WBC-VIII-Vol.4 – Resources – Forestry, Plantations and ... - BambuSC

Abstract
Integrated Management of Bamboo Resources
in the Colombia Coffee Region
J.C. Camargo 1 ; M.A. Dossman 2 ; A. Rodriguez 2 ;L.M. Arias 2
1 Associated Professor, Technological University of Pereira, Colombia
2 Researcher, Technological University of Pereira, Colombia and CIEBREG
The silvicultural management and planning of guadua bamboo forests as well as their capability of providing
environmental services are analysed in this work. In these sense, the bases for inventory and mensuration are
defined as the best way of procuring adequate information. Because of differences on growth and management,
silviculture is separately discussed for natural stands and plantations. In addition, an approach to define the
effect of site conditions on guadua productivity and quality is proposed. Furthermore, benefits of guadua forest
referred to carbon sequestration and soils restoration are remarked. Finally, information was integrated to define
the capability of land for guadua production and units of forest management (UFM), which are an instrument
that government institutions use for forest planning. Silvicultural practices on natural stands are specially
focused to harvesting, thus the possibilities of an adequate management depend on a proper definition of harvest
intensity and harvest frequency. For guadua plantations, results on dynamics reveal the significant consequence
of fertilisation and weed control, specifically on growth and mortality of culms. As a contribution to elucidate
the worth of guadua forest providing environmental services in the coffee region of Colombia, carbon
sequestration and soil protection was assessed and quantified. Values up to 900 Tn ha -1 of total carbon stock
were evidence for guadua stands. Comparisons of soils properties among different land covers evidenced better
conditions in soils under guadua stands even under those located on marginal areas. By using geographic
information systems and software for modelling productivity of guadua stands, information was integrated and
UFM defined. Besides guadua plantations were successfully used in processes of soil restoration, reducing
significantly soil erosion. Silvicultural practices, forest planning and the quantification of environmental
services, give the bases for an integrated management of this bamboo forest in the coffee region of Colombia.
Introduction
In the Colombian coffee region the woody bamboo species guadua (Guadua angustifolia Kunth) represents an
important natural resource traditionally used by farmers for many purposes such as construction, furniture and
handicrafts (Londoño 1998). Due to the variety of uses the commercial value of guadua culms has recently
increased (Held 2005). Therefore, this resource has potential productive and protective functions essential for
the sustainable development of this important region of Colombia (Camargo 2006).The species guadua has its
natural habitat in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, but it has also been introduced to other countries in
Central and South America, Europe and Asia. Its culms are an ideal construction material with a high percentage
VIII World Bamboo Congress Proceedings Vol 4-34