list of figures - Terry Sunderland

In recent years, rattan as been identified as one of the most important non-timber
forest products of West and Central Africa (Wilkie, 1999). To reflect this importance,
a number of studies have attempted to quantify the trade in rattan and rattan products
and to assess the role of rattan in contributing to rural and urban livelihoods. In order
to determine the potential that rattans might have in this regard, it is also essential to
understand the nature of the trade, as well as understand the socio-economic
characteristics of the industry itself (see Chapter 7).
8.3 THE RESOURCE BASE
Although numerous studies have concentrated on evaluating the importance of rattan
in these markets, very few have attempted to adequately define the resource base. As
discussed in Chapter 6 and Appendix 1, the utilisation of rattan to supply the thriving
cottage industry is limited to a few species. Table 30 presents a breakdown of the
major commercial species of rattan per region.
Table 30. Commercially important rattan species by region
Region Commercially utilised species
West Africa (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana,
Benin, W. Nigeria)
West/Central Africa (E. Nigeria, Cameroon,
Congo, Gabon, E. Guinea)
Central Africa (DR Congo, CAR)
Southern/East Africa (Zambia, Uganda,
Kenya, Tanzania)
* Indicates primary commercial species
8.4 THE NATURE OF THE TRADE
*Laccosperma secundiflorum
*Eremospatha macrocarpa
Eremospatha hookeri
Calamus deërratus
Laccosperma secundiflorum
*Laccosperma robustum
*Eremospatha macrocarpa
*Laccosperma robustum
*Eremospatha haullevilleana
Eremospatha macrocarpa
*Calamus deërratus
*Eremospatha haullevilleana
Large quantities of raw cane enter the urban centres of West and Central Africa each
day (Morakinyo, 1994; Ndoye, 1994; Falconer, 1994; Townson, 1995; Trefon and
Defo, 1998; Defo, 1997; Sunderland, 1998; Defo, 1999; Sunderland 1999a; 1999b;
Kialo, 1999; Minga, in press; Holbech, 2000; Oteng-Amoako and Obiri-Darko, in
275