Bamboo and Rattan – A Potential Tool for Mitigating Climate Change.

According to a report by Raw Materials Research and Development Council [2004], the most endowed states in terms of bamboo occurrence are observed to be Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and Imo States and at least 10% of the natural vegetation in these states is dominated by bamboo, with existing bamboo clumps showing appreciable gregarious growth that is contiguous over large areas. The report also indicated pockets of bamboo clumps in Niger, Taraba and Plateau States as well as within the Federal Capital Territory.

Bamboo plays a crucial role in agroforestry systems and has the potential to enhance soil health and water retention in several ways. It has an extensive root system that helps bind soil particles together, reducing soil erosion.

Bamboo is hollow inside, whereas rattan has a solid internal structure. Bamboo is a type of grass and grows vertically like a tree. On the other hand, Rattan is a vine and has a creeping vine structure. Bamboo can be grown with ease and is found worldwide, especially in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Bambusa vulgaris is a species of the large genus Bambusa of the clumping bamboo tribe Bambuseae, which are found largely in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, especially in the wet tropics.

Bamboo's fast growth rate makes it a potential tool for mitigating climate change, while its organic matter can improve soil quality and prevent soil erosion. In Nigeria, favourable conditions for various bamboo species exist, and the plant's parts can help with environmental clean-up.

Bamboo is a type of hollow grass with hard woody stems; however, it doesn't bend the way that rattan does; which is why rattan wood is often the preferred choice for hand-crafting designer furniture pieces. The many products of various bamboo species include: durable materials for structural building, flooring, trim, and plybamboo [similar to plywood]; light and strong materials for crafts, handicrafts and furniture; fiber for woven goods, such as panelling and baskets; pulp for paper and other fibre products; raw.

According to Guinness World Records, some species of bamboo can grow up to 2.91 ft/day — or, 1.5 inches/hr! So if you sit long enough with a bamboo culm, it might just grow before your eyes!

A bamboo grove can last for a hundred year or more. An average cane may live up to 15 years depending on the species, but to generalize, 7 to 10 years is more common.

The starter plant and smaller plants will begin to die off a little faster as the grove matures because of sunlight absence.

One of the biggest environmental benefits of bamboo is its ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Compared to an equivalent tree mass, bamboo produces 35% more oxygen and research has shown that bamboo can absorb as much as 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.?

Bamboo binds the earth so that bamboo as a biochar can improve soil structures; thus, bamboo has a protective role in decreasing soil degradation, including the reduction of biodiversity in soil nutrient depletion and soil erosion.

Bamboo is a crucial element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A grove of bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. Because of this, planting bamboo is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and help fight global warming.

While bamboo is known for its strength and flexibility, it can deteriorate over time if not properly treated and maintained. Bamboo is also susceptible to termite and pest attacks, which can weaken its structure.

Rattan, also spelled ratan [from Malay: rotan], is the name for roughly 600 species of Old World climbing palms belonging to subfamily Calamoideae. Furniture is the most popular rattan product, but rattan is also used to make carpet beaters, walking sticks, umbrella handles, sporting goods, hats, ropes, cordage, birdcages, matting, baskets, panelling, hoops and a host of other products.

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization [INBAR] is an independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan. INBAR evolved from an informal network of bamboo and rattan researchers set up in 1984 by the International Development Research Centre [IDRC] of Canada. The name "International Network for Bamboo and Rattan" was chosen in 1993. Work to launch INBAR as an independent organization started in 1995, and was completed in 1997 when INBAR became an independent organization with its headquarters in Beijing, China.

Bangladesh, Canada, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania made up INBAR's nine founding members. Since then, INBAR has grown considerably in strength and scope away from a research-only organization and towards a more action-focused mandate. In November 2016 the name of the organization was changed to International Bamboo and Rattan Organization to reflect this change.

INBAR's headquarters is in Beijing, China, and it has regional offices in South Asia [New Delhi, India], Central Africa [Yaoundé, Cameroon], East Africa [Addis Ababa, Ethiopia], West Africa [Kumasi, Ghana] and Latin America and the Caribbean [Quito, Ecuador]. INBAR is managed by its Executive Management team, which comprises the Director General, Deputy Director General, and the Directors of Global Program, Membership Affairs, Host Country Affairs, and Communications.

Member states of INBAR are; Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Chile, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, Venezuela, and Viet Nam.

The Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic [BASP] initiative is a part of the Global Development Initiative [GDI]. The BASP initiative is aimed at mitigating plastic pollution and tackling climate change.

Over 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated annually, with billions of tonnes of plastics ending up in landfills and natural environments. This has led to negative environmental impacts linked to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The BASP initiative seeks to address these issues by promoting the use of bamboo substitutes over plastic goods.

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