Multiple Uses of Bamboo Species and Its Contribution to Forest Resource Management in Ethiopia

Abstract

Deforestation becomes an overwhelming problem of the world in general and in Ethiopia in Specific. High population growth accompanied by high demand for timber forest products is aggravating the problem. For this matter it is worth necessary to use every effort to minimize this high pressure from forest resources. Therefore, reviewing the multiple uses of bamboo and its contribution to forest resource management was an overall objective of this paper. Bamboo, being a substitute to timber, plays an important role in minimizing pressure from the forest. Fast growing nature of bamboo enables it to be a responsible to save the forest. Ethiopia owns about 67% of African bamboo resources. The country possesses about 7% of total global bamboo coverage. Arundinaria alpine (Monopodial bamboo) and lowland bamboo, Oxytenanthera abyssinica (sympodial bamboo) are the two indigenous bamboo for Ethiopia. There are various uses of bamboo as it is reviewed in this paper. It can be used as construction material. As it is estimated in the articles, currently more than 10 million Ethiopians are living in the bamboo houses. Bamboo is feed for animals and food for human beings. It is strong to control erosion and conserve soil water. It also provides a substantial economic benefit, especially for rural community. Bamboo can also contribute to the effort to adapt climate change through carbon sequestration. Bamboo forest has high carbon storage potential due to its high biomass growth rate and high annual regrowth after harvesting. Even though the understanding of multiple use of bamboo plant is increasing from time to time, more researches have to be carried out in the area of bamboo resource development and technological improvements.

Key words: Bamboo; Ethiopia; Forest resources; Deforestation