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ACIAR Summary Report March 2001

This web page was produced by the Centre for Plant and Water Science of CQUniversity, and funded by RIRDC.

ACIAR Project No. FST/2000/127
  Improving and maintaining productivity of bamboo for quality timber and shoots in Australia and the Philippines

Program area - Forestry (and relevance to Land and Water Resources)

Geographic regions

  •  
  • Darwin NT, Eumundi Qld, Mullumbimby NSW - Australia
  •  
  • Ilocos Norte Batac, Mindanao Bukidnon, Panay Island -Philippines

Commissioned organisation: CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Q 4702

Project leader: Prof. David Midmore

Summary

This project improves bamboo cultivation in Australia and the   Philippines, building upon experience already gained with edible shoot   production and development work for quality bamboo timber, and its   preservation and utilization. It ties together Philippino and Australian   researchers and commercial interests.

Bamboo comprises an extremely adaptable group of perennial grass   species, with both temperate (the running ‘weedy’ type) and sub/tropical   (the clumping type) groups represented. The project will work on   sub/tropical species that are valued for their edible shoots and timber.   Two major objectives will be addressed in both countries:

  1.   
  2. rehabilitation of existing degenerated stands for production of shoots and timber
  3. maintenance of high productivity in managed plantations

With activities in both Australia and Philippines, we will evaluate,   through experimentation, culm-thinning treatments, irrigation and   fertilisation, water and nutrient uptake and simple post-harvest   management practices.

We will link closely with research, funded by INBAR, on the   incorporation of bamboo into erosion and riverbank stabilisation and, in   Australia, on waste-water dissipation. Minor objectives include arguing   the case for carbon credits to be accorded to bamboo, the development   of simple culm quality assessments and labour-saving harvesting   equipment, and investigating the potential for bamboo pulp for making   paper.

The project commenced on 1 March 2001. Project collaborators met in   Australia last week and will meet again in the Philippines in April/May.