It's not just panda food: the world should learn from China's use of bamboo

Bamboo is not only food for giant pandas but also can be used to tackle poverty and climate change. Since bamboo is not a woody plant but an herb, it grows quickly. Bamboo can also be used as a building or textile material. Its roots can also form a sewage treatment system and prevent soil erosion.

According to the website of Spanish newspaper el pais on September 14, Della Pena, the international policy director of the international bamboo rattan organization, which aims to promote sustainable development through bamboo, pointed out that the organization's strategic plan for 2015 to 2030 aims to popularize the use of bamboo in all fields. Bamboo can be used to make everything from scaffolding and disposable substitutes to bamboo charcoal.

Bamboo helps restore soil degraded by industrial activity and takes only four or five years to grow, DE la Pena said. Bamboo should, therefore, be seen as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

The biggest problem, however, is that most countries ignore the potential value of bamboo. The group wants countries around the world to incorporate bamboo into their agroforestry systems so it can play its part in the fight against climate change.

The world's best bamboo user in China, the report said. China alone accounts for $35bn of the $70bn investment in the global bamboo production market. About 8 million people work in bamboo-related industries in China, and the number is expected to reach 10 million next year. Bamboo-related industries have also contributed to poverty. Nowadays, bamboo is not only a symbol of traditional Chinese culture but also a reflection of the strong determination of the Chinese people to make every effort to develop the economy and protect the environment. There are about 500 species of bamboo growing on the vast land of China.

Wise Chinese know how to use bamboo to make chopsticks, rafts, chairs, MATS, Musical Instruments, and even comfortable pillows, the report said. Today in China's big cities, some houses are still surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, creating a unique mix of modern and traditional scenery. Bamboo is extremely flexible and even better than steel during strong typhoons. Bamboo is a national treasure of China. Not only pandas but also Chinese people eat bamboo shoots as a delicacy.

DE la Pena pointed out that bamboo has long been more than an antique decorative material. Due to its excellent characteristics, it should be included in the global strategic agenda so as to benefit all mankind.

By BestChopsticks