Environmentally-friendly rattan to be produced
VGP - More than 100 villages in Việt Nam, Cambodia and Laos plan to join a chain of sustainable and environmentally-friendly rattan production by 2010.
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Safe rattan production not only creates forest sustainability but also helps improve people’s health and livelihood |
The goal was announced at the launching of a €2.4 million program on sustainable production of rattan in the Mekong region last week.
Thibault Ledecq, program manager said the program is implemented by the Greater Mekong World Wide Fund (WWF), and co-financed the European Union, the international home-products retailer IKEA and the German development finance institution (DEG).
According to Greater Mekong WWF, Việt Nam, Cambodia and Laos are home to more than 50 species of rattan. Many villages in these countries are living on rattan cultivation which produces 50% of their total cash income.
Việt Nam exports almost 60% of all finished rattan products to Europe.
At the moment, rattan materials are decreasing because of overexploitation. Thus, the sustainable harvesting and cleaner production will provide long-term livelihood to local people and facilitate forest protection.
WWF said that at the end of the project, at least 40% of targeted small and medium enterprises in the supply chain will be actively engaged in clean and safe manufacture of rattan products, and 15% will export sustainable and environmentally friendly goods.
By Ngọc Vân
