A review of dipterocarps - Center for International Forestry Research

Non-Timber Forest Products from Dipterocarps
and is orally administered to prevent vomiting (WOI
1989b).
Socio-economic Perspectives
In general dipterocarp NTFPs have been mainly used as
subsidiary products by village people. However, some
products from a few species have assumed much greater
importance due to their demand. These few products have
gained commercial importance in industry and trade due
to their properties and chemical constituents. At present
in the southern Asian countries, forest management
systems have banned or restricted timber harvesting and
so there is a need to generate more revenue from the
NTFPs, especially during the prescribed long rotation
for tree felling.
Amongst the dipterocarp genera, Dipterocarpus,
Dryobalanops, Hopea, Shorea, Vateria and Vatica are
the important sources for NTFPs. The oleoresin and
seeds are the most important for various uses while the
leaves, bark, and twigs are useful for medicinal or tanning
purposes. Shorea robusta is the only tree considered
sacred and associated with different beliefs and religions.
Critical analysis reveals that commercial extraction/
harvesting of different NTFPs aids socioeconomic
development. Local harvesting of NTFPs by village and
forest dwellers for traditional uses will persist. The
present system of exploitation by local people is
generally detrimental and therefore, improved collection
methods are needed to provide sustained production and
income. Value adding by local processing is desirable to
increase returns.
Strategies for NTFP Development in
Forest Management
Development strategies will differ for the extraction of
oleoresin, seeds, bark and leaves from any species of
NTFP importance. Owing to the erratic and unregulated
extraction of NTFPs from different species, the
economic returns do not properly accrue to the
collectors. Therefore, it is essential that there are
scientific measures to ensure better gains for improving
the socioeconomic condition of not only the village and
forest dwellers, including tribals, but also other industrial
entrepreneurs associated with the utilisation, marketing
and trade of the various products. Specific mention is
made below of the development of NTFPs from
dipterocarps:
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1. Resins (Oleoresins and Dammars): These are the
most important commercial products obtainable
from Dipterocarpus alatus, D. grandiflorus, D.
indicus, D. tuberculatus (gurjan/In oil), D.
turbinatus (gurjan/kanyin oil), Hopea odorata (rock
dammar), Shorea robusta (sal dammar), Vateria
indica (white dammar) and Vatica lanceaefolia.
Methods of obtaining oleoresin/dammar from these
species have been discussed, but as yet there is no
foolproof scientific method of tapping. Research
should be done, according to the species, on: the
optimum size, shape and depth of the blaze to avoid
damage to a tree on a harvest rotation of several decades;
the appropriate collection season and duration
with adequate freshenings; and obtaining sustained,
optimum oleoresin yields.
Further, depending upon the constituents of each oleoresin,
they can be put to specific industrial uses.
Therefore, in order to make maximum gains from
the value-added products, the raw material must be
graded and processed prior to manufacturing the essential
oil and various derivatives. These exercises
will go a long way in improving the socio-economic
conditions of all those involved in the oleoresin trade.
2. Camphor: Dryobalanops aromatica is the only important
dipterocarp producing camphoraceous oleoresin.
This is extracted when the trees are felled
for wood. Marco Polo, in 1299, mentioned that its
camphor was traded by Arabs in the sixth century. The
camphor was obtained, from concentrated occurrences
of this species in North and East Sumatra and
Johore. Now, camphor from this species is not commonly
used, owing to the convenient availability of
alternative sources.
3. Seeds: Collection of seeds either for edible and medicinal
purposes or recovery of fatty oil is made on
large scale from Shorea robusta in South Asia and
S. macrophylla in Malaysia, followed by S. aptera,
S. obtusa, S. stenoptera, Vateria indica, V.
copallifera, and Vatica lanceaefolia. To maintain the
product quality and achieve maximum returns it is
essential to collect the seeds in the appropriate season
and stage of development and to properly grade
and process them.
4. Leaves: Shorea robusta leaves are important for local
and commercial manufacture of cups, platters and
cigar wrappers. The leaves of other species, such as
Dipterocarpus tuberculatus, Hopea odorata and