Urgent Evoke

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Bamboo's role in sustanable relief in Haiti


With commitments from INBAR (International Network of Bamboo and Rattan) and CBTC (Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre), the World Bamboo Organization and Generation Bambou are leading the way to mobilize the world of bamboo businesses and
organizations with the goal of providing and promoting bamboo structures
and plantations as part of the long-range relief effort focused on
effective housing and economic stability.

The immediate benefit of using bamboo is found in the development of Bamboo Instant Houses. Developed in 2008 by a engineering professor in China in response to the Sichuan earthquake of that year, these modular structures can be built in less than 2 weeks
and conform to United States’ building code standards for quake
resistance (a huge benefit when dealing with aftershocks as high as 4.5
magnitude). The bamboo shelters are less expensive than the traditional
building materials for shelters and unlike tents, they are more
durable, insulated and offer a higher degree of protection from the
elements.

Bamboo can also serve to build more permanent, earthquake safe structures on the island of Haiti. According to INBAR, one billion people around the world live in bamboo houses and with its tensile
strength and favorable elastic qualities, buildings made from bamboo are
excellent at withstanding earthquakes. When a 7.6 magnitude
earthquake hit Costa Rica in 1992, all 30 bamboo houses in the epicenter
survived intact.

Bamboo buildings would also introduce the concept of “green” living to the Haitian people. The highly sustainable plant grows without use of pesticides or fertilizers and can be harvested in 3-5 years versus
the 10 -50 years needed for most hardwoods and softwoods to fully
mature. Bamboo also has minimal impact on soil erosion as it is capable
of regeneration without needing to be replanted. And because it can be
grown and harvested locally and worked on with simple tools, it is also
a cost-effective option for a country as poor as Haiti.

Bamboo can not only serve to put a roof over their heads, but also food on their tables. Across the globe, third world countries are using this valuable resource to bolster their economies. From housing and clothing to
furniture and bedding,
there are over a thousand ways to use bamboo to produce marketable
goods. Haiti can ensure long-term viable economic growth by
strategically planning for bamboo plantations on the island and placing
the materials and means of production in the hands of the people who
need it most. Bamboo is the potential cash crop that can put Haiti on the road to economic
freedom.

The rebuilding of Haiti can be a renaissance of sustainability and economic development for the tiny island if the right steps are taken to rebuild. Using the exceptionally renewable, cost-effective and
versatile bamboo plant is one step in that right direction.

For more on the global role of bamboo, visit Green Earth New’s section on Bamboo’s Worldwide Impact.


Views: 69

Comment by Patt Cool on March 18, 2010 at 6:04pm
Bamboo and straw bail should be the housing wave of the future. This was very informative, +1 knowledge share!
Comment by kevin Jones on March 18, 2010 at 6:44pm
thx
Comment by Jenn on March 18, 2010 at 6:49pm
That's a great connection! Thanks for sharing, I will bookmark these sites.
Comment by Claire Moylan on March 22, 2010 at 1:47am
Bamboo grows here in NC, but don't know if it's the same quality or type as in Haiti.
Comment by Daniel LaLiberte on March 22, 2010 at 2:35am
I've just been learning about the practicality and benefits of using Bamboo for food.

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