May 2009

Today I was privileged to watch as some of Harapan Rainforest's Bathin Sembilan indigenous community processed the first three tonnes of rattan harvested from Harapan Rainforest. The villagers are hoping to earn 5-6,000 rupiah (30-40p) per kilo of rattan sold into the commercial market. Rattan is the stem of a climbing palm and will be familiar to people in the West as the material used in 'cane' furniture.