2. What is bamboo?
• Bamboos are a diverse and primitive group of perennial
plants in the true grass family
• They are widely distributed throughout parts of the world,
particularly in the Asia-Pacific region
• It grows primarily in tropical and subtropical areas but
several species grow in temperate areas
• There are approximately 2000 species world wide, of which
between 50 – 100 are being used by humans
• Bamboo species vary in height from 1 ft to over 100 ft tall
and have stem diameters ranging from 1 mm to 30 cm
• Certain species can grow up to 1 ft/day!!
6. Why is Bamboo important?
• Ecological Role
- Is excellent at sequestering carbon and
releasing oxygen (can sequester up to 12
tons of carbon dioxide from the air per
hectare and release 35% more oxygen than
equivalent stands of trees)
- Prevents soil erosion and maintains
watershed integrity and soil health
- Provides habitats and food for a variety of
species (Giant Panda, Mountain Bongo,
lesser bamboo bat, etc)
7. Why is Bamboo important?
• Economic Role
- The current estimated trade in
bamboo is 5 billion U.S. dollars
- Bamboo related industries provide
food, income, and housing to over 2.2
billion people
8. Multipurpose Crop For Humans
• Fuel
• Paper
• Fodder
• Furniture
• Food (shoots, wine)
• Musical Instruments
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Handicrafts (baskets, jewelry,
pens, bicycles, fly rods)
• Construction (homes, scaffolding,
bridges, reinforced concrete,
boats, fences)
15. Benefits of Building with Bamboo
• Can be harvested in 3-5 yrs. versus in 10-50 yrs. for
softwoods and hardwoods
• The yield (weight per acreage) for bamboo is 25%
greater than that of timber
• Has a tensile strength that rivals steel (withstands
up to 52,000 psi)
• Has twice the compressive strength of concrete
• Resistant to earthquake damage and practical on
steep slopes
• Bamboo structures can be built very quickly, are low
cost, durable, and environmentally friendly
• The energy required in processing bamboo is less
than for concrete, wood, and steel
16. Benefits of Bamboo Flooring
• Is available with formaldehyde free glues
and low voc finishes
• Aesthetically beautiful
• Is comparable if not stronger than oak in
terms of hardness (Janka Ball Test – 1320
PSI)
• Bamboo exhibits little dimensional change
compared to other commonly used woods
(2.5x more stable)
17. Potential for Sustainability
• Renewable – can be harvested without
damaging the plant and grows extremely quickly
• Plentiful – there is great potential for timber-
quality bamboo to be produced in the U.S.
• Local – can be grown locally in a small land
area
• Waste-reducing – sequesters carbon and
leaves can be used as fodder or compost
18. Drawbacks of Bamboo
• Untreated bamboo is susceptible to attack
by fungi and insects
• May or may not be harvested,
manufactured, and shipped in an
environmentally friendly manner
• Exclusion from building codes and lack of
standards
