Rubber tapping
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Rubber tapping is the process by which rubber is gathered. An incision is made in the bark of a rubber tree. The fluid then drains into a vessel.
This industry is prevalent in areas containing rain forest, such as Brazil or Malaysia. It is less destructive and harming to the environment and rainforest and is legal.
Each night a rubber tapper must remove a thin layer of bark along a downward half spiral on the tree trunk. If done carefully and with skill, this tapping panel will yield latex for up to 5 years. Then the opposite side will be tapped allowing this side to heal over. The spiral allows the latex to run down to a collecting cup. The work is done at night so the latex will run longer before drying out.
