Land restoration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bamboo has been successfully used in land restoration in various parts  of  Busia county. It was  used  to restore the  Odia and  osipata wetlands  in Teso  south, after it  was degraded through gulley erosion According to Dr. Njuguna, the wetland is  a hotspot  of  biodiversity with over 500 bird  and over  200 plant species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The species had nearly been wiped out because of unsustainable land use, but bamboo was successfully used in restoration of the degraded   landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Njuguna, says planting bamboo trees along the shores of the flood-prone River Nzoia to curb persistent flooding that displaced scores of people in the recent past. Bamboo is used to prevent the floodwaters from breaking the dykes and eventually finding their way into homes and farms. For instance, in May 2020, over 40,000 people in Bunyala sub-county were displaced by the raging floods and forced to relocate to sixty-two internally displaced persons (IDP) camps set up by the government across the sub-county when River Nzoia burst its banks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source of livelihood<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from environmental conservation, bamboo plants are also planted for commercial purposes. They are used in construction activities which comprise flooring, roofing, designing and scaffolding, furniture making, food for livestock and shoots as food for humans, bio-fuel, fabrics, cloth, paper, pulp, charcoal, ornamental garden planting,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) is a multilateral development organization which promotes environmentally sustainable development using bamboo and rattan. It has 43 Members. In addition to its Secretariat headquarters in China, INBAR has regional offices in India, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Ecuador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its unique set-up makes INBAR an important representative for Members. With over 40 of its members from the Global South, INBAR has played an especially strong role in promoting South-South cooperation for the last 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n