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How bamboo can help bring
about a pro-poor, green economy
Tim Cronin, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
B
amboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet. It helps
sustain the livelihoods of many millions of the world’s
poorest people, generates more than US$2.5 billion in
annual global trade and provides food and shelter for some of
the world’s most vulnerable animal species, such as the moun-
tain gorilla and the giant panda.
The pressure on our forests to provide food, fuel, fibre and fodder for a
growing population is now greater than ever. Meanwhile, the threat of
climate change promises to intensify this pressure even more in coming
years. Bamboo’s properties – its versatility, durability and renewabil-
ity – mean it can provide an ideal substitute for timber and reduce
this pressure on our forests. Strengthening local bamboo industries can
help drive rural development, while protecting our forest resources.
Moreover, bamboo’s fast growth rate and ability to prevent soil erosion
can play an important role in adapting to climate change, while also
helping to mitigate climate change by storing carbon in the standing
biomass of plantations and in durable bamboo products.
In short, bamboo can help the world transition to a
pro-poor, green economy.
To do so, bamboo needs to be supported with the
right silvicultural and processing practices, the right
level of community awareness, and the right enabling
policies. In some parts of the world, the potential for
bamboo to bridge development and conservation objec-
tives is already being supported and harnessed.
The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
(INBAR) seeks to realize the potential of bamboo to
address the challenges of the 21st century. Established
in 1997, presently INBAR represents 37 member coun-
tries, the vast majority of which are located in the
bamboo-rich tropics and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa
and Latin America. With its headquarters in China,
and regional offices in India, Ethiopia, Ghana and
Ecuador, INBAR is a strong platform for South-South
collaboration.
China’s bamboo industry is by far the most developed in the world. Exports of bamboo products from China were valued at more than US$1 billion in 2009. INBAR
facilitates the transfer of knowledge and technology for bamboo development throughout its 37 member countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America
Image: courtesy of the Anji Bamboo Society