Bamboo plantations

El Análisis de Ciclo de Vida de materiales de construcción locales, contribuye a la elaboración de bases de datos, donde se muestre y cuantifique el impacto ambiental de los procesos necesarios para la fabricación, uso y descarte de cada material; siendo una herramienta de apoyo en la toma de decisiones de diseño enfocadas hacia una arquitectura y procesos constructivos más sostenibles. El presente trabajo muestra un estudio de Inventario de Ciclo de Vida realizado en una empresa del noroccidente de Pichincha sobre el proceso productivo de tallos de bambú Dendrocalamus asper tratado, comercializados principalmente para su aplicación como estructura en edificaciones. El método fue desarrollado conforme los procedimientos indicados en la norma ISO 14042. Los resultados indican los factores de mayor impacto ambiental durante el proceso, en este caso el combustible usado para el transporte del producto. Abstract: Life Cycle Assessment of local building materials contributes to the devel...

Kitil Farm is a licensed open quarantine which operates in Kenya. We grow and sell high quality bamboo seedlings to individuals, investment groups, NGOs, CBOs, Government ministries and departments, and County governments. We use biotechnology, among other laboratory techniques. We also establish bamboo nurseries, rehabilitate degraded land, to fully functional ecosystem using bamboo. Most importantly, we also conduct training to individual investors and/or groups on all aspects of bamboo care, bamboo management, harvesting and associated technologies.

There is widespread assertion among scientists, government and development experts that bamboo agroforestry could contribute to sustainable rural development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, there is limited available data to verify the suitability of the system in the region. In addition, the current state of knowledge and adoption of agroforestry in SSA offers very little guidance as to which type of agroforestry systems bamboo could be integrated. Here, we reviewed the potential socioeconomic and environmental benefits of bamboo agroforestry and accentuate implications on sustainable rural development in SSA. In addition, we analysed potential research areas that could be intensified, so that future developments and scaling-up of bamboo agroforestry can be rooted in robust scientific findings rather than the intuitions of governments and development actors.

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan is an independent, non-profit intergovernmental organisation established in 1997. INBAR is dedicated to improving the social, economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo and rattan. INBAR plays a unique role in finding and demonstrating innovative ways of using bamboo and rattan to protect environments and biodiversity, alleviate poverty, and facilitates fairer pro-poor trade. INBAR connects a global network of partners from the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors in over 50 countries to define and implement a global agenda for sustainable development through bamboo and rattan.

Bamboo is a versatile gift of nature. It has direct link to the socio-economic and cultural conditions of the Nepalese people. The aim of the study was to assess the status of bamboo production in private land, its contribution to socio-economic condition and marketing trend of bamboo culms and bamboo products. This study was conducted in 10 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Rautahat District during July to October, 2010. Data were collected through household (HH) survey using semi-structured questionnaires, key-informant survey through interviews, focus group discussion, market survey, and bamboo stock measurement. Two wards in each VDC were selected purposively based on availability of bamboo. The HHs in the selected wards were categorized into three well-being classes (rich, middle and poor) through participatory approach. The average number of bamboo clumps per HH was found to be 3.4 in the three categories of HHs within the study area; 5.7 (highest) in the rich-class HHs followed by 3.9 in the middle-class HHs and 0.5 (lowest) in the poor-class HHs; there were, on an average, 80 culms per bamboo clump in the study area. On the contrary, the income from the bamboo sector was found to be just opposite- 73.85% in the poor-class HHs followed by 2.37% in the middle-class HHs and 0.85% in the rich-class HHs. The prices of bamboo culms, basket and Nanglo winnow were found to have increased by 51.6%, 41.0% and 36.4% respectively during the last 4 years- from 2006/07 to 2010. No fixed market, no fixed price and no guarantee in sealing the products were found to be the major problems for market development of the bamboo products in the district. Awareness-raising through trainings and study-tours on plantation techniques to the bamboo-growers as well as the craft-makers and production of high-prized products are essential for increasing bamboo plantations and for the development of bamboo market in the district so as to make bamboo-culm supplier in the near future. The findings of this study will help the concerned agencies to inform about the status and future prospects of bamboo sector in the district.

"Financial mechanisms have evolved to mitigate the adverse impacts of Climate Change in recent past. These mechanisms are project based and allowance based. Under the compliance structure of international carbon market, Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol is attractive option for overcoming financial and other barriers of Climate Change mitigation project implementation in the developing countries. A
comparatively small market is also evolving under the voluntary structure driven by the corporate social responsibility to offset emission footprints of activities, products and services of individuals and companies.
Having large Bamboo resource and potential of enhancing its cultivation and utilization,
India has promising opportunities for Climate Change mitigation. These include- Sequestration in Bamboo plantation and energy generation from Bamboo biomass, gas and Charcoal.
Eligibility of these options has been assessed in the paper under the CDM and VCM (Voluntary carbon market) from the methodological aspects. Based on the assumptions from past studies it was estimated that the Bamboo and Bamboo application can generate 18 to 26 carbon credits per ha per year, offering the revenue of Rs. 5,578 to 10,078 per ha per year and even more in certain cases. The economic models for the same have been discussed in the paper."

El Análisis de Ciclo de Vida de materiales de construcción locales, contribuye a la elaboración de bases de datos, donde se muestre y cuantifique el impacto ambiental de los procesos necesarios para la fabricación, uso y descarte de cada material; siendo una herramienta de apoyo en la toma de decisiones de diseño enfocadas hacia una arquitectura y procesos constructivos más sostenibles. El presente trabajo muestra un estudio de Inventario de Ciclo de Vida realizado en una empresa del noroccidente de Pichincha sobre el proceso productivo de tallos de bambú Dendrocalamus asper tratado, comercializados principalmente para su aplicación como estructura en edificaciones. El método fue desarrollado conforme los procedimientos indicados en la norma ISO 14042. Los resultados indican los factores de mayor impacto ambiental durante el proceso, en este caso el combustible usado para el transporte del producto.
Abstract: 
Life Cycle Assessment of local building materials contributes to the development of databases that display and quantify the environmental impact of manufacture processes, use and disposal of each material. It is a support tool to make design decisions towards more sustainable architecture and construction processes. This paper presents a case of Life Cycle Inventory developed in a company situated in northwestern Pichincha; it is about the production process of bamboo Dendrocalamus asper treated stalks, which are used primarily as building structure. The method was developed in accordance with the ISO14042 procedures. The results indicate the environmental impact factors during the process; in this case the biggest impact comes from the fuel used during the transportation.

The workshop brought together government officials, policy makers, academicians, members of the civil society and key players from the private sector like Kitil Farm. The objective(s) of the workshop is to discuss the roadmap towards the development of a National Bamboo Programme. Other participants included UNEP, ICRAF, UN Habitat, WRI AWF and ICRC.

Kitil Farm is the largest plantation bamboo nursery in Africa with over 3.2 million bamboo seedlings and supporting conservation programs and development of bamboo plantations in Africa and outside. These bamboo species and others, are among the 38 priority bamboos of economic importance recommended by INBAR and UNEP in 2003, and have been tested and grown by KEFRI, and approved for plantation in Kenya.

The International Bamboo Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 and 22 April 2015, was organised by International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya and Kenya Research Institute (KEFRI).

The present work was aimed to detect the albino is micro-propagated shoots of Bambusa balcooa (B. Balcooa). PCR based RAPD and ISSR technique was used to predict the genetic level variation. In this study tissue culture of B. balcooa was carried out in MS medium. Three different CTAB extraction methods are used to isolate DNA. The isolated DNA amplified with 8 ISSR and 3 RAPD primers. MS medium with additives and BAP 5.0 mg/l showed the best shoot initiation of B. balcooa with shoot height of 2.4 cm with 2.5 shoots per explants and 91.6% response. Modified CTAB used to isolate the genomic DNA, Method 1 yielded 88.2 ng/µl with OD of 1.92 and Method 3 yielded 86.2 ng/µl with an OD of 1.87. Both the OD of 1.92 by Method 1 and 1.87 by Method 3 are sufficiently good for amplification of DNA using ISSR and RAPD primers. 7 ISSR primers and 3 RAPD primers showed amplification upon screening with genomic DNA of green shoots of B. balcooa. Mgcl2 of 2.5 mM and 3.0 mM showed the best amplification among the different (1.0-4.0 mM) concentrations of Mgcl2 tested. The present studies carried out to detect the genomic variations at DNA level using PCR technique showed monomorphic bands using 10 primers. The plants produced through auxiliary shoot proliferation showed genetically stable plants.

The workshop brought together government officials, policy makers, academicians, members of the civil society and key players from the private sector like Kitil Farm. The objective(s) of the workshop is to discuss the roadmap towards the development of a National Bamboo Programme. Other participants included UNEP, ICRAF, UN Habitat, WRI AWF and ICRC.

Kitil Farm is the largest plantation bamboo nursery in Africa with over 3.2 million bamboo seedlings and supporting conservation programs and development of bamboo plantations in Africa and outside. These bamboo species and others, are among the 38 priority bamboos of economic importance recommended by INBAR and UNEP in 2003, and have been tested and grown by KEFRI, and approved for plantation in Kenya.

The bamboo forest in Tanzania covers an estimated area of 127,824 ha, varies in size,
colour, root structure and clumping form. It comprises indigenous (Yushania alpina,
Oxytenanthera abyssinica, Oreobambos buchwaldii) and exotic species (Bambusa
bambos, Bambusa vulgaris e.t.c).
The bamboo plant consists of an underground axis, which includes rhizomes, roots and
buds. The above ground axis consists of stems (culm), branches, and foliage. Culm is
cylindrical and is divided into sections by nodes.
Bamboos are classified according to three main rooting (rhizome) systems namely
Monopodial (running bamboo), Sympodial (clumping bamboo) and Mixpodial (both
running and clumping bamboo). It generates seeds when they flower most bamboo flower
at age of 20 to 120 years.
Three types of flowering exist in bamboos: Gregarious flowering; the clumps of an
entire species flower, produce seed, and then die e.g. Dendrocalamus strictus. Sporadic
flowering; several clumps are flowering at a time in one farm e.g. Yushania alpina
Pseudo flowering; this is false flowering as they experience drought some few flowers
comes out and it shows as if the plant is dead but during rainy season the plant reestablish e.g. Pseudosasa japonica.
Bamboo plantation/woodlot establishment starts with obtaining the materials for planting.
Such materials may come in the form of seeds, wildings, offsets or cuttings that may be
gathered from mother plants. Planting materials may be raised through nurseries or tissue
culture technology in the laboratories.
The planting area should be selected and demarcated early, preferably 2–3 months prior
to the onset of rain in the year of planting. Bamboo prefers loamy and sandy loamy soils,
but what is more critical is good drainage since it cannot withstand water logging. For
reasonably good growth most bamboos require annual rainfall of more than 1000 mm.
It is important to plan the field layout for easy harvesting and hauling of mature culms. A
spacing of 5m x 5m (400 clumps/ha) may be sufficient for most bamboo species but is
inadequate for large species like Dendrocalamus giganteus which preffer up to10m x
10m (100 clumps/ha).
Silvicultural management of bamboo is heavily based on its growth habit, particularly the
way the underground rhizome develops leading to the formation of culms. Effective
management involves weeding, beating up, replanting, plant protection, pruning, thinning
and sustainable harvesting of culms (systematic but selective cutting of mature culms).PAGE 3
Pruning should be undertaken starting from the second and third year of growth while
thinning or removal of dead, scarred, damaged, defected or weak culm is done three years
after planting. Bamboo plantations pest control includes physical, biological, cultural and
chemical methods. Harvesting of bamboo is through selection of culms for cutting rather
than clear felling.
Note: The planted area should normally be ready for first harvesting in about five to
seven years.

The International Bamboo Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 and 22 April 2015, was organised by International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya and Kenya Research Institute (KEFRI).

The workshop brought together government officials, policy makers, academicians, members of the civil society and key players from the private sector like Kitil Farm. The objective(s) of the workshop is to discuss the roadmap towards the development of a National Bamboo Programme. Other participants included UNEP, ICRAF, UN Habitat, WRI AWF and ICRC.

Kitil Farm is the largest plantation bamboo nursery in Africa with over 3.2 million bamboo seedlings and supporting conservation programs and development of bamboo plantations in Africa and outside. These bamboo species and others, are among the 38 priority bamboos of economic importance recommended by INBAR and UNEP in 2003, and have been tested and grown by KEFRI, and approved for plantation in Kenya.

Bamboo is a versatile gift of nature. It has direct link to the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the Nepalese people. The aim of the study was to assess the status of bamboo production in private land, its contribution to socioeconomic condition and marketing trend of bamboo culms and bamboo products. This study was conducted in 10 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Rautahat District during July to October, 2010. Data were collected through household (HH) survey using semistructured questionnaires, key-informant survey through interviews, focus group discussion, market survey, and bamboo stock measurement. Two wards in each VDC were selected purposively based on availability of bamboo. The HHs in the selected wards were categorized into three well-being classes (rich, middle and poor) through participatory approach. The average number of bamboo clumps per HH was found to be 3.4 in the three categories of HHs within the study area; 5.7 (highest) in the rich-class HHs followed by 3.9 in the middle-class HHs and 0.5 (lowest) in the poorclass HHs; there were, on an average, 80 culms per bamboo clump in the study area. On the contrary, the income from the bamboo sector was found to be just opposite-73.85% in the poor-class HHs followed by 2.37% in the middle-class HHs and 0.85% in the rich-class HHs. The prices of bamboo culms, basket and Nanglo winnow were found to have increased by 51.6%, 41.0% and 36.4% respectively during the last 4 years-from 2006/07 to 2010. No fixed market, no fixed price and no guarantee in sealing the products were found to be the major problems for market development of the bamboo products in the district. Awareness-raising through trainings and studytours on plantation techniques to the bamboo-growers as well as the craft-makers and production of high-prized products are essential for increasing bamboo plantations and for the development of bamboo market in the district so as to make bamboo-culm supplier in the near future. The findings of this study will help the concerned agencies to inform about the status and future prospects of bamboo sector in the district.

The International Bamboo Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 and 22 April 2015, was organised by International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya and Kenya Research Institute (KEFRI).

The workshop brought together government officials, policy makers, academicians, members of the civil society and key players from the private sector like Kitil Farm. The objective(s) of the workshop is to discuss the roadmap towards the development of a National Bamboo Programme. Other participants included UNEP, ICRAF, UN Habitat, WRI AWF and ICRC.

Kitil Farm is the largest plantation bamboo nursery in Africa with over 3.2 million bamboo seedlings and supporting conservation programs and development of bamboo plantations in Africa and outside. These bamboo species and others, are among the 38 priority bamboos of economic importance recommended by INBAR and UNEP in 2003, and have been tested and grown by KEFRI, and approved for plantation in Kenya.

India is one of the richest countries in Bamboo population covering 12.8% of the total forest land of the country. However, the yield per hectare is dismally low due to poor management, unscientific exploitation and low investment in raising preferred bamboo species. Very little attention has been paid until now to the management of natural bamboo stands and to ensure sustained supply of this raw material that result in constraining and reducing the potential benefits and value of bamboo applications. The current demand of bamboo for various purposes is estimated at 26.69 million tonnes as against the supply of 13.47 million tonnes. The average per hectare annual productivity of bamboo in India is about 1 MT/ha which is much less than the world's average. Low per hectare yield indicates poor management of existing bamboo plantations in forest and non-forest areas. It has been shown in case of some species that intensive cultural operations and scientific management of bamboo pla...

Bamboo belongs to the grass family Poaceae (Gramineae) and it is recognized as the fastest growing plant on earth. Of the 30 bamboo species recorded from Sikkim, 27(90.00%) species under 6 genera are sympodial type and only three (10.00%) species under two genera are monopodial type. 21 bamboo species were found in tropical forests (0 - 900m), 28 species in sub-tropical forests (900 - 1800m), 12 species in temperate forests (1800 - 2700m), 6 species in sub-alpine forests (2700 - 3500m) and 3 species in alpine vegetation (3500 - 4500m). Bamboo is mostly used for house construction, scaffolding, fencing, garden support, fodder, handicrafts etc., and for several other articles of everyday use. Edible young bamboo shoots are used as vegetables. In the present paper a list of bamboos occurring in Sikkim with their vernacular names, distribution and its uses in the Himalayan state has been given. However extensive study is required to know emphatically about the bamboo diversity of the Hi...

The Inani Protected Forest of Cox’s Bazar district is one of the major reservoirs of bamboo in the South-Eastern part of Bangladesh and collection of bamboo is notably important to the inhabitant of that area. The study was carried out in natural forest and homestead bamboo stand using vegetative sampling, questionnaires, key informant interviews and local market observations to assess production and monetary services. The study found 7 bamboo species in the homestead of which 3 were available in natural forest. Melocanna baccifera comprised the highest abundance (2133 culm/ha) in both study area. In case of natural regeneration, the same species showed highest performance with 11 culm/clump. Local demand of bamboo ranged from 6% to 32% of the total collection, mostly used for building materials, utensils, farm equipment and beetle leaf cultivation. Rest of the collected bamboos were sold that could generate a handful income ranging from 2000- 100000 taka/year. Though proper management system was absent in natural forest and homesteads the relative productivity in the former was less than the later due to overexploitation. The presence of more species and higher productivity in the homestead could reduce the overexploitation pressure on the adjacent natural forest.

: India is one of the richest countries in bamboo population covering 12.8% of the total forest land of the country. However, the yield per hectare is dismally low due to poor management, unscientific exploitation and low investment in raising preferred bamboo species. The average per hectare annual productivity of bamboo in India is about 1 MT/ha which much less than the world’s average. Low yield indicates poor management of existing bamboo plantations in forest and non-forest areas. It has been shown in case of some species that intensive cultural operations and scientific management of bamboo plantations can produce much higher yield. Establishment and management aspects of bamboo plantations for enhanced productivity are discussed in this paper.

The International Bamboo Workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 and 22 April 2015, was organised by International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya and Kenya Research Institute (KEFRI).

The workshop brought together government officials, policy makers, academicians, members of the civil society and key players from the private sector like Kitil Farm. The objective(s) of the workshop is to discuss the roadmap towards the development of a National Bamboo Programme. Other participants included UNEP, ICRAF, UN Habitat, WRI AWF and ICRC.

Kitil Farm is the largest plantation bamboo nursery in Africa with over 3.2 million bamboo seedlings and supporting conservation programs and development of bamboo plantations in Africa and outside. These bamboo species and others, are among the 38 priority bamboos of economic importance recommended by INBAR and UNEP in 2003, and have been tested and grown by KEFRI, and approved for plantation in Kenya.