Presentation by Ms. Lalani Ediriweera Technical Session 02: Climate Change Adaptation Experience Sharing Forum on Climate Smart Initiatives of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Next – A blue Green Era – Conference and Exhibition 2017 16 – 17 October 2017, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka

1. Bamboo processing Sri Lanka
GEF phase 4 Project, GEF ID: 4114
UNIDO Grant Number -200000318
Region - EAP
Project number: 100043
Total Budget: $ 2,355,000
Local Project Partners:
Ministry of Industry and Commerce ,
Ministry of Mahawali Development &Environment, Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy
Completion date (month/year): 5/31/2019
Web: www.lankaboo.org; Facebook group: Lankaboo
National Project Coordinator
Mrs. Anusha Lalani Ediriweera

2. Progress in FY 2017
Since this is a knowledge transfer project, we have
reached until now all targets providing technical
reports, feasibility studies, expertise and
assistance to future investors to realize bamboo
projects in Sri Lanka. Besides, workshops were
held, homepage was established
(www.lankaboo.org) and support to public
institutions and communities was provided.

3. Project Objective/s, outcomes
The project's objective is to develop a bamboo supply chain and product industry in
Sri Lanka, leading to reduced global environmental impact from GHG emissions and a
sustainable industry base. About 1200 species of bamboo can be discerned. Bamboo
can be used in a wide range of applications. Globally, about 40% is used for fuel wood
and charcoal, but significant amounts are also used for construction, flooring, fodder
and food. For industry, bamboo is good feedstock for engineered wood products
because of its mechanical properties.
• Project components include the transfer of clean technologies for bamboo
cultivation and processing.
• It receives core funding by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Consortium
partners include the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Mahaweli
Development and the Environment, Ministry of Power and renewable energy, and
private sector stakeholders.
• The main project implementation mechanism is a revolving fund of $US 600.000
from which project proposals for bamboo planting and processing can borrow
nearly interest free loans. 50% it intended for planting, 50% for processing

4. Targeted results
To increase the biodiversity of Sri Lanka and safe the forests
introducing a wood substitute which could change dramatically
the economy of the country (e.g. creation of new jobs) not only
for the furniture production and board / paper industry but also
for the energy sector as biomass since bamboo is one of the
fastest growing woody plant on earth.
Project Target Groups
• Bamboo farmers
• Planation companies
• SMEs in bamboo processing
• Energy production through biomass
• Non-traditional industry (cosmetics, fiber etc. )

5. Break-down of project activities and achievements
• Network with the ministries for policies revision
• Raising awareness on benefit and economic opportunities created by bamboo
– public workshops
– project website : Lankaboo.org
– Facebook group : Lankaboo
• Dissemination of bamboo related knowledge and facilitation of a community of
practice
• Identification of potentially suitable lands for growing bamboo
• Identification of suitable bamboo species for the Industry
• Consulting tissue culture laboratory for production of Bamboo plants
• Identification of nurseries for bamboo plant hardening
• Completion of a market research study translated in Sinhalese and Tamil
Languages
• Creation of a revolving fund at the scale of 600,000 US$
• In tea plantation land 5000 plants had been planted for watershed protection,
plans for 50 000 more plants are under way
• A bamboo bicycle prototype has been manufactured
• Beverly estate is expanding production of edible bamboo shoots

6. Lessons learnt
• The potential of bamboo as timber substitute and innovative industrial resource is barely
utilized.
• Land use related policy areas are fragmented (e.g. between forestry Dept, wildlife Dept,
environmental ministry, irrigation department, ministry of agriculture etc.) and often
contradictory
• Specific tenure arrangements for bamboo are necessary, to ensure it is sustainably harvested,
certification could help but would require specific setup, different to classical timber forestry
projects, since bamboo can be harvested annually
• Other projects of similar objectives (E.g. REDD++) so far largely ignore the opportunities
provided by bamboo as resource material
• Market linkages are Very poor and need further awareness raising
• The current data about bamboo distribution is outdated (25 years old) and limited (tabular, not
GIS). Bamboo is currently not included in routine islandwide wide landcover monitoring schemes
• No systematic follow up on planting success of previous planting initiatives on public land were
conducted (e.g. Riverhina bamboo project), or how those lands where bamboo was planted were
performing e.g. in recent flooding events
• Indicators for indirect environmental benefits (e.g. avoided deforestation, accounting for carbon
sequestered in non-timber forest products, or e.g. in bio-charcoal) need to be improved to
document / account for benefits of bamboo industry
• While co-financing is being made available for both, bamboo planting and processing, so far
almost all applications were on processing.

7. Key challenges to address in future work
• Dialoge with policy makers to recognize bamboo as non-timber forest
product, to facilitate sustainable harvest and transport
•Development of bamboo specific certification systems, in particular for
deforestation free production (e.g. FSC), carbon credits. This could involve
specific tenure systems, and/or specific monitoring tools
• Scaling up bamboo planting, in particular also in dry zone, where land use
conflicts are less pronounced
• Integration of bamboo planting initiatives into national or internationally
donor funded projects, e.g. In the area of climate change adaptation
/mitigation, REDD+, rehabilitation of degraded lands , Reforestation, livelihood
improvement, etc.

8. Tissue culture now allows
large scale, efficient
propagation
of bamboo
Bamboo is a traditional
component of up country
landscapes
Planted along
water-bodies It
reduces nutrient
run-off,and leaking
of agrochemicals.

9. High value bamboo export
products reduce the
demand for cutting timber.
(photo: courtesy of Timber
Concepts (pvt) ltd)
Recent bamboo based
construction in the tourism
sector. (Photo: courtesy of
Nomadic resorts plc. / Yala
Wild Coast Lodge
http://www.nomadicresorts.
com)
Biochar as soil amendment
reduces fertilizer need and
improves draught tolerance
Bamboo is promoted as
sustainable feedstock
source in this project.