Bamboo – A sustainable alternate of wood for Green India

1.Introduction

Purpose of this study is to evaluate bamboo as a sustainable alternative for wood in furniture
making and creating awareness about it. Through this journey, we will find out the need for
an alternate, evaluate qualities, methods of processing along with related tools and
infrastructure requirements and associated challenges. We will also explore some of the
recent and current initiatives taken for upliftment of bamboo sector in India and some
suggestions on how to improve its development further.

Finally, through this research we will determine if bamboo is the choice of future as a
replacement of wood in furniture.

1.2. Significance

Current Environmental Crisis

1. Deforestation
2. Soil Erosion
3. Ground water level depletion
4. Water Pollution
5. Degradation of Land

Sustainable Future

Sustainability is about development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Bamboo as an alternative helps reduce the impact on the environment by
contributing in many ways as explained below.

The environmental and ecological benefits of bamboo explore the plantation’s

impacts on local forests, non-timber forest products, water resources and
biodiversity. The current environmental problems being experienced globally
indicated that the current patterns of development are not sustainable. These
indications highlight the need for an injection of environment-friendly
developmental patterns and processes through industrial development needs to be
sustained. In recent times, our environment has suffered many disasters resulting from
climate changes causing floods in many countries leading to loss of lives and
properties. Given the above effect, climate change is fast becoming a global
reality. As climate change is fast becoming a global phenomenon, it is already
influencing patterns of production and consumption activities, including
international trade. Among the significant causes of climate change is deforestation
which accounts for almost 20% of all anthropogenic emissions ITTO Many
development initiatives globally tend to support activities that downplay the role of
forest resources as industrial inputs, most especially, the utilisation of slow-growing
plant species (soft and hardwood), as efforts are directed towards production and
utilisation of fast growing high yielding alternatives such as bamboo in industrial
production processes.

 Deforestation –
o The diminishing of the forest cover and deteriorating ecology threatens
the very existence of man and animals.
o The high current dependency on forest cover, degradation of the
environment and fast deteriorating ecology threaten the very existence of
man and animal because of its adverse impact on climate and
groundwater resources. Accelerated overuse and mismanagement of
forest resources and galloping rise in human and livestock population is
leading to fast dwindling of these resources. Notwithstanding, the adverse
effects lead to the failure of the watershed, disruption of ecological
balance and consequently its impact on the quality of life. The
development of bamboo resources globally will significantly add to the
environment and the ecological balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere.
o Bamboo reaches maturity in five years which is the optimal age to harvest.
In a sustainably harvested forest only 20% of the forest is harvested
annually allowing for 100% harvest in a five-year period.
o The bamboo is extremely renewable material compared to other
hardwood species which are growing at least 50 years. Bamboo grows
quickly (6 months to 2 years) to its mature height and can be harvest after
3 to 5 years. As a grass, bamboo grows much faster than wood.
o It takes about 3–5 years for bamboo to reach full maturity. Traditional hard
woods can take 20–120 years to mature.
o Bamboo which is the fastest growing woody plant and counts over 1,200
species does not need to be replanted after each harvest because it can
be harvested from the same stand every few years without harming the
plant. It may not reach the height and volume of the trees, but they are
fast growing, the culms are made by hard walls and stand tall in extreme
weather. Bamboo plants, grow from seeds or rhizomes, are a major non-
wood forest product (40 million ha) .
o Bamboo being a multifunctional, fast growing and a renewable plant is
considered as an alternative to timber. Its wide range of uses has added
significantly to the agricultural economy since it has created an
employment and as a source of income generation to the rural farmers
who goes into its cultivation, and contributing to community
development.

 Soil Erosion– Bamboo grows fast, and in a short time develops an extended and
strong root system, supporting the soil and preventing it from being washed away
by heavy rains.
The dense roof of branches and leaves protects the ground from forceful tropical
rains. In a bamboo plantation clear-cutting does not happen; only the adult
culms are taken away, leaving the plantation intact. Bamboo offers essential
ecosystem services, making it an essential plant for agroforestry. Bamboo is
excellent as it holds the soil together which help reduce erosion due to its
extensive rhizome system, particularly in areas prone to high amounts of runoff
like steep slopes, river banks or degraded lands. As a result, the root system
 creates an effective mechanism for watershed protection, stitching the soil
together along fragile river banks, deforested areas and in places prone to
earthquakes and mudslides. Unlike in most trees, proper harvesting does not kill
bamboo plants, so the topsoil is held in place. The widespread root system,
uniquely shaped leaves, and dense litter floor, the sum of stem flow rate and
canopy intercept of bamboo is 25%, which means that bamboo dramatically
reduces runoff, preventing massive erosion and keeping up twice as much water
in the watershed In the Philippines, Kenya and Andes region bamboo is well
known for its capacity to control erosion. In Punjab, India, about 62,000 clumps
were stubbed in 1980 in order to stabilise 311ha of embankments These clumps
started production with five culms per clump in year 5 and were expected to
attain full development of twelve (12) bamboo culms per clump after ten (10)
years onwards–yielding an annual profit of as much as U$70,000. Bamboos are
evergreen plants, and the thick canopy and soil cover provided by dead leaves
reduces splash erosion and enhances infiltration Bamboo culms are very elastic.
They bend in high winds, but usually do not break as they are used as windbreaks
to protect cash crops, particularly, in coastal areas where high winds are
frequent. Planting bamboo can help speed up conversion of degraded lands
into productive and economically viable systems, reducing erosion and rising
water table after mining of minerals. This will help to improve the productivity of
other commercial and food crops. Bamboo can be grown as a pioneering plant
in soil damaged by overgrazing and poor agricultural techniques.

 Ground water level Bamboo consumes water, but this is more than
compensated by the reduced evaporation created by the leaf roof, and by the
layer of fallen leaves. Owing to the increased permeability of the soil, water run-
off is reduced, allowing more water to penetrate the soil and to remain in the
area.
 Mitigates water pollution –Its high nitrogen consumption makes it a good solution
for wastewater treatment. The adsorption effectiveness of bamboo powder
charcoal (BPC); made from the residual of Moso bamboo manufacturing; in
removing nitrate-nitrogen from water has been investigated. his fact indicates
that BPC can be an attractive option for the in situ treatment by adsorption of
nitrate-nitrogen-contaminated underground and surface water.
Planned, scientific and holistic approach to bamboo cultivation, processing and
management using advanced technology will enhance bamboo sustainability
and an alternative material for infrastructure development. Bamboo can play a
significant role in the restoration and rejuvenation of rural and national
economies through its cultivation. When appropriate policies implement through
advanced technology on bamboo and its products, the infrastructure needs in
will be accomplished.
 Highly renewable resource- Restoration and regrowth - Bamboo reaches maturity
in five years which is the optimal age to harvest. In a sustainably harvested forest
only 20% of the forest is harvested annually allowing for 100% harvest in a five-
year period.
 The bamboo species behave very similarly to papyrus, with natural vegetation to
wetlands in this region. So they take up all these heavy metals and they can
clean the water."
 Ecologists say the environmental damage is alarming. Over logging and failure
to replant cause widespread soil erosion and loss of wildlife habitat.
 Restores degraded lands- Land degradation is defined as the long-term loss of
ecosystem function and productivity caused by disturbances from which the
land cannot recover
un- aided.
Land degradation occurs in many countries across the world, and has serious
adverse impacts on the environment. It also has knock-on effects on livelihoods,
by reducing the productive capacity of agricultural land, threatening food
security and increasing the risk of disease. According to one estimate, between
2010 and 2019, land degradation cost about USD 11 billion in Kenya, USD 18
billion in Tanzania and USD 35 billion in Ethiopia.
With its long root systems, ability to grow on degraded soils and steep slopes,
and extremely fast growth, bamboo can re vegetate even the most degraded
soils within a short period. For these reasons, an increasing number of countries
have begun to identify and explicitly include bamboo as a high priority species
for use in landscape restoration.

 Carbon sequestration- Bamboo sequesters around four times more CO2 than
average timber and produces 35% more the Oxygen. The rate of carbon
sequestration by bamboo is one of the highest in the world. Bamboo grows very
fast and establishes RMRDC rapidly both in the forest and plantations . In
plantations where selective annual harvesting of mature culms takes place,
bamboo can sequester more carbon, especially if the harvested carbons are
turned into durable products. Bamboo produces more carbons when managed
intensively according to a report by INBAR and EBF. Consequently, development
of bamboo plantations is one of the primary ways of reducing environmental
effects of the climate change. According to Environmental Bamboo Foundation
EBF , bamboo growth habits allow a high rate of production of oxygen than
equivalent stand of trees. Bamboo growth holds significant implication for
reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide is the fastest growing canopy that
releases 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees and sequesters up to
12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare per year in a report by EBF .
The storage sequestration potentials of managed forest ecosystem also depend
on the use of harvested materials. If the volume of the bamboo production
keeps increasing, then the bamboo system is a sink, as the rate of extraction is
higher than the rate of carbon release INBAR (

 Biofuel and energy production- Bamboo can help reduce deforestation by

replacing trees as a source of biofuel . In Ethiopia, bamboo charcoal has helped
them meet the energy demands for rural and urban dwellers, as in Manipur,
 India, household operated drum kilns provide reliable sources of bamboo
charcoal that provide both household energy and employment for local
communities . In Africa, most households and some industries depend on wood
for domestic energy generation. This has been a significant reason for the
advancement of the Sahara downwards because most forests are being over-
depleted for wood to provide energy for household use. The use of bamboo in
place of timber will reduce deforestation and consequently stem the rate of land
degradation in most African countries to meet the energy infrastructure needs.

 Planned, scientific and holistic approach to bamboo cultivation, processing and

management using advanced technology will enhance bamboo sustainability
and an alternative material for infrastructure development. Bamboo can play a
significant role in the restoration and rejuvenation of rural and national
economies through its cultivation. When appropriate policies implement through
advanced technology on bamboo and its products, the infrastructure needs in
will be accomplished.

In recent years, the bamboo culm has been made into an extended diversity of
products ranging from domestic household products to industrial applications. The
advancement of science and technology in recent years has contributed
enormously to bamboo growth commercially by farmers. Industrial processing and
preservation techniques of bamboo have made bamboo products sustainable.
Some of the industrial products from

bamboo are bamboo board, chopsticks, handicrafts, musical nstruments, pulp

and paper, toys, food containers, skewers, weapons, bridges, furniture, flooring,
boats and charcoal Kusters, et al., (2001).

With the sustainable cultivation of bamboo with the potential of having short-term
profitability, delivering returns which take just 3-5 years after planting, makes it a
stable and reliable source of annual income to its growers and the government. A
planned, scientific and holistic approach to the cultivation and management of
bamboos on a sustained basis can be an inexhaustible source of goods and services
which can play a significant role in the restoration and rejuvenation of rural
economies and the overall economic development of countries which goes into
its cultivation. A 20m bamboo culm can replace itself within 50 days as opposed to
a 20m hardwood tree which can take decades to grow. A single bamboo clump
can produce up to 15 kilometres of the usable pole over a 15-year period.

Bamboo possesses an excellent tensile strength property of 25 kilograms per square

inch, stronger than most steel. Bamboo is a significant component in construction
and infrastructure developments mostly across South America and Asia.

In the past 10-20 years, bamboo and its products have been developed as
an exceptionally-valuable and often superior substitute for soft and hardwood
contributing to infrastructure development of most countries in Asia and South
America.

Considering the increasing demand of timber and wood, which has been scarce
due to deforestation across the bamboos can serve as an alternative to revive the
forest and its products. Due to its multiple uses, bamboo’s cultivation will contribute
to the social needs of rural dwellers who go into its growth as well as the community
and the nation at large. It cultivation will create employment for farmers, small and
medium scale enterprises within the geographical areas of plantation adding
significantly to the rural agricultural economy in general and alleviates poverty from
the rural poor.

Research Objective - The objective of this research is to evaluate bamboo as an alternate to

wood in furniture making and whether Bamboo will be accepted by millenials and
Generation Z as a replacement of wood for furniture .

Steps being taken to Promote Bamboo cultivation, potential and prospects

The Govt, of India, has lately come to regard bamboo as an easily manageable export item
that provides high yields, has multiple uses and has the potential to provide employment for
millions. In this backdrop, the Planning Commission, Govt,of India, has accorded special
status to bamboo and launched ' National Mission on BambooTechnology and Trade
Development',

The 'National Mission on Bamboo Application(NMBA)', established under the TIFAC

(TechnologyInformation, Forecasting and Assessment Council),
Department of Science and Technology, New Delhihas been supporting bamboo sector
through technological upgradation, development of indigenous capacities/enterprise and
linkages withmarkets. The agency presently is working withabout 60 partners, mainly
Research institutions.
Enterprises and Govt, agencies, across the country for technological intervention and
demonstration of bamboo as a business venture, both at cultivationand utilization level.
Venture capital support is available through the agency, for interested entrepreneurs to
establish hi-tech bamboo industry

Review of Literature

Hammond, K. O. 2006. Cultivate bamboo for employment and

income generation. Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra), 18 May
2006.
Quintans, K. N. 1998. Ancient Grass, Future Natural Resource.
The National Bamboo Project of Costa Rica: A case study
of the role bamboo in international development. INBAR
Working paper No. 16. 58 p.