Bobby Morse
 Bamboo is a grass.
 Holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest
growing plant in the world (1.2 meters in a day).
 Requires few nutrients to grow so it can survive in
inhospitable areas to other plants.
 Considered to be the “poor man’s wood” in Asian
countries.
 The tensile strength is as strong or stronger than steel
depending on the species, growing conditions, and
maturity.
 Absorbs 5 times more CO2 than trees.
 Creates 35% more oxygen than trees.
 Very flexible and can be permanently shaped.
 Can reduce deforestation
• Wood is scarce in Ethiopia so bamboo is used for charcoal and
building .
• Trees take over a decade to mature.
 Bamboo charcoal burns more efficiently and cleaner
than wood charcoal.
 Bamboo roots are very strong so it can help prevent
land erosion and mudslides.
 Build homes
• 30 bamboo homes in Costa Rica stood up to a 7.6 magnitude
earthquake
• Can make more affordable homes (takes less energy to process
bamboo)
 Can be used as cables
• Towing a boat with a working stress of 20,000 psi up the Yangtze
River
 Natural pesticide and fertilizer.
• Used in guerilla warfare during the Vietnam war.
• The bamboo spikes were covered in human feces to cause an infection.
 http://nimbuseco.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/BambooForest.jpg
 http://www.ecology.com/2013/05/15/what-can-bamboo-do-about-co2/
 http://www.angelfire.com/hero2/vietcong/images/punji_bear_trap.bmp
 http://www.barocharcoal.co.kr/data/file/e_charcoal/758260464_809be42b_img.jpg
 http://www.guaduabamboo.com/making-bamboo-cables.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo
 http://www.homedecordream.com/wp-content/uploads/well-cnstructed-bamboo-
house.jpg
 http://agsyst.wsu.edu/images/potboundlg.jpg