Bamboo -- a major non-wood forest product -- is an ancient woody grass widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and mild temperate zones. It is an integral part of forestry, but is also widely spread outside forests, including farmlands, riverbanks, roadsides and urban areas. Bamboo is quickly changing its image from the "poor man's tree" to a high-tech, industrial raw material and substitute for wood. This study, prepared by FAO jointly with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, is an initiative to incorporate bamboo into the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) program. A total of 22 countries responded to the FAO/INBAR call for information and submitted national reports. Although data availability and quality are often weak, the main value of the study is that it has established a systematic methodology and has launched the most comprehensive assessment of global bamboo resources to date.--Publisher's description.

This book presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on bamboo. It starts with an introduction to the plant’s biology, its taxonomy, habitat, morphology and growth. The cultivation of bamboo is discussed in terms of silviculture, pests and diseases, and harvesting techniques. The book is completed by a comprehensive presentation of the properties of bamboo, its utilization and its preservation. Bamboo is the fastest-growing and most versatile plant on Earth. For centuries it has played an indispensible part in the daily life of millions of people in tropical countries. In recent decades it has gained increasing importance as a substitute for timber. The book was developed as a reference text for scientists, professionals, and graduate students with a strong interest in this unique plant.

The idea of information on research and development carried out on bamboo has emerged with the paradigm shift in the area of utilization of natural fibres in various industries. Technological advancements in bamboo sustenance have involved chemical and physical modification that has led to products of high-performance index. This book provides the latest research developments in many aspects of bamboo process, manufacture and commercialization potential. Apart from the interest to facilitate a complete assessment of bamboo as well as assist readers in achieving their goals, this book is intended to be of value to both fundamental research and also to practicing scientists and will serve as a useful reference for researchers, agricultural practitioners and organizations involved in the bamboo-based industry.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of the use of bamboo in building industry. It systematically demonstrates bamboo’s utility in terms of its properties, describing the material properties of typical industrial bamboo products, and discussing their performance evaluation and optimization as building components and in the creation of building envelopes. The book also includes examples of the high-value utilization of bamboo forest resources. Further, it examines how building performance may be affected by conditions such as climate. Including insights from material science, construction design, building physics and building climatology, the book also provides data obtained from technology and market status investigation, laboratory test and the computer simulation.This book appeals to scientists and professionals, as it introduces and tests various bamboo products, demonstrating the advantages and disadvantages for each one. The book is also a valuable resource for civil engineers and students interested in this unique plant material and its application in the building industry.

This book presents the new approach of resource-driven bamboo construction (RDBC), developing a clear assessment framework and operational solution to improve the value of resources and the sustainability of bamboo constructions. The book discusses how to carry out research on basic parameters and life cycle assessment, as well demonstrating the approach in practice. This book develops a sustainability assessment model for bamboo construction in Asia-Pacific bamboo areas to measure the effects and success of RDBC. It solves issues related to environmental impact, energy consumption, land cost, indoor comfort, construction durability, and sustainable material application of the bamboo constructions. It utilizes digital tools to perform statistical analysis on large sample conditions, enabling the method to be better implemented, and presents case studies of RDBC method in action. The large amount of data collected, method guidance, and demonstrations provide a comprehensive reference for those wishing to apply bamboo in the building industry. This book is particularly relevant to scientists, professionals, architects, civil engineers, and students who are interested in bamboo material and its application in building industry. It provides readers with a new perspective of the high-value utilization of bamboo forest resources and methods to achieve sustainable bamboo construction.

This book highlights the basic properties of round bamboo and bamboo strips of various species worldwide. Processing and properties enhancing treatment of bamboo strips and round bamboo are discussed. It presents the structural applications of round and engineered bamboo and provides an insight on the potential applications as construction and building materials. Bamboo as multipurpose plant in various fields such as chemical feedstocks, energy sources, furniture, fabric, pulp and paper, and their recent developments are also discussed in detail. The book also includes the economic, social, and environmental assessment of bamboo products.