DIVERSITY OF PLANTS USED FOR PLAITED CRAFTS BY THE DAYAK IBAN-DÉSA IN KABUPATEN SINTANG, KALIMANTAN BARAT, INDONESIA
ABSTRACT: Diversity of plants
used for plaited crafts by the Dayak Iban-Désa in Kabupaten Sintang, Kalimantan
Barat. Reinwardtia 15(2): 67 ‒ 79. — Many plants are used for making plaited
crafts such as basketry and woven mats by the Dayak Iban-Désa, a sub-tribe of
the Dayak in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. The Dayak Iban-Désa gather the craft
materials mostly from the plants in the forest. However, the habitats of these
plants are being threatened by deforestation. The diversity of plants used for
crafts is here documented. Thisstudy recorded the scientific names of plant
species used for the craft plaiting, and observed abundance of plants used for
craft. Information about the plants used were gathered using non-structural
interview and focus group discussion (FGD) with the informants and
participants. The abundance of plaited plants was observed in 46 plots of 10 ×
10 m2 plots by participative ecological method. Nineteen plants species were
used as plaited material, belonging to four families: Arecaceae, Poaceae,
Pandanaceae and Zingiberaceae. Two species of rattan (Calamus sp. and
Plectocomiopsis wrayi Becc.) have the highest Index Cultural Significance (ICS)
value. Those species were considered as the most valuable plant materials because
of the quality of fiber, intensity on harvesting, and the resulting quality of
plaited craft products. However, the demand for high quality products is not
always supported by the availability of plant materials in the forest.
Therefore, the cultural significance of plants (the ICS values) and their
availability should be considered when determining the conservation strategy
for each of these species.
Author: ASIH PERWITA DEWI
Journal Code: jpbiologigg160008
