BAMBOO, THE PRESENT AND FUTURE STAR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HAITI!
The first bamboo species "Bambusa Vulgaris" arrived in Haiti in 1760 to help resolve landslide concerns in Camp-coq, Haiti. After the plant's arrival, Haiti began exploring the plants potential.
By promoting we are supporting the Haitian community discover how the plant is used through multiple applications to help resolve existing socio-economic and environmental challenges in the Country.
Why Bamboo?
According to Haiti AA School Bamboo has many uses as an asset that make it a logical alternative for the country:
- Water Absorption
One hectare of Guadua Bamboo can absorb up to 30,000 liters of water during the hurricane season and deposit this slowly back into the soil. With landslides being a serious concern resulting in deforestation during these seasons, bamboo becomes an instant lifeline for rural communities in Haiti.
2. Carbon Absorption
Bamboo can sequester up to twice as much carbon as trees. Given global efforts to curb carbon emissions; bamboo becomes an instant solution to help curve pollution concerns. If Haiti were to start growing bamboo for construction, then the bamboo could earn money for the grower, not just paying for the bamboo cultivation but also providing livelihood to the grower as well.
3. A New Economy
We are creating a new and very promising economic source in Haiti: Bambou Facile Encourages the rural and urban population to plant the material and become Bamboo entrepreneurs so that they are financially independent which will solve the problem of rural exodus. Farmers are also our suppliers because in our dynamism of reforestation and awareness, we also encourage them to plant bamboo in the mountains, drylands and treeless and vulnerable areas. With the bamboo industry that we put in place, we manufacture a whole range of various elements derived from bamboo as furniture (bed, table, chair, chiffonnier etc ..), decorative elements, structural and non-structural elements etc. . We allow entrepreneurs to regain confidence and invest in the Bamboo industry!
4. Speed of Growth
Classified as grass and as fast-growing, bamboo can grow up to one meter per day. The construction grade bamboo Guadua grows 80 percent of her volume in the first three months.
This can be a quick source of material for charcoal production to take the burden from the slow-growing trees currently deforested at an unsustainable rate for that very fuel source. After this initial growth spurt over the next 4-5 years, guadua can grow up to 30 meters tall. Haiti’s topography, 65% of this island nation is over a 7% gradient, and bamboo grown on an incline drains faster and becomes stronger than bamboo grown on the flats. With proper regulation, Haiti has the potential to produce some of the best construction grade bamboo in the world.