Bamboo is a precious wealth endowed by nature to human beings, with huge ecological, edible, medicinal and economic values. Bamboo forests are widely distributed in the world and are known as "the second largest forest in the world". The bamboo industry developed by using bamboo resources is a globally recognized green industry.
Let's review the versatile values of bamboo together.
1. Ecological Value
Bamboo is an incredibly renewable and versatile crop. Although it's tough like wood, it's actually a type of grass and some species can grow by over a meter a day. The crop requires very little water and doesn't need to be sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers to grow.
Bamboo’s ability to restore degraded land is a particularly important ecosystem service for forests. Its long underground root systems mean that bamboo can bind soil, prevent water run-off and survive even when the biomass above ground is destroyed by fire. Bamboo is a source of carbon storage, a means to stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion, and a crucial part of biological diversity.
2. Edible Value
Bamboo is a low-calorie product that is high in dietary fiber.
Bamboo shoots are considered as one of the useful health food because of their rich contents of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fibers, and minerals and their very low fat. Bamboo shoots are young shoots of bamboo, which can be divided into spring shoots and winter shoots according to the picking season. They are very fragrant and delicious whether they are fried, cold, or stewed, and are one of the favorite dishes of people.
Bamboo leaves are edible as well. People use fresh bamboo leaves to make tea, which is rich in silica and considered healthy.
3. Medicinal Value
The bamboo plant is used as a treatment for many diseases such as febrifuge, diuretic, calming, vomiting control & expectorant and bacterial infection, etc.
Bamboo leaves have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to keep the balance of free radicals and ward off any excess amount that can cause a large variety of problems like heart disease and even cancer. It is also great for healthy skin. Bamboo shoots are sweet and cold in nature, have the effect of clearing away heat and detoxification, and moisturizing the intestines, and can also relieve flatulence; medical research has found that bamboo shoots have a certain improvement effect on diabetes, and can also eliminate facial chloasma. Bamboo juice is particularly helpful for ulcers.
4. Economic Value
Bamboo also brings a lot of value to the national economy. The bamboo industry has developed rapidly and has strong momentum, and become the pillar of the economy in mountainous areas.
Bamboo products involve tens of categories, including bamboo building materials, bamboo daily necessities, bamboo weaving handicrafts, bamboo furniture, bamboo pulp and paper, bamboo fiber products, bamboo charcoal, bamboo vinegar, bamboo shoot processing products, bamboo extracts, etc.
The development of the bamboo industry, "returning farmland to bamboo", replacing wood with bamboo, growing long with bamboo, and getting rich with bamboo can not only coordinate the multiple relationships between man and nature, resource environment, and economic development but also realize ecological environment, economic and social sustainability continuous development.
