Bbamboomitra - Green School

The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it
include you? Evidently, there are two parts to this theme and the first
tackles the subject of the Green Economy. This is where some people
shut off their minds because they find the concept of the Green Economy
a little too complex to understand.
On the contrary, the Green Economy is really something that is applicable
all around you and it is easy to imagine how you fit in it.
The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that
results in improved human well-being and social equity, while
significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its
simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is
low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
Practically speaking, a Green Economy is one whose growth in income
and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce
carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency,
and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These
investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public
expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.
But what does all this mean for you? Well, this essentially what the
second part of the theme is all about. If the Green Economy is about
social equity and inclusiveness then technically it is all about you! The
question therefore asks you to find out more about the Green Economy
and assess whether, in your country, you are being included in it.
We at Bamboo Vishwa would like to propagate this philosophy of
‘including us - you and me ’ in our quest for a better environment. In our
small effort to bring about change, we strongly believe that Bamboo can
be an important medium for a cleaner, greener tomorrow. On the
occasion of the 40th anniversary of the World Environment Day today we
bring to you a montage showcasing the versatility of this Green Gold and
how people are responding to it, in our newsletter . . . .
Bbamboomitra
Bbamboomitra
aa bi-annual news latter
On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
Issue 5
5 June 2012
Bamboo is becoming increasingly important to many people in India. Lot of constructive work is going on around us. A
need was felt to share the developments in the bamboo sector to all concerned. This is an endeavor in that direction. This
will be a bi-annual newsletter to inform you about events, share experiences, discuss various issues, pass on information
on bamboo. It will help strengthen network of bamboo activists and bring them together to spread the word about the
Green Gold.
MENDHA LEKHA : The first village in India to harvest and sell Forest Bamboo
Mendha-Lekha village in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra was
the first village in India to secure community rights over 1,800
hectares of forest surrounding it, and the right to sell bamboo
as minor forest produce. It is also one of India's first villages to
draft its biodiversity register, complete with details of the entire
flora and fauna in its forest.
The bamboo was earlier treated as a timber under provisions of
the Indian Forest Act, though technically it is a grass. This gave
the forest department the exclusive right to harvest it and
exercise tight control on the lucrative multi-crore trade in
bamboo. Since 1857, bamboo has remained shackled in the
grips of India's forest bureaucracy which has refused to let go of
this money-spinning forest product.
The revenue, according to the gram sabha of Mendha-Lekha
village, is nearly 250 per cent more than what the forest
department raised in a neighbouring village recently. According
to Mohan Hiralal, the villagers could get such a high price
because there was no corruption in the tendering process. “No
greasing of palms was required, so bidders happily quoted high
rates,” Hiralal said.
With the handsome revenue, the village plans to implement its
ideas of “integrated, all-round” development
soil and water
conservation to increase bamboo productivity, strengthening
roads, erecting barricades in the forest to regulate entry, and
creating five natural watering holes for wildlife.
Mendha-Lekha villagers successfully fought with the
Environment & Forest ministry to change this by categorising
bamboo as a minor forest produce. The Forest Rights Act, 2006,
grants community forest rights to manage, protect, revive the
forest and to own and dispose of minor forest products from
forests where they had traditional access. This includes the
right to sell. But the villagers of Mendha-Lekha have not been
allowed to sell bamboo to outsiders, as the forest department
did not issue transit passes despite the ministry of environment
and forest's letter to all state chief ministers (dated March 21,
2011) asking them to declare and treat bamboo as a minor
forest produce.
The forest bureaucracy has taken on environment minister
Jairam Ramesh and Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj
Chavan to defend its turf. Despite the two planning to attend
the first ever sale of bamboo by a village in India in MendhaLekha under the Forest Rights Act, the state forest department
has announced it is illegal and people will be prosecuted. At
stake is the forest bureacracy's control over the Rs 10,000
crore annual business with the paper and pulp industry as the
biggest benefactor for getting the raw material at dirt cheap
prices.
On 27 th April 2011 for the first time in the independent India,
tribals got a licence to harvest and trade bamboo as a minor
forest produce to improve their livelihood. A transit pass book
to harvest and transport bamboo was given to tribals of Mendha
Lekha village after
Jairam Ramesh threatened to take
disciplinary action. “If transit pass is not given, legal action
would be taken against officials,” he warned and emphasised
that the power to issue transit passes for bamboo must be
retained by gram sabha. After the warning, the department
handed over the transit permit passbook to local community
leader Devaji Tofa.
Lekha- Mendha in September 2011 added a new feather in its
cap it became the first village in the country to earn a massive
Rs 1-crore revenue from bamboo sales, carried out through a
transparent and independent tendering process. The forest
department was not involved in the process at any stage.
A Bamboovishwa initiative
Dr Sanjeev Karpe
KONBAC
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On occasion of
World Environment Day
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bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
Issue 5
Sales tax reduced on Bamboo articles
KONBAC
The efforts of last few years, taken by Konkan Bamboo and
Cane Development Centre (KONBAC), with regard to
promoting bamboo industry in the Country in general and
within the State of Maharashtra in particular, have borne fruit
by way of getting 7.5 per cent reduction in the sales tax on
all Bamboo Articles from the Government of Maharashtra.
During the presentation of State's Budget for Government of
Maharashtra, the Finance Minister made this important
announcement.
Shri. Sanjay Bhatia, IAS, Commissioner of Sales Tax has taken
special interest in the matter after getting first hand experience
of the work that KONBAC has been executing in Mahrashtra in
Bamboo Development.
The decision of Govt. of Mahrashtra by way of reduction in Sales
Tax on bamboo articles would go a long way in inspiring other
bamboo growing states in the country which will benefit
bamboo industry.
Native Konbac bags World bank order
The World Bank is implementing “The Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM) Project” in Orissa state with a total budget
outlay of 227 Cr. Under this project sustainable coastal fishery
and nature based tourism is being promoted keeping in the
mind that the coastal and marine areas have not received
adequate protection, and are under stress in India. which will
impact the livelihood, health and well being of the coastal
population, in turn affecting prospects for India's sustained
economic growth. This concept of ICZM was coined in 1992
during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The World Bank has now selected Native Konbac Bamboo
Products Pvt. Ltd
as only agency in the country for
implementation of setting up of various bamboo based tourism
complexes. The World Bank has already awarded a work order
to Native Konbac for setting up of bamboo tourism complex
at Barkul in Ganjam District. of Orissa worth Rs. 1.8 Cr. With
this Native Konbac is getting an opportunity to expand its
geographical area and positively impact the livelihood of the
coastal population while demonstrating sustainable
management of local bamboo resource.
5 June 2012
Bamboo in Konkan
In my endeavour to collect information on bamboo I have been
traveling some parts of Western Maharashtra. During recent
visit to Raigad, some interesting observations are noted on the
existing bamboo stocks (Dendrocalamus strictus) of Mangaon
Taluka and surroundings areas. In these areas bamboo is
mainly grown as village bamboo or homestead bamboo. It is
known that Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts
or collectively Konkan is a good pocket of wild as well as
cultivated bamboo. It is reported in various references that
these four districts are rich in Bamboo flora specially 4 varieties
namely Managa (Dendrocalamus strictus), Katas (Bambusa
bambos), Chivari or mes Pseudoxytnanthrea stocksii) and
chivali or Chiva (P.ritcheyi). But it has come down almost
50% within last 20 years. To give the precise figures, earlier the
area was producing almost around 350 truckloads (apprx.3500
tons of dry bamboo). Last year it was only 25 truck loads
(approx 2500 tons of dry bamboo).There are no new
plantations.
Nobody is interested in planting bamboo newly; only old folks
who are still staying there are holding the stands and selling
those bamboos every year to the bamboo merchants. Even
though without taking any care these people are getting good
returns, nobody is trying to plant new bamboos. The present
bamboos are planted some 25-30 years ago. The main stalk is
of D. Strictus. It flowers with the cycle of 30-40 years. It means
that within the next few years it will start flowering. Once it will
flower these bamboos will be vanished. Similarly Bambusa
Bamboos is also vanishing due to sporadic flowering for last 3-4
years. As there are no new plantations on large scale, this
bamboo which is at present quite large on scale will become
endangered species. No traces of appearance of Bamboo
Mission in the entire Konkan area barring few pockets of
Sindhudurg. That is also there due to efforts of KONBAC of
Kudal. Similar situation is observed in other parts of
Maharashtra. It is necessary to note by all the related govt
officials' specially Social forestry as well as the related NGO's.
Sustained efforts are required for the bamboo plantations. It is
necessary to inculcate on the minds of young generation for
the preservation of bamboo as a cash crop for Konkan region.
Lot of people waste their energy and money on Sugarcane
plantation in Konkan. Sugarcane is not a crop of Konkan. The
lateritic soils are not suitable for sugarcane also we do not have
enough water for irrigating the cane. Instead if little efforts are
put for Bamboo plantation, we will be able to supply the
required quantity of bamboo for the growing construction
industry of Mumbai and other places. At present, India is at
second position as for bamboo production is concerned. But we
produce only 50% of stocks for our own consumption. Hence it
is sincerely requested to Bamboo Mission, Various Agri
universities ,social organizations like Konkan Vikas Aghadi etc.
for taking care of bamboo and popularize it.
Any help in the form information, plantation technology, seeds
and sapling resources etc will be available with Bamboo Vishwa
Hemant Bedekar
[email protected], 09767200905
A Bamboovishwa initiative
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Bbamboomitra
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On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
5 June 2012
Issue 5
Bamboo helps youth pole vault his career - Indian rural artisan on a fly!
The primary beneficiary countries are Ethiopia, Madagascar,
Mozambique and Tanzania. The overall goal of this project is to
enable effective and wider application of bamboo technologies
for market based sustainable rural livelihood development and
environment protection especially for poor women and youths.
INBAR aims to provide bamboo skill training to boost bamboo
development and strengthen its fight against poverty
alleviation schemes.
Sameer Rawool is the new talk of his village. He is the first
artisan in his village to travel abroad. He has been invited as a
guest trainer for bamboo furniture making by INBAR
(International Network for Bamboo and Rattan) in Ethiopia, East
Africa. Sameer resides in Daboli, a village in Vengurla taluka of
Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. Aged 26 years he has families
of his two brothers and mother. His father died when Sameer
was 9 years old. Since they owned no agricultural land his
mother had to take up household chores and petty farm work in
nearby villages. Thus Sameer was brought up in an environment
of constant struggle.
Eventually, Sameer had to leave his college graduation
incomplete due to unavailability of funds. There after he started
to look for jobs. He approached KONBAC (Konkan Bamboo and
Cane Development center), a NGO working on sustainable
livelihood creation through bamboo products in Kudal,
Sindhudurg. Sameer became a master artisan with an year of
training.
INBAR from among its worldwide network of bamboo
production and technology organizations selected Mr. Sameer
Rawool from KONBAC to visit Bahirdar, Ethiopia. Sameer
trained selected community members of Bahirdar on bamboo
furniture for a month.
Sameer says his younger brother had two options either of
going to Mumbai like his elder brother or staying back and
working in the village like him. Seeing the potential of growth in
rural bamboo industry he decided to take the training on
bamboo skill development organized by KONBAC. Presently he
works with a private bamboo furnishing entrepreneur
promoted by Konbac near his village. This migration check in
Rawool's family has broken the long held tradition of migrating
to Mumbai for jobs in the Konkan region. This shows that such
livelihood initiatives can act as an effective check in stopping
migration from villages to cities.
When KONBAC was given the task of setting up bamboo
furniture unit for LAVASA, Pune, Sameer was sent on this project
as master craftsman. Sameer now earns more than lakh rupees
annually and is happy with the progress.
INBAR with funding from IFAD (International Food and
Agricultural Development), a specialized funding agency of
United Nations is implementing a project called “Mainstreaming
pro poor livelihoods and addressing environmental degradation
with bamboo” in eastern and southern Africa.
Contributed by
Dr Sanjeev Karpe, KONBAC
South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF) is a non-profit conservative action organization established to
ensure livelihood support to the rural masses by using native bamboo species throughout South Asia in
2011. The foundation aims at providing networking, awareness, technical knowhow, training and capacity
building, design development, technology intervention, marketing, advisory services, related to bamboo
and its products including bamboo housing and structures in the South Asian countries.
SABF is working closely with WBO in South and South East Asia for promoting the aims and goal of World
Bamboo in particular headed by Mr. Kamesh Salam ,former President WBO as the Regional Representative
for South Asia . Its registered as trust under Indian trust act in Guwahati, Assam, India.
For Further details contact Mr Kamesh Salam at [email protected]
A Bamboovishwa initiative
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The IX World Bamboo Congress was held at the University of
Antwerp , Belgium from 10-15 April. The 5 day event included
lectures divided into distinct categories relating to Science and
Society (culture and economics) and Bamboo Design,
Innovation and Architecture (constructions and
products).The 9th WBC opened with fantastic keynote
presentations by Dr.Johan Gielis, Mr.Marc van Montagu, Dr.
Lynn Clark, Prof .Walter Liese and Dr. Masatoshi Watanabe.
Also bamboo pioneers was conferred to 5 persons by WBO for
their dedication and lifelong commitment to bamboo sector
they are Mr. Oscar Hidalgo-Lopez, Brazil, Mr. Wenyu Hsiung,
Taiwan, Mr. Jules Janssen, Netherland, Dr. Masatoshi Watanabe,
Japan and Mr. Shuen Chao Wu, China. There were more than 50
lectures by various speakers including Indian speakers like Dr.
Anil Sood, Dr.Anjuli Aggarwal, Dr. Arya, Dr. Nirmala Chongtham,
Dr.O.K. Rema Devi, Ms. Poonam Singhal etc.
The presentations were well received and made an impact to
the audience. An
“Investment meet on Bamboo ” was
organized by the South Asia bamboo Foundation (SABF) on the
second day was attended by a High level delegation from India
lead by Dr. Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Mr.
Pestone, Forest Minister, Meghalaya, Mr. Hiato, Industry
Minister, Mizoram, Mr.PBO Warjari, IAS, Additional Chief
Secretary, Meghalaya, Mr. Tony Mark, PCCF, Meghalaya, Mr.
C.P.John, Planning Board Member, Kerala Officials from Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram took part in the meet. The
investment was addressed by the Ambassador to EU and
Belgium from Indonesia Mr. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Dr. Victor
Brias, UNIDO, Mr. Jan Oprins CEO, Oprins Plants, Mr. Arne
Svinningen, CEO Fiberstrength, USA, Dr. Jean-Luc Kouyoumji,
Bambou Sciences & Innovation, France, Dr. Frederic Panfili,
Phytorem , Mr. Edouard Sherwood, Entrepreneur and Dr. Fu
Jinhe from INBAR Dr. Prof Walter Liese chaired the session on
the investment meet which was attended by the WBO officials
and the congress participants .
The India delegation also visited the Oprins Plants, a tissue
culture lab to see the best practices and new innovation
technology in Bamboo tissue culture technology. Issues
regarding collaboration and technology transfer to India were
also discussed with India and Oprins Plants.
SABF also
sponsored three Indian Scientists for their participation in the
event who were key speakers.
On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
Issue 5
5 June 2012
A panel discussion on Focus on current status and future
potentials include Regional Reports and conclude with a
workshop entitled, “Bamboo a 50-year Perspective” was held
on the 12th was held on the last day , Mr. Kamesh Salam ,
Former President WBO and Founder and Executive Director,
SABF took part in the panel discussion. Also Mr. Salam Chaired
a session on Development in the second part of the WBC. More
than 250 participants from all continents participated at the
Congress held for the first time in Europe.
The second part of the Congress was held at a rural setting
called DeKolonie outskirt of Antwerp. A bamboo welcome gate
created by Mr. Georges Cuvillier. Bamboo geodesic domes
(created by BeBamboo) scattered around the building offering
warm refuge and ambiance, and other works of bamboo art
beckoned beyond. Inside the barn, bamboo products and
projects were on display, and in the main hall, ambassador
FLYBOO was soaring overhead! The creation of Mr. Michel
Abadie (WBO President), this airplane made of bamboo has
become a symbol for all that bamboo can do, and as
messenger, it carried all under its wings as the participants
entertained two and half more days of 40 fascinating
presentations, and great camaraderie. On 14th night night
brought a great concert by Take Dake, music from Indonesia
by a contemporary Anklung group from Bangalore, India ,
fireworks, etc make the event a memorable one. On the last
day a presentation on what bamboo can do by Mr. Gunther
Pauli, founder of ZERI and the Blue Economy, gave a powerful
and motivational presentation entitled, Bamboo: a symbol of
the new economy.
This WBC was a tremendous collaboration of an amazing team
of people in Belgium , IKEBANA: Dr .Johan Gielis, Mr. Geert
Potters, Ms. Frances Schutte, Mr. Davina Van Goethem, Mr.
Litsa Bogaerts, Mr. Luc Boeraeve and a gang of volunteers, Mr.
Jan Oprins and his family, a scientific committee to review all of
the papers, the facilities at UA, the artists and builders at
DeKolonie, the musicians, etc.
Also the South Asia bamboo Foundation (SABF) is grateful to
WBO and WBC team for the co operation extended for
organizing the Investment meet .The meet was sponsored by
the State Governments of Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram and the
Embassy of Indonesia in Belgium.
Contributed by
Mr Kamesh Salam,
Founder and Executive Director
South Asia Bamboo Foundation, (SABF)
A Bamboovishwa initiative
5/8
Bbamboomitra
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On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
Issue 5
5 June 2012
Giving Bamboo the DESIGN edge !
Sangaru Design Objects Private Limited was established in July 2010 in Bangalore. It is
a Design lead Manufacturing company for Furniture, Products and Accessories for
contemporary urban Home, Work and Play.
SDOPL was launched as a company with the award winning Bamboo furniture line
Truss-Me.
Truss-Me was awarded the Red Dot - Best of the Best 2009 for highest design quality
expressing innovation in from and function in an exemplary manner.
SDOPL also was awarded the Design for Asia Award 2011 'Grand Award' overall and the
'Gold Award' in Home ware for Truss-Me range of bamboo furniture collection.
Company’s vision is “To bring together traditional knowledge & skills in crafts
with design & technology to make objects of daily use invaluable, accessible
and enjoyable”
Sandeep Sangaru, Founder of SANGARU
Design Studio, is a multi disciplinary
designer, educator, entrepreneur.
He studied Industrial Design, specialized
in Furniture Design from the National
Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
A Bamboovishwa initiative
6/8
Bbamboomitra
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On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
BAMBOO VISHWA
Issue 5
5 June 2012
Structure for affordable Rural Housing using Bamboo Reinforced Concrete
Shree Bhargav Fibers, established by Mr
Srinivas Khare 20 years back has been
engaged in cultivating and finding new
vistas for bamboo applications for the
past 20 years in Shedani village Mulshi
near Pune. Mr Kahre, has developed
many product applications using
bamboo as a core along with various
synthetic materials.
Shree
Bhargav Fibers
One of his Recent development is using Magnesium Oxychloride Cement and mortar along with bamboo pole to
manufacture preformed structures to be used for rural housing.
Bamboo Pole as core
Magnesium
Oxy-chloride
cement+mortar
A modular unit for the truss and the wall is created by casting
the Bamboo pole along with the cement and mortar. A mold for
these two modules is developed. This helps to keep the
modules common and replicable with the required dimensions.
The present design is for 8 ft x 8 ft panel. It can be expanded as
required accordingly.
The Prefabricated structural members are bolted to each other and then grouted in the plinth. The brick masonry is done the traditional
way to complete the house. The combination of Bamboo and cement module provides the necessary structural strength to the
construction in the most economical way. The entire operations can be locally done in the remotest part of the country.
This Bamboo Reinforced Concrete (BRC) composite structural
module was proposed by Nachiket Thakur as part of Mahindra
Composites initiative for the Development of Low Cost Hosing
for Haiti rehabilitation. This project was spearheaded by Tuck
School of Business, Boston USA, in January 2012. As part of this
program experts from all across the globe put in there ideas to
create affordable dwellings for the rural world. The design which
was finalized included this BRC module as an integral part which
made the structure Earthquake and cyclone resistant.
A Bamboovishwa initiative
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Bbamboomitra
BAMBOO VISHWA
5 June 2012
Issue 5
mm a s t e r s
Bamboo Masters is an organization operating from
Hadapsar, Pune, working in the field of bamboo craft
and structures. It is being spearheaded by Mr
Rajendra Sapkal. He has been enthusiastically
developing products in bamboo using his skills, a
small workshop and dedicated workforce. Recently
under the guidance of Prof M P Ranjan from NID he
developed this chair in bamboo. Mr Sapkal will be
going in for batch production of this chair.
TM
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On occasion of
World Environment Day
we are proud to present this issue of
bamboomitra
for all bamboo enthusiasts
Terrabambu pendant
Lamp shade using bamboo matt and beacked clay ( terra cotta )
Horizontal Hanging Variant
Component detials
Earthy
Green
Renewable
Sustainable
Woven matt variant
Table top variant
End Cap detail
A contemporary product for urban use, designed using hand woven bamboo matt, hand crafted
terra cotta (backed clay) and bamboo beads. Special focus was to deploy, promote the age old
traditional skills of the rural craftsman in these two sustainable and easily accessible natural materials
Conceptualized, designed & developed by
Nachiket Thakur
Dear Bamboomitra’s,
Send in your comments, views, experiences, work related to bamboo to be published in our news letter or
website. This is your platform to interact with like-minded bamboo enthusiasts. Let us create this vibrant
community to try and make a noticeable difference to the environment and society at large.
Contact us on [email protected] and 9890909299
Nachiket Thakur, Hemant Bedekar, Ajit Thakur ( Bamboomitra publishing board )
Vvisit us at
www.bamboovishwa.com
Published by : Hemant Bedekar & Nachiket Thakur, Bamboovishwa, 3, indrayani, patrakar nagar, senapati bapat road, pune - 411016 ,
[email protected]
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