlife Species), tengkawang tree was included as protected species, however, it has been excluded in the current ministerial regulation.

For more information, please contact:
Jumtani, Province Coordinator West Kalimantan