The Directorate of Inventory and Monitoring of Forest Resources (IPSDH) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) together with FORCLIME conducted a focus group discussion on Technical Guidelines for Bamboo and Rattan Inventory on 17 and 21 October 2019 in Bogor, West Java. The discussion aimed to explore inputs to update the bamboo and rattan inventory guidelines that currently applied. The current dynamics on policy, social and technological requires improvement on the guideline to be updated to be more effective and efficient.

60 participants representing MoEF, researchers, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), universities and the Forest Management Unit (KPH) attended the meeting. There are some findings from the discussion, such as: (1) Indonesia has high-value bamboo and rattan potentials, however, is weak in managing the production and distribution data; (2) Social dynamics in the field are very high but rattan data and bamboo data are not updated so their validity is often doubted; (3) Lack of data makes difficult for the government to develop supporting legislations; (4) At the field level, lack of data has affected the KPH and business actors to develop a sustainable rattan and bamboo business; (5) The dynamics of imagery technology opens opportunities for the development of a large-scale rattan and bamboo inventory method with a more efficient cost; (6) There are several initiatives to develop bamboo and rattan inventory methodology.

After the discussion, the IPSDH Directorate will conduct a series of meetings, public consultation and trials to formulate the Bamboo and Rattan Inventory Technical Guidelines. This technical guide is expected to be implemented in 2020.

For more information, please contact:
Wandojo Siswanto, Strategic area manager for forest policy
M. Rayan, Adviser for cross-cutting issues
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development