Occurrence and Management of Canes in West Bengal

In West Bengal canes occur naturally within the agro-climatic zones of Sub-Himalayan Bhabar and Tarai. With the exception of two high altitude canes, other eight species appear in wet mixed plain forests in the swampy pockets. In the recent past, canes were extracted on a cutting cycle of 3 to 5 years. But over-exploitation surreptitiously, extraction of immature plants and clearfelling of natural forests depleted these valuable resources, which were much in demand in local rattan industries. At present, discontinuing clearfelling in natural forests under the provision of Forest Conservation Act, ban on extraction of cane in Working Plan prescription and resorting to artificial regeneration in suitable habitat help rehabilitation of cane in this State.