Book Launch: Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India

Imphal, 28th November 2021

Book Launch: Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India

Book Launch for Manipur: Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India and BAMTECH Mobile App at Imphal, Manipur on 28th November 2021 will be launch by Dr. Bhabeswar Tongbram, Vice Chancellor, Manipur Technical University, Imphal at Crafts Complex, Patsoi -1, Imphal West. Manipur

The benefits of Bamboo are not new, but the interest in it is. From being a “poor man’s timber”, Bamboo is increasingly being known as the “most promising wood substitute” or the ‘Material of Future’, with the developed nations taking as much interest in it as the developing ones. Bamboo is a wild-growing woody grass, but was defined as a tree in the Indian Forest Act 1927.

The Indian Forest Law, which included Bamboo in the ‘Schedule of Timber Trees’ was meant to impose restrictions on the bamboo trade to protect forests, but it also made the cultivation and transportation of bamboo across state lines difficult. Non-uniform rules and regulations in different states for varying species of bamboo also resulted in tedious negotiations with the forest and police department officials.

The recent amendment (in Forest Laws, which removed Bamboo from the schedule of Trees), is a first step in the right direction. This, if implemented in its spirit and letter, has a potential to bring bamboo out of the ‘backyard’ into the mainstream.

In this connection a Book authored by Mr. Kamesh Salam, Former President World Bamboo Organisation “Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India launch for Manipur State by Dr. Bhabeswar Tongbram, Chief Guest Vice-Chancellor, Manipur Technical University, Imphal, as Chief Guest.

The program was presided by Shri. Sukumar Haobam, Industrial Designer - President of the function, Founder, Bamboo Forum, with the followings as Guest of Honors: Shri. Vijai Singh Katiyar, Principal Designer, Activity Chairperson, Research & Development, NID, Ahmedabad, Shri. Salam Rajesh, Environmentalist and Advisory Member SABF, Shri. Susanth C S, Principal Designer, Head, Centre for Bamboo Initiatives, NID-Bengaluru Campus, Shri. Sharangajit Lisham, Founder Secretary, Crafts Society of Manipur, Shri Somorendro Nongmeithem , National Bamboo Mission of Manipur and Shri Ravi Shankar, Director , NID Jorhat, Assam.

Along with that BAMTECH a Mobile App designed and developed by South Asia Bamboo Foundation (SABF), National Cheng Chung University, Taiwan and Bamboo Centre of NID, Bangalore was also launched by the dignitaries.

Book Launch: Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India

The Book was released at Delhi by Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road, Transport and Highways in presence of Shri Bhagwant Khuba, Hon’ble Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers Govt of India during the Third edition of the green energy award “India Green Energy Awards, 2020” in New Delhi organised by Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE) on 20th of October 2021.

This Book has highlighted the Value Chain of six important bamboo Products that can harness the potential of Indian Bamboo to make it Green Gold. This book covers bamboo plantation and nursery management along with value chain mapping for Bamboo Handicrafts, Bamboo Shoots, Bamboo furniture, Bamboo Charcoal, Bamboo Panel Boards various value chain models of bamboo around the world. This book is being forwarded by Dr Cherla Sastry, The first Director-General of INBAR.

Kamesh is Founder of World Bamboo Day and former President of World Bamboo Organisation, Kamesh Salaam – considered an authority on bamboo issues in India and South Asia – lives, breathes, eats and dreams only bamboo!

Currently the founder and executive director of South Asia Bamboo Foundation, his career as a skilled bamboo management expert span over three decades. He has worked with various organisations:
Department of Human Resources BHUTAN, Price Waterhouse Coopers,
Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency, Manipur State Bio Diversity Board,
Ministry of Environment and Forest INDIA,
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation INDIA, Ministry of Textiles INDIA,
Founder Director of UNDP/UNIDO implemented Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre,
North Eastern Council INDIA, INBAR, GIZ,
and has been and accredited consultant with ADB funded projects on bamboo in Bhutan and India.

Book Launch: Green Gold, Bamboo Value Chain Management and Sustainable Development in India

A recipient of “Outstanding Green Activist Award 2018 of India” from the Indian Federation for Green Energy (IFGE), Kamesh Salaam started working with communities in Manipur, India in 1990 and founded Crafts Society of Manipur to promote crafts and artisans of North East India. Over his 30+ years career, he has contributed to the bamboo development programmes of India as the Member of the Apex Committee of National Bamboo Mission of India.

He is also the founder Director of the Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) started by UNDP and implemented by UNIDO in Guwahati, Assam in 2000. He has been also associated with various policies and planning activities of Government of India with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as Member of the first Bamboo Development Committee in 1999.

He has been member of various committees with Ministry of Textiles on Handicrafts and Bio Diversity Board of Government of Manipur. He has also worked with PwC, India as external Consultant on bamboo resources in 2015 for India’s first Bamboo based Indo-Finnish Bio Refinery project planned in Assam.

He has also served on Advisory Body of Trade Associations like FICCI on Skills of NE States of India and worked on bamboo policies and regulatory issues with think thank Institutes like Centre for Civil Society (CCS) New Delhi.