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Posted by Online on Sep 14th, 2013 Labelled as the “wonder wood,” bamboo and its many environmental and economic benefits were discussed at a recent forum held by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Tacloban City, Leyte. Attended by about a hundred participants from local government units (LGUs), the academe, bamboo industry, and government agencies, the forum focused on the importance and viability of bamboo production as a livelihood enterprise and as a means to promote ecological stability. The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) estimates that approximately 1.5 billion people in the planet depend in some way or another on bamboo and rattan. Considered the fastest growing plant on the planet, bamboo is a most viable substitute for wood, an essential structural material to prevent soil erosion, and a renewable source for agroforestry production. Although it takes two years for a new bamboo plant to grow, when the mature plant is harvested it grows again after only a year. This is because bamboos are actually large grasses which regrow fast after being cut – unlike hardwood trees which when cut take several decades to grow again. There are over 1,200 different species of bamboo. Some species can reach heights of up to 30 meters and more. About 18 million hectares of bamboo are spread all over in Asia, Africa, and America. In developing countries, bamboo is a basic raw material with numerous traditional uses like building houses and making furniture, utensils, and handicrafts. It is also widely used in modern wood and paper industries. Bamboo charcoal can also replace firewood to help save trees. The plant requires few nutrients and can grow in soil inhospitable to other plants. Its roots strip heavy metals from the soil, hold the soil together, and draw water closer to the surface. When planted on a steep slope or riverbank, it prevents mudslides and erosion. Bamboo production requires only a modest capital investment and generates steady income to farmers. It has a tremendous economic impact in many countries of the world, giving rise to many new industries and products. Many export markets have been opened amid the development of innovative products made from bamboo. The plant is also now being used to produce pulp and paper. We congratulate the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headed by Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, and Department of Trade and Industry led by Secretary Gregory L. Domingo for taking the lead in propagating the wonders of bamboo in our countryside in our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY! Continue reading →