Bamboo in Africa Africa has the largest untapped tropical bamboo forests: 1.5 – 3 million ha. Other reports indicate that the new economic force of ‘Bamboos’ on the continent is generating massive income, creating jobs and protecting the environment. The following is gleaned from many sources, the main one being here: So far 18 African countries with natural bamboo have joined the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR), which is assisting them with bamboo information, technology transfer, capacity building and policy formulation. According to INBAR, as the population in Africa increases, the massive harvesting of firewood and charcoal will be unsustainable. Bamboo is an alternative to burning tree-based woods for cooking purposes. As bamboo can quickly grow back, bamboo will combat deforestation, soil erosion and impacts of climate change. However, Energy use and development in Africa varies widely across the
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