[RWG] Several items having to do with bamboo

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Below are several news items from around the world about bamboo that may 
be of interest.

>Bamboo reforestation project underway in Eastern Cuba
>Bamboo as alternative to timber in Ghana
>Poverty alleviation through bamboo-based development: policies, 
strategies, and stakeholders


----

NWFP-Digest-L
No. 1/06
 
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: www.fao.org/forestry/site/12980/en
 
We received over 630 replies to our on-line survey. A summary of the 
results will be published in the next issue of Non-wood News. We would 
like to say a special “thank you” to all those who participated.
 

 

 
 Bamboo reforestation project underway in Eastern Cuba
Source: Periódico 26 - Las Tunas, Cuba, January 2006
 
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.
            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. 
            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. 
            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. 
            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. 
            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. 
            Cuba is actively pursuing the possibilities of bamboo’s many 
uses, indispensable in so many other areas around the globe.
For full story, please see: 
http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/bamboo011806.htm
 


 
 Bamboo as alternative to timber in Ghana
Source: Accra Daily Mail, 26 January 2006
 
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. 
            . 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. 
            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. 
            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
For full story, please see: 
http://www.accra-mail.com/mailnews.asp?id=15385
 
Poverty alleviation through bamboo-based development: policies, 
strategies, and stakeholders
18-28 April 2006
Lin'an and Anji counties, Zhejiang province, China
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. 
            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. 
            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. 
            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. 
Course contents and learning objectives
            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. 
            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.
Workshop Structure
Lectures by bamboo development experts (2 days)
Field studies in villages, households, factories, markets (5 days)
Group discussion with local government officials, entrepreneurs, 
technicians (1 day)
Registration: April 17-18, 2006
Fee: US$1200 per person (including course fee, learning materials, 
accommodation, meals and local transport). 
Application: Participants are required to fill in the application form and 
submit it together with CV and deposit to Ms. Jin Wei before March 15, 
2006. 
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Jin Wei,
INBAR Publications and Training Officer
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
No.8, Futong Dongdajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District, Beijing, P. R. China
Mailing address: Beijing 100102-86, P. R. China
Post code: 100102
Tel: +86-10-64706161-209
Fax: +86-10-64702166
Email: wjin at inbar.int

 


QUICK TIPS AND INFORMATION FOR NWFP-DIGEST-L 
 
This list is for information related to any aspect of non-wood forest 
products.
 
Cross-postings related to non-wood forest products are welcome.
 
Information on this mailing list can be reproduced and distributed freely 
as long as they are cited.
 
Contributions are edited primarily for formatting purposes. Diverse views 
and materials relevant to NWFPs are encouraged. Submissions usually appear 
in the next issue. Issues are bi-monthly on average.
 
To join the list, please send an e-mail to: mailserv at mailserv.fao.org with 
the message:
subscribe NWFP-Digest-L
 
To make a contribution once on the list, please send an e-mail to the 
following address: NWFP-Digest-L at mailserv.fao.org
 
To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to: mailserv at mailserv.fao.org
 with the message:
unsubscribe NWFP-Digest-L
 
For technical help or questions contact NWFP-Digest-L at mailserv.fao.org
 
 
Your information is secure--We will never sell, give or distribute your 
address or subscription information to any third party.
 
 
The designations employed and the presentation of materials in the 
NWFP-Digest-L do not necessarily imply the expression of any opinion 
whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 
United Nations.
 
 
NWFP-Digest-L Sponsor:
Non-Wood Forest Products Programme
Forestry Department
FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Fax: +39-06-570-55618
Web site NWFP programme: 
www.fao.org/forestry/foris/webview/fop/index.jsp?siteId=2301&langId=1
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.plantconservation.org/pipermail/rwg_lists.plantconservation.org/attachments/20060307/d71dd219/attachment.html>