<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Below are several news items from around
the world about bamboo that may be of interest.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>>Bamboo reforestation project underway
in Eastern Cuba</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>>Bamboo as alternative to timber in
Ghana</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>>Poverty alleviation through bamboo-based
development: policies, strategies, and stakeholders</b></font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial">NWFP-Digest-L</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">No. 1/06</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Welcome to FAO’s NWFP-Digest-L, a free e-mail
journal that covers all aspects of non-wood forest products. Back issues
of the Digest may be found on FAO's NWFP home page: </font><a href=http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en target=_blank><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en</u></font></a>
<br><font size=3 face="Arial"><b> </b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">We received over 630 replies to our on-line
survey. A summary of the results will be published in the next issue of
<i>Non-wood News</i>. We would like to say a special “thank you” to all
those who participated.</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b> Bamboo reforestation project underway
in Eastern Cuba</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Source: Periódico 26 - Las Tunas, Cuba,
January 2006</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Verdana"><b> </b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Known around the world as the plant of a
thousand uses and the fastest growing —up to 15 cm/day—, bamboo is being
used to reforest the three main water basins of Baracoa, Guantanamo.</font>
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The use of bamboo in reforesting the basin areas pertaining to the Toa,
Duaba and Miel rivers began in 2005 and is planned to carry on until 2015
at a rate of 20 ha/year in an effort to promote sustainable development
in these important ecosystems. </font>
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Forestry engineer Ignacio Utria, a specialist from the Baracoa Forestry
Company, said that the goal of reforesting 20 hectares per year was reached
in 2005 with a survival rate of 85 percent. He specified that bamboo was
planted in open spaces between already established sugarcane plantations
along the rivers and not in areas exclusively dedicated to bamboo. Small
seedlings from young bamboo nurseries are used in the reforestation project
in Baracoa. </font>
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A native plant of India, bamboo forests are found in Asia, Africa, the
Americas and Australia, in tropical and subtropical areas; and in some
temperate regions of Argentina and Chile. There are 1,300 known species
of bamboo worldwide. In China, a country where bamboo is widely used, there
are some 500 different species. </font>
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More than half of the world’s population, in some way or another, make
use of bamboo on a daily basis. Bamboo is largely used as an alternative
to more costly materials. The bamboo industry is worth some $7 billon dollars
annually, with more than 5,000 commercially available products. </font>
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This versatile plant from the grass family is used in such diverse areas
as home building, wood making, pulp and paper production, industrial use,
agriculture, transportation, hunting, food for domestic animals and people,
arts and crafts, medicine and carbon. </font>
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Cuba is actively pursuing the possibilities of bamboo’s many uses, indispensable
in so many other areas around the globe.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">For full story, please see: </font><a href=http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/bamboo011806.htm><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/bamboo011806.htm</u></font></a>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b> Bamboo as alternative to timber
in Ghana</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Source: Accra Daily Mail, 26 January 2006</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b> </b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">A businessman in the bamboo industry has
called for marketing support for bamboo products as an alternative to timber.
Mr. Gladstone Mensah, Director of the Pioneer Bamboo Processing Company
Limited, said the strength of bamboo, which could be termed as "the
golden grass", made it very convenient to be used for many products
including tables and chairs, window blinds and doors. He said that the
current revolution on the grass could provide an economic breakthrough
to rural folks and further save the forest from degradation. However, he
stated that bamboo had failed to receive the needed recognition in spite
of its usefulness. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">
. Mensah explained that the bamboo grass was stronger than other woods
and bamboo products could last longer, if treated well with the right kind
of preservative. He called for more support from the government in terms
of market promotion and said if encouraged, bamboo cultivation could serve
as a major source of employment and revenue for people in the rural areas.
</font>
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The company, which is situated at Assin-Fosu in the Central Region, presently
purchases a 14-foot stick of bamboo for 1,000 cedis. Since it takes about
four to five years to mature, it is providing employment and quick revenue
for the people in the area. As a way of encouraging rural entrepreneurship,
government could also provide micro financing for research into other species
of the bamboo grass so as to expand production for both local use and for
export. </font>
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Mensah said that although Ghana had fewer species of bamboo compared to
China, there was much to be learned from Chinese success stories – China
is undertaking research and is fully exploiting bamboo for economic development</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">For full story, please see: </font><a href="http://www.accra-mail.com/mailnews.asp?id=15385"><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>http://www.accra-mail.com/mailnews.asp?id=15385</u></font></a>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b><u>Poverty alleviation through bamboo-based
development: policies, strategies, and stakeholders</u></b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">18-28 April 2006</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Lin'an and Anji counties, Zhejiang province,
China</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Bamboo is a fast-growing and regenerating
species. Shortly after planting, annual profits occur without negative
environmental effects. It is an ideal NTFP for sustainable development.
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">
Bamboo's physical properties are similar or superior to wood. Over the
past 15 years, China has achieved great progress in the development of
bamboo sector. A series of bamboo panel products superior to timber were
developed. Bamboo curtains, mats and carpets appear in the international
markets. New products based on bamboo charcoal, vinegar and extracts of
bamboo leaves, including medicinal products, natural pesticides, beverages,
daily toiletries etc., have great development potential. Bamboo shoots
have huge market potential as natural, high-fiber food. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">
Beyond traditional handicrafts and practical daily products, China's bamboo
sector has become a fast emerging rural industry. It plays an important
role in reducing timber consumption, protecting natural forests, poverty
alleviation, employment/income generation, environmental improvement and
rural socio-economic development. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">
Many developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America have rich bamboo
resources, but poor utilization, especially in terms of industrial processing.
This training workshop provides an opportunity for policy makers, rural
development practitioners, and entrepreneurs in bamboo producing countries
to learn about the potential of bamboo in sustainable development, and
to study the Chinese experiences elaborating development strategies and
sustainable management of enterprises. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Course contents and learning objectives</font>
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The course will be jointly carried out by INBAR and the Bamboo Industry
Associations of Lin'an and Anji counties in Zhejiang province, China. It
focuses on policies and case studies from the two counties, where impressive
developments have taken place over the recent years. </font>
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Course modules specifically would include: bamboo development policies
and strategies; Bamboo in rural development and poverty alleviation/income
generation; private sector and community partnership models; community
organization; household/micro-enterprise development; farmer-market linkages;
backward linkages/supply industries development; multi-stakeholder participation;
supply chain development; efficiency of raw material utilization; product
development, etc.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Workshop Structure</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Lectures by bamboo development experts (2
days)</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Field studies in villages, households, factories,
markets (5 days)</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Group discussion with local government officials,
entrepreneurs, technicians (1 day)</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Registration: April 17-18, 2006</b></font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Fee</b>: US$1200 per person (including
course fee, learning materials, accommodation, meals and local transport).
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><b>Application</b>: Participants are required
to fill in the </font><a href=http://www.inbar.int/news/tc06_1.doc><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>application</u></font></a><font size=2 face="Arial">
form and submit it together with CV and deposit to Ms. Jin Wei before <b>March
15, 2006</b>. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">For more information, please contact:</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Ms. Jin Wei,</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">INBAR Publications and Training Officer</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
(INBAR)</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">No.8, Futong Dongdajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang
District, Beijing, P. R. China</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Mailing address: Beijing 100102-86, P. R.
China</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Post code: 100102</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Tel: +86-10-64706161-209<br>
Fax: +86-10-64702166<br>
Email: </font><a href=mailto:wjin@inbar.int><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>wjin@inbar.int</u></font></a>
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