Role of Bamboo in Emergency Shelters and Social Housing – BARC 2018

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Global Bamboo & Rattan Congress at Beijing, China on June 26 2018

Held on June 26 2018 at China National Convention Center at at Beijing, China

Co- organiser: The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR)

INBAR is a multilateral development organisation that supports its 43 Member States to include bamboo and rattan in their sustainable development action plans and green economy strategies. We promote innovative ways of using bamboo and rattan to improve rural livelihoods, protect the environment, and address climate change and issues of international trade and standards. For more information on INBAR please visit the official website at www.inbar.int .

The National Forestry and Grassland Administration of the People's Republic of China (NFGA)

National Forestry and Grassland Administration oversees organising, coordinating, protecting and supervising national forestry and grassland. This includes eco- construction, afforestation, forest resources protection and development, wetland protection, desertification control, terrestrial wildlife and plant resources protection and development, forestry systems, nature reserves, forest fire prevention, forestry and its eco construction of science, technology, education and foreign affairs. For more information, please visit the official website at www.english.forestry.gov.cn .

Session Introduction: Nowadays, bamboo has been regarded as one of the alternative construction materials for building and bridge structures. The Chinese have used it for more than 5,000 years for housing, food, furniture, medicine and "fire arrows." In Ecuador, the pre- Columbian record includes pottery from 3,500 B.C. that depicts bamboo dwellings, and colonial- era buildings in Colombia have bamboo in their walls.

Like poverty, bamboo is especially prolific in the tropics; perhaps what makes the concept of bamboo as a material for low- income housing most appealing is this symmetry. Bamboo housing has gained attention for its use in disaster relief efforts. After an earthquake destroyed 80 percent of the buildings in Sichuan, China, killing more than 70,000 people, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan built more than 100 temporary prefabricated bamboo houses in a resettlement area.

Almost two years later, in March 2010, the European Union and INBAR kicked off a project to establish a sustainable bamboo processing chain in the earthquake- torn region, which is rich in bamboo resources. This session will explore role of bamboo in disaster relief operations around the world majorly in developing countries with a discussion on specific case study of Nepal and Philippines.

Questions for dialogue:

o Disaster- risk reduction and community resilience to climate change and extreme weather have become some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. As quoted by an expert “People don't die because of disasters, but because of buildings collapsing on them. Bamboo buildings are lighter and don't cause fatalities. Because of their sheer strength, bamboo buildings are also serviceable for much longer in the face of volatile weather” – which makes a first choice construction material for emergency shelter construction. With a nearly zero carbon footprint, how important could bamboo construction be for a sustainable development, especially for developing countries in the Global South where we have high occurrence of natural disasters?

o Mexico is currently in the third position as bamboo producer in Latin America, just behind Brazil and Colombia, having most diverse species of woody bamboos. What are your experiences in developing bamboo applications in Mexico, specifically using light roof structures and prefabricated modular bio panels for constructing emergency shelters?

o Urban migration is a phenomena or a trend in many of the developing countries. More than 70% population will be living in cities by 2030 as per estimates from different international agencies. Nepal, being a developing country, having experienced a major earthquake in 2015, might have had a crucial role for emergency shelters. Share your experience of post- earthquake construction and impact of various bamboo technology to support this relief activities?

o Resilient cities are major thrust for creating policies by current decision makers which comes down to creating resilience communities with resilient homes. Philippines also encountered super typhoon few years back and have a good example of creating sustainable and resilient mass housing for communities made from local and renewable materials using cement- bamboo frame (CBF) technology, which also merges Philippine tradition and innovation with Latin American and European engineering. How can this technology be replicated at other locations and what are the learnings for technology transfer between countries?

o Should INBAR’s Members promote the development of various technology using AI or digital applications such as BAMTECH? or is this a best way to create awareness about the various application of Bamboo in construction considering its end consumers? Explain the current status and impact of BAMTECH.

o Bamboo was de-classified as a tree last year in India or the amendment Bill excluded non- forest bamboo from the definition of ‘tree’, removing the scientific anomaly from the Indian Forest Act (IFA), which will tremendously effect of bamboo trading between provinces of India. What impact can be foreseen in terms of bamboo construction in India? Does bamboo can have a larger share in overall pie of construction growth in next 5 to 10 years?

o INBAR claims that bamboo can play a bigger role in earthquake proof construction, future resilience strategies, mitigation policies for climate proof constructions in various developing countries. Why is Bamboo still not commonly used construction material to all segment of society? What should INBAR do to raise awareness for comprehensive use of Bamboo in developing future policies?

o INBAR has been involved in South- South Cooperation for most of its 20 year’s existence. As the only IGO with its Headquarters in Beijing, China with regional office in India, INBAR is well placed to play an even greater role in future. How should INBAR position itself during the coming years to make more impact in Disaster management and relief activities through global bamboo construction programme?

Post- session outcome/actions expected

o Potential areas of involvement for INBAR in disaster relief construction projects
o Immediate prospects of creating a joint publication on an outlook of Bamboo in Disaster Management operations
o Promotion of bamboo as a sustainable material in disaster operating industries, with a likelihood to get INBAR involved in future training programs for local laborers in Nepal, India or other countries
o To explore opportunities of using digital technology in promoting applications of bamboo in construction