THE TOP TEN REASONS WHY BAMBOO CAN SAVE THE PLANET
By
now, nearly everyone knows that we are depleting the natural resources of the
only home that we have at a rate that is well past sustainable. To some extent,
we have become inured to alarming reports and ominous warnings about our
wasteful ways. Media outlets yammer away about Overpopulation, Global Warming
and Deforestation and these reports either fatigue or motivate us to make
necessary changes in our lives.
Occasionally,
a development comes along that provides some optimism about our prospects for
making positive changes in our living habits. One such development is the
emergence of new uses for a species of grass that has been around far longer
than we have. Bamboo has been used for everything from food to bridge building
for millennia but consumers and manufacturers are taking a fresh look at all
that this amazing plant has to offer. Here are the top ten ways that bamboo
will save the planet.
1.
Renewable resource. Depending on
the species, bamboo can be harvested in one to five years. Hardwoods like oak
take at least forty years to mature before they can be harvested. Almost 1
million acres of forests are lost each week worldwide to deforestation.
Bamboo's versatility as a substitute for hardwoods offers a chance to
drastically reduce that figure and protect the forests that we have left.
2.
Absorbs greenhouse gases. Bamboo
absorbs carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than an
equivalent stand of hardwood trees.
3.
Amazing growth rate. Some species
of bamboo grow more than three feet each day! No plant on the planet features a
faster growth rate. When it is harvested, it will grow a new shoot from its
extensive root system with no need for additional planting or cultivation.
4.
Very little waste. After
harvesting, virtually every part of the plant is used to make a wide variety of
products. From soil-enriching mulch to beautiful furniture to chopsticks, every
part of the plant can be utilized.
5.
Versatility. Bamboo can replace
the use of wood for nearly every application. Paper, flooring, furniture,
charcoal, building materials,
and much more can be made from bamboo. What's more, bamboo fibers are far
stronger than wood fibers and much less likely to warp from changing
atmospheric conditions.
6.
No fertilizer, pesticides, or
herbicides needed. Unlike most cash crops, bamboo requires no agricultural
chemicals to thrive. Unlike cotton, which is one of the most intensely sprayed
crops in the world and rapidly depletes the nutrients in the soil, bamboo
sequesters nitrogen and cultivation does not add chemicals to the environment.
7.
Soil protection. Once hardwood
forests are clear-cut and the stumps are burned to provide fertilizer and space
for growing crops, erosion inevitably occurs as the topsoil and nutrients are
washed away by rainfall. The eroded soil then clogs rivers and streams and
affects the lives of people and animals living downstream. Bamboo roots remain
in place after harvesting where they prevent erosion and help retain nutrients
for the next crop.
8.
Economic development. In less
developed countries where unemployment leads to civil unrest, bamboo production
and the manufacturing of bamboo products provides job opportunities in areas
that desperately need social and economic stability.
9.
Bamboo grows in a variety of
conditions. Bamboo can grow in arid regions where droughts cause other
crops to fail and since the roots are left in place after harvesting, it helps
to preserve vital moisture in the soil. From low wetlands to higher elevations
in the mountains, bamboo thrives in a wide range of climates.
10. Optimism
and cultural cooperation. In a fractious world where wars are fought over
resources, the increasing popularity of bamboo products provides an opportunity
for diverse cultures to settle their difference through trade and cooperation
that benefits everyone.
Can
bamboo save the planet?
The
answer to that question remains to be seen. But this amazing plant and its
surging popularity in a huge variety of products offers mankind a chance to
enjoy many of the comforts of modern life without causing irreparable damage to
our environment.
Some of the bamboo products in Tanzania
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