Sustainability of the production of habayon (bast fiber) from three different Ficus species

Indigenous people, Mangyans, in Arangin, Oriental Mindoro [Philippines] utilize bark of three Ficus species as a non-wood resource. These species are Tabgun [F. ruficaulis var paloense Ehmer/Merr], Tangisang Bayawak [F. variegata Blume] and Hauili [F. septica Burm]. This study assessed the nature and scope of the production, processing and utilization of the three different Ficus sp. Resource inventory was conducted and many interviews with local people (resource persons and those who utilize the resource) were carried out. The resource is abundant in Arangin and it was growing in variety of places, from riversides to agricultural lands. These three Ficus species are pioneer species and can grow on different types of sites. The total levels of harvesting of barks per month were 300 for Tabgun, 60 for Tangisang Bayawak and 20 for Hauili. Pregnant women do harvesting activity more than usual, so that if there were females pregnant in the village, the number of harvested barks were higher. The number of trees per hectare in the collection area was 18.4 Tabgun, 6.63 Tangisang Bayawak and 5.3 hauili trees (DBH5 cm). The total area of collection was 150 hectares. The number of regenerations were also very high. The average number of wildlings in a hectare were estimated at 837,500 for Tabgun, 515,000 for Tangisang Bayawak and 382,500 for Hauili. From the ecological point of view the utilization of Ficus bark in Arangin is sustainable because resource stocks are abundant and not decreasing. The species utilized are fast growing, have high sprouting ability and they are generalist species. Analysis of supply and demand showed that the production of habayon (a clothe like product made of bark of Ficus sp) is not on sustainable basis because demand is becoming lower all the time. This practice is old but is becoming more rare nowadays because Mangyans do not need habayon as their clothing material much anymore because they can afford to buy alternatives for habayon