Bamboo solutions for the world
Bamboo is a wonder plant by all accounts. Its many uses include erosion control, watershed protection, soil remediation, and environmental greening. It is also the fastest growing timber plant on earth, with many applications as a wood substitute. It is this plant, which forms the central feature of the world), a project that aims to tap the social and ecological potential of the world through a five-year program involving the following activities:
- Establishment of a bamboo nursery with a diverse collection of species.
- Field planting of bamboo in selected areas.
- The implementation of a Training Program for the local community (including the cultivation, maintenance, harvesting and utilisation of bamboo).
- The development of a community-based business for ornamental plants, bamboo handicrafts and housing.
The project needs a three-acre parcel for the nursery and initial infrastructure. 'Bambustique' will carry out the implementation of the action plan, a registered foundation with homeowners as board members. They try to raise basic funds for the first 5-year program - including the nursery, a model bamboo house, a preservation facility, training courses, and workshops.
Increased awareness of bamboo's immense potential will create livelihood opportunities and contribute to the well-being and quality of life. In addition, the cultivation and use of bamboo as a timber substitute will reduce the pressure on hardwood forests. Very successful bamboo housing projects in Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica have shown that China and Asia are not the only regions, which can benefit from bamboo, but that Latin America and the Caribbean are also in a position to take advantage of this remarkable natural resource.
About Bamboo
Traditionally thought of as the poor man's timber, bamboo has in recent years emerged as a much sought after timber for industrial applications and environmental enhancement. Bamboo is the fastest growing timber plant on earth. It is a multipurpose plant with numerous uses. In particular bamboo is useful for combating erosion and for rapidly greening barren land areas.
Key Features of Bamboo
- Bamboos grow more rapidly than trees and start to yield within four to five years of planting.
- Bamboos can be selectively harvested annually and non-destructively.
- The establishment of a bamboo plantation requires a minimal capital investment and builds upon the inherent plant-cultivation skills of local farmers and foresters.
- Bamboos are excellent for restoring degraded lands and protecting against soil erosion.
- Bamboos may easily be intercropped with vegetables.
- The whole bamboo plant is beneficial for rural livelihood. The poles (technically referredto as 'culms') are useful as a construction material; the young shoots are edible; the leaves make good animal fodder; and branches are useful for making handicrafts.
Executive Summary
This proposal involves establishing a community based bamboo program, with a nursery and pilot project to be set up.
The project will be executed by Bambustique a registered foundation under the stewardship of Gert van Delft of the Netherlands. Oprins Plant NV will provide technical assistance.The aim of the project is to promote bamboo cultivation and develop community based bamboo industries that are sustainable and which will provide a means of income generation for local people.
The project will be developed over a period of 5 years in the following stages:
1. Local Nursery: Establishment of a nursery with a diverse collection of bamboo species, including a model house and preservation plant.
2. Pilot Plantation: Establishment of bamboo stands in selected areas (including marginal lands and eroded areas.)
3. Training Program for the local community (including bamboo cultivation, maintenance, harvesting and utilization)
4. Development of a community based business for bamboo housing and construction.
Project Framework
The project is designed as an integrated system developed in 4 stages for promoting sustainable bamboo agro forestry and industry in . BamBustique intends to establish the basic component of a system, which should be developed by and for the local communities.
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Stage 1 oof the project involves the introduction of a bamboo nursery to develop the cultivation of bamboo planting material for local plantations.
Stage 2 consists in developing a pilot bamboo plantation, which aims to serve as a model for other plantations. The plantation is intended both for environmental enhancement (e.g. erosion control) as well as for raw material production. Bamboo poles and shoots will therefore be selectively harvested such that the production can be maintained at a high level year after year.
Stage 3 is an outreach phase wherein local people are trained and equipped with skills to maximize the productivity of the plantation and utilize raw materials in an economical way. The transfer of know-how generated through the training program aims to provide skills leading to job creation, productivity and income.
Stage 4 involves the gradual development of a community-based business involving the production of bamboo products and the expansion of the bamboo plantation base.
It is expected that as the community based bamboo program develops and provides economic rewards, there will be an increased role for nursery plant production (Stage 1), plantation development (Stage 2), improved know-how (Stage 3), and production efficiency and competitiveness (Stage 4). The various stages therefore provide basic components of a bamboo program that should evolve and strengthen itself through community action and participation. Each of the stages of the project is discussed below.
Stage 1
DEVELOPMENT
OF A BAMBOO NURSERY
General Plan
The local nursery will include propagation facilities and equipment, as well as technical advisers.
Oprins Plant NV will supply a collection of tropical bamboo species plants. These plants will serve as the mother stock for the plants to be propagated locally.
The bamboo nursery aims to be a cooperative venture between Bambustique and the community members. The objective is that members of the community should be:
- directly involved in running the nursery,
- direct financial beneficiaries of the activities.Local community members will be supervised by Bambustique and will be provided with training and technical assistance to ensure the professional management of the nursery.
Components
The nursery project has 3 general components, namely: (1) propagation material; (2) land with model house; and (3) nursery infrastructure.
1. Propagation Material: will consist of a collection of various species of tissue cultured bamboos.
The plants are clones of elite mother plants. In other words the plants will generally have superior characteristics to randomly selected propagation material.
The young plants are well rooted and are vigorous growers.
2. Land: at least 3 acres of land will be suitable for a large scale nursery production. Ideally the land should be leveled, with a water source or irrigation facilities nearby.
A bamboo house with modern breakthrough technologies will be build which serves as the domicile of the Bambustique Foundation.
A preservation plant (high roof ) will be build to treat harvested culms against insect attacks.3. Infrastructure includes the following elements:
- a shaded area for young plants
- a potting area
- storage area (for tools and fertilizer)
- soil mixing area
- an open stocking area (preferably with a ground cover cloth)
An economical solution using local materials will be implemented for the nursery construction.
Production System
The production system to be applied has been tried and tested by Oprins Plant in bamboo projects in South East Asia, Africa, and South America. The system involves several stages:
1. Acclimatization of tissue culture propagules
2. Potting of plants
3. Shade house maintenance and watering
4. Hardening of Plants
Marketing and Distribution System
A marketing brochure/leaflet will be developed whereby the bamboo farming are explained. The brochure will cover such topics as cultivation, management and sustainable harvesting, and preservation.
Plants from the nursery will initially be distributed to other places. As demand for bamboo plants increases, "satellite nurseries" can be set up for the hardening and stocking of plants.
Stage
2
ESTABLISHMENT
OF A PILOT PLANTATION
General Plan
Pilot plantations of totalling 5 ha will be planted in selected areas, including marginal and eroded areas. These pilot plantations aim to serve as a demonstration project that can be replicated in other regions.
The plantation aims to promote the sustainable use of bamboo as a wood substitute. At the same time the plantation will:
- bring degraded and unproductive land into productivity and provide a source of income generation for poor rural people.
- broaden the cultivation skills of local farmers through creative agro forestry and introduction of permaculture systems.The plantation will be sustainable managed. During the first three years, suitable areas of the plantation can be intercropped with vegetable crops, hardwood tree species or palm trees. After four to six years, bamboo can be selectively harvested every year. With proper management, the plantation can be productive indefinitely.
Bamboo from the plantation will provide:
- a source of timber and fiber that can be locally processed and sold
- a source of food (bamboo shoots) that can be consumed or marketed locally and export to the US.
Activities
The main activities involved in establishing the pilot plantation are:
Stage 4
