VOLUME 2 Bamboo for Thailand and Southeast Asia - BambuSC

good well-prepared power point presentation has become available and being used to promote bamboo
development in the country.
Through the Bamboo Foundation, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Rotary Club, a
renewed action on bamboo is initiated by again tapping the scientific community: the academe, the research and
extension organizations. So many meetings were held and the idea of having bamboo summit surfaced until
finally the holding of this National Bamboo Development Forum became the center piece of this renewed
interest on sustainable development of bamboo.
A number of bamboo councils with members from academe, research organizations, Local Government Units,
civic and religious organizations, accordingly, have already been formed in some regions/provinces in the
country. A program on trainors’ training on bamboo has accordingly been organized through the initiative of
LLDA and Bamboo Foundation. This will train forestry and agriculture graduate to act as trainor in the various
parts of the country. The Training Center of CFNR-UPLB is commissioned for this training. I hope this will
push through and I sincerely hope it will not remain as a dream.
Creation Of New Bamboo Organization
While renewed interest on bamboo is gaining momentum, a new bamboo organization known as
BAMBOOPHIL, was formed. This may be different from the existing Bamboo Foundation.
The need of the time is a UNIFICATION OF ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS/ STAKEHOLDERS so that
sustainable bamboo development in the country can progressively move forward.
Conclusion And Recommendations
A lot of research, development and extension initiatives have been done to promote the bamboo industry in the
country. There seems to be something lacking to propel bamboo development in the country. Comprehensive
and holistic analysis of the problems must be carried out. Some say it is due to lack of political support and
political will, financial support and other forms of incentives, discouraging/unfriendly government policies, laws
and regulations. Others say, there is no sustainable development plan for the bamboo industry. The following
recommendations should therefore be given attention if sustainability of the bamboo industry in the country is to
be pursued:
On Development and Conservation:
1. Allocation of areas in the country for bamboo plantation development needs multi- stakeholders consultation
and decision.
2. Multi-agencies should join hand in hand to engage in nationwide efforts to develop bamboo farm for various
end uses.
VIII World Bamboo Congress Proceedings Vol 2-13