On Bamboo's Ecological Advantages and Industrial Potential
Though pandas gnaw on it, and most of us humans only consider it to be an abundant-in-Asia plant without giving it much more thought, bamboo actually could become indispensable in a greener, more sustainable future. In fact, reps at the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR, China's first intergovernmental organization, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this week) say those plants can be used in not only houses and scaffolding, but also wind turbine blades and drainage pipes. Since its founding two decades ago, INBAR has flourished like bamboo in prime conditions, thanks to its deeply rooted (and carefully considered) relationship with Chinese authorities, and its ambitions that stretch heavenward like sturdy branches in the sun. Below, INBAR spokesperson Charlotte King tells us more about the potential that these rattan and bamboo palms can play, and the milestones that this groundbreaking organization has had over the years.
China Daily recently wrote: "'The nation's actions will help lead to a better community for all and a beautiful world,' Xi wrote to the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Beijing. The first intergovernmental organization established in China now has 43 member states." How does it feel for you and your cohorts to celebrate INBAR's 20th anniversary?
President Xi’s message of support to INBAR is the perfect present for our 20th birthday. We are absolutely delighted. I’m also very happy to be the Director-General who presides over INBAR’s 20th anniversary. When we were founded in 1997, we were the first intergovernmental organization to be based in China. Over the past 20 years, we have maintained a very strong relationship with the Chinese government, but we have also seen our international membership expand from 9 to 43 members, all across the world. We have trained some 25,000 people in how to use bamboo and rattan for everything from climate change mitigation and house-building to land restoration and job creation, and we’ve also created over 250,000 jobs. The wonderful thing about bamboo and rattan is that they have so many uses! But we need to spread the word and keep doing the work. That’s why we are also involved in projects around the world and represent our members at some of the key international events that are going on – from UN climate change summits to innovation and technology conferences. Recently, INBAR’s Council pledged to use bamboo to reforest 5 million hectares of degraded land using bamboo – that’s no small feat, and really shows how far we have come.
The world has changed a lot in the last twenty years. Bamboo is already a part of China’s carbon trading scheme, and bamboo energy is taking off in countries as far apart as Jamaica, Madagascar, and the Philippines. In Latin America, meanwhile, people are building bamboo housing which is more resilient to typhoons and earthquakes. Bamboo and rattan are also being used to restore degraded land in Ethiopia, prevent coastal erosion in Thailand, and create sustainable jobs across the world. The question isn’t “Why bamboo and rattan?” but “Why aren’t more people using these plants?”
Tell me about the challenges INBAR is facing as of late, and how it can overcome them to further improve environmentalism in China.
There is always more work to be done. Since 2016, INBAR’s work has focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, so we face the same challenges as a lot of other development organizations. In a world where 800 million people live in poverty and over one billion have no access to electricity, how can we bring about development and growth in an environmentally sustainable way? This is of course also true in China, which is developing at a very fast rate.
What steps are INBAR taking to promote bamboo and ratan's use worldwide?
In basic terms, at INBAR we are doing everything we can to promote bamboo and rattan for sustainable development. We attend big conferences and UN summits; we also conduct research in bamboo and rattan species and uses; we help countries to integrate bamboo and rattan into their economic and environmental plans; and we try to spread the word. We want every country to know, “Here’s what these plants can do for you.” One of our most exciting projects is the Global Assessment of Bamboo and Rattan, which aims to find out about every species of bamboo and rattan in the world, and how they can be used for different things: environmental protection, climate change mitigation, job creation and more. With over 1,600 species of bamboo and 600 of rattan, it’s going to be a very big – and very important – project.
Another important thing people can do is to support sustainably sourced bamboo and rattan products, where you find them. We need to make consumers part of the solution, and to take part in the growing bamboo and rattan economy.
Tell me about INBAR's role within Asia, and why having an office in Beijing, in particular, is so crucial.
INBAR is based in China, for one simple reason: it’s the kingdom of bamboo! China’s bamboo trade is valued at some USD 30 billion per year, and the bamboo sector employs eight million people. In Beijing, we are also close to the vast rattan reserves that grow in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, and which provide income for some of the world’s poorest rural communities. However, INBAR is very much an international organization – we also have 42 other members, and regional offices around the world: in Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, and India.
Bamboo is not just panda food – it has a huge number of uses, and can be a really important answer to a number of global challenges. Rattan is also a very important part of livelihoods across the Global South, and we are finding more applications for both these plants every year.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Next year we are holding the first international conference for bamboo and rattan. We hope to invite the leading lights from private companies, governments, and international organizations from across the world to share their thoughts about how bamboo and rattan can help sustainable development. We are welcoming people from across the world to come and join the discussion – please do have a look here: barc2018.org.
Photos: Courtesy of INBAR
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