| In a previous article, I touched upon some of the | | | | Compared to other forms of wood, bamboo is |
| things that make bamboo a highly desirable | | | | very low maintenance. It requires little in the way |
| source of wood flooring that have nothing to do | | | | of weeding or other activities - it is already a |
| with flooring. In this article, I would like to expand | | | | grass, and it will dominate grasses around it. |
| on that theme to make the argument that | | | | Therefore it is a product that can be grown with |
| bamboo is a very special resource that provides | | | | limited resources, equipment and knowledge. |
| many economic benefits to emerging countries | | | | Bamboo is not just important to developing |
| throughout the world. | | | | countries like the Philippines. According to UNIDO |
| Bamboo creates jobs and economic prosperity | | | | (the United Nations Industrial Development |
| for people in countries that lack the resources or | | | | Organization), Bamboo accounts for nearly |
| infrastructure of more developed countries. In | | | | one-eighth of India's total forest land - or 10 million |
| some countries, such as the Philippines, sugar has | | | | hectares (one hectare equals slightly less than two |
| been vital to the economy for years. It is a | | | | and a half acres). Industrial usage in India for |
| primary export that these countries rely heavily | | | | bamboo is, understandably, high, as it is used in |
| on as a source of jobs. So it comes as very bad | | | | the paper industry, construction, and energy. More |
| news to some countries that they are running out | | | | recently, more consideration and urgency is being |
| of sugar. That's where bamboo steps in. | | | | given to the use of bamboo in the manufacture |
| Bamboo grows easily in many different | | | | of finished products, which will likely result in |
| environments, and it is a strong substitute crop | | | | continuing growth in the Indian bamboo market. |
| for sugar. Where sugar once grew, the people | | | | Bamboo is also a heavy crop in China, the country |
| can now grow bamboo for use in construction | | | | that ranks number one in terms of bamboo |
| and other purposes. It has been shown that it is | | | | acreage. Bamboo grown in China is used in the |
| more profitable for countries to export bamboo in | | | | creation of craft and construction products, |
| a processed state rather than as a raw product, | | | | industrial and paper products, food, medicine, and |
| so this has resulted in the construction of plants | | | | juices/wines. It adds enormous value to the |
| and other processing facilities to turn the raw | | | | Chinese economy while helping China preserve its |
| bamboo into a more final product. So jobs are | | | | forests by harvesting an easily renewable |
| being created that relate both to the growing of | | | | resource, rather than cutting down trees. |
| bamboo and to the processing of the bamboo. | | | | Bamboo is a crop that will continue to play an |
| A problem developing countries have is funding | | | | important role in the economies of emerging |
| the operations to grow and harvest bamboo. It is | | | | countries for years to come. It provides |
| estimated that a new bamboo plantation reaches | | | | opportunity to people who need jobs, and it |
| profitability in five years or less, but lenders in | | | | protects the environment by providing a resource |
| less-developed countries do not like to lend | | | | that grows much quicker than trees. So the next |
| money to enterprises that will not show very | | | | time you are shopping for hardwood flooring for |
| quick profitability. However, compared to the | | | | your home, consider bamboo. The economic |
| many years it takes to grow and harvest hard | | | | impact of the decision runs deep. |
| wood, bamboo is a less risky venture. | | | | |