Bamboo

Bamboo has "great opportunity’s”. It is the fastest growing renewable resource.

As a sustainable resource, bamboo provides potential solutions to the damaging impact of human activities on the environment. Sustainable development is a common phrase in discussions about human activities and increasing population estimates. It is essentially defined as human development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It’s often associated with the terms "carbon footprint". Properly managed bamboo forests are of high value and will improve the social, ecological and environmental issues on a large (climate) and small (soil) scale. Unlike unmanaged bamboo culms which has a natural life of a decade and relatively quickly returns carbon to the atmosphere after decay, properly managed bamboo can sequester much more carbon, especially if the harvested culms are turned to durable products.

Bamboo plants with the ability of storing 50 tons CO2 per ha per year presents the ability of sequestering huge amounts of global carbon. This elevates Africa to the fore front as important primary REDD+ beneficiary. The continent remains most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (drought and floods), already experiencing temperature increases of approximately 0.7o, with predictions that temperatures will further rise, inhibiting food production and susceptibility to waterborne diseases and malaria.

Gallery