The tremendous potential of bamboo to promote Economic Growth and mitigate Climate Change was highlighted by recent findings. Bamboo is regarded as a multipurpose, renewable resource that has many benefits, including the capacity to absorb carbon Emissions and supply raw materials for sustainable industries. With major aid from Sahelian Institute for Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED), the Nigerian government has moved proactively to seize these prospects. John Agbo Ogbodo, the Founding Director of SIBRED and an expert in Forestry and remote sensing, also emphasizes the significance of the plant.
Considering the fact that the plant grows naturally in many states of Nigeria, it makes the country’s value chain economically viable. It has a significant impact on reducing climate change as it slows down global warming. Conclusions drawn during the 2023 Climate Change Conference (COP-28) was that green economic projects have the potential to generate up to $26 trillion globally if effectively incorporated into nations’ agenda 2030 plans. Meanwhile, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) described it as a vital element of the green economy.
Government is actively promoting its use and cultivation.
In addition, the plant is essential for preventing Deforestation and restoring ecosystems. It can also refill soil suitable for cultivation and recover gullies that have been eroded. Studies reveal that a hectare of bamboo plantation may store around 17 tonnes of CO2 per year and generate 35 percent more oxygen than forests on land. It encompasses an array of economic advantages that can improve Nigeria’s development scale and generate employment. Moreover, it may be processed to make firewood, charcoal, biofuel, and environmentally friendly fabrics. For these reasons, the government is actively promoting its use and cultivation.
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the development of a sustainable bamboo value chain by participating in the World Bamboo Day celebration in December 2023. Among the government plans include the Construction of the first bamboo processing factory in Karara, Kogi State, to increase the output of toothpicks and other related products. African nations are talented in creating a lot of handcrafted bamboo goods, but when it comes to producing ordinary commodities, Asian nations like India, China and Indonesia outperform them. To this end, several endeavors are being implemented to close this gap and increase its economic benefits in Africa.
A number of procedures that contribute to the value chain.
On the other hand, it has the potential to make a substantial contribution to a number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those pertaining to agroforestry, green employment creation, deforestation reduction, and sustainable industry promotion. From its initial cultivation to its ultimate application in a variety of goods, there are a number of procedures and endeavours that contribute to the value chain in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the plant grows especially in the southeastern states. Several plans are being developed by the government to capitalize on the plant’s economic potential.
Such endeavours are aimed at promoting the development of a sustainable value chain, as emphasized by the Environment Minister on the World Bamboo Day in December 2023. SIBRED has been unrelentless in supporting the Federal Ministry of Environment in terms of creating programmes and policies for the industry. Additionally, they participate in advocating for bamboo’s use in ecosystem restoration in the National Council on Environment. To examine the propagation of several species, SIBRED established a research farm at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Yunnan Bamboo Nursery in China provided 4,000 different kinds of bamboo seeds to the site for testing.
Related Article: FG establishes bamboo factory in Kogi
In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Global Centre for Bamboo, the International Network of Universities and Research Centres related to bamboo, and Other Non-Timber Forest Products Promotion, SIBRED hosted the first Sahelian Africa Congress on Bamboo and Rattan (SACOBAR 2024). There are initiatives in place to raise awareness among Nigerians and encourage the cultivation and use of the plant, which is being carried out by SIBRED, with support from the Nigerian Bamboo and Rattan Farmers Association (BARFAN).