What is Gum Damar ?

What is Gum Damar ?

Gum Damar (also known as damar resin) is a natural  tree resin obtained from several species of the trees in the Dipterocarpaceae family, especially Shorea Javanica which grows abundatly in Lampung Province, Sumatra Indonesia.

It is a non timber forest product (NTFP) that plays an important role both economically and  environmentally for local communities.

Gum Damar is a natural resin exuded from the bark of Shorea Javanica trees. It hardens into yellowish to whitish translucent lumps after exposure to air.

Main sources Gum Damar almost 90% from Lampung Province. Harvested traditionally by local farmers in agroforestry systems (mixed other crops).

For harvesting process the farmers make incisions on damar tree to let the resin flow out. After several weeks the hardened gum is collected manually.

The resin is then dyring, cleaned , washing and sorted before sale.

Physical characteristics high grade gum damar is Pale yellow colour to white and the lower grade is brownish to black.

Gum Damar is soluble in alchohols and turpentine.