Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
THE UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE is the THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO AND RATTAN (INBAR)
biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of is an international organization established by treaty in
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the November 1997, dedicated to improving the social,
world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo and
organization. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers rattan. INBAR connects a global network of partners from
recognize the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and the government, private and not-for-profit sectors in over 50
to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s countries to define and implement a global agenda for
challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant sustainable development through bamboo and rattan.
information, to build tools and systems for analysis and
integration, and to support the needs of nations and the
international community as they engage in joint
programmes of action.
Authors Acknowledgements
N. Bystriakova1,2 The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the
V. Kapos2 International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and the
I. Lysenko2 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).
UNEP-WCMC and the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, are thanked
1 International Network for Bamboo and Rattan for providing working facilities. We thank Chris Stapleton for
Beijing, China providing useful technical input and access to key literature. We
2 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre are grateful to Ian May for providing extra help with mapping and
Cambridge, UK data management.
URL: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources/publications/UNEP_WCMC_bio_series/19.htm
A Banson production
Printed in the UK by Swaingrove Imaging
The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, INBAR or contributory organizations. The designations employed and
the presentations do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, INBAR or contributory organizations concerning the legal
status of any country, territory, city or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
2
Bamboo biodiversity
Contents
Foreword 4
Preface 5
BAMBOO BIODIVERSITY 7
References 21
Annex I: Subtribes and genera of woody bamboos occurring naturally in Africa, Madagascar and
the Americas 24
Annex II: Bamboo species on the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants 25
Annex III: Useful native species of bamboo in Africa, Madagascar and the Americas 26
2
Annex IV: Woody bamboo species of Africa, Madagascar and the Americas with <20 000 km of
forest remaining within their ranges 28
Annex V: Maps of potential distributions of woody bamboos in Africa, Madagascar and the
Americas 31
3
Bamboo biodiversity
Foreword
T
he bamboo plant supports an international trade, survival of many potentially important bamboo species may
which (even according to our currently imperfect be threatened.
trade statistics) amounts to well over US$2 billion This work is a first step towards quantifying existing
per year. International trade, however, forms only a part of resources of bamboo. Knowledge of the magnitude and
bamboo usage, with domestic use estimated to account for distribution of these resources is a necessary precursor to
at least 80 per cent of the total. Bamboo is thus a major planning and implementing conservation and sustainable
world commodity. management of bamboos in the wild.
Despite this, very little is known about the The innovative approach used here can be applied to
distribution and resources of bamboo. Certain bamboo the study of other species associated with mapped
species (e.g. Chinese Moso bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis) ecosystems.
have formed the basis of major industrial development and This study would not have been possible without
have been domesticated into plantations. Perhaps 50 or 100 collaboration between INBAR and UNEP-WCMC. It was the
bamboo species are preferred for use and are undergoing detailed map-based databases of UNEP-WCMC that made
some degree of domestication. However there are the development of the methodology possible. This study
estimated to be nearly 1 500 species in total and the vast thus represents an excellent example of two organizations
majority of these occur only in their native ranges, and many working together to combine their strengths.
may have uses of local or wider significance that have yet to
be documented. Unfortunately, as obligate components of
forested ecosystems, their futures are bound up with the Ian Hunter
survival of their forest habitats. This work indicates that as Director General
forest ecosystems shrink under human pressure the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
4
Bamboo biodiversity
Preface
W
herever they occur, woody bamboos are of direct members. By assessing conservation status, identifying
importance to people. They are used for every- areas important for bamboo diversity and in situ
thing from construction to irrigation systems, conservation of threatened species, and providing informa-
from musical instruments to food and fuel. Their greatest tion on the use of wild species, this report contributes
economic importance is in the Asia-Pacific region, but they directly to implementation of the Global Strategy and
are also fundamental to local economies in other regions of achievement of its targets.
the world. Despite their value to humanity, we still know Conserving such genetic resources as wild
relatively little about most bamboos in the wild. bamboos is an essential step towards solving the prob-
Bamboos are an ancient group of plants that play lems of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
a distinctive role in the forest ecosystems of which they Because of their many uses, bamboos exemplify the
are a part. For example, they support a range of special- connection between biodiversity and livelihoods very
ized and rare species, such as the greater bamboo lemur clearly. This report will help range states to recognize,
of Madagascar. This report (like its companion volume for and value, the bamboo genetic resources on their own
the bamboos of the Asia-Pacific region) applies innovative doorsteps, and to conserve them for future generations.
approaches and analytical tools to expand our under- I welcome this opportunity to collaborate with
standing of the ecological role of bamboos substantially. INBAR, the world’s bamboo and rattan trade network. I
The authors have generated a revealing overview of the hope that our first analyses will form the basis for future
distribution of bamboos in Africa, Madagascar and the in-depth assessments of bamboo resources and their
Americas, which provides the first sound basis for a conservation status. Bamboos are a fascinating group
description of their importance and an analysis of their of plants that bring benefits to people everywhere;
conservation needs. they should be conserved as an important resource for
This work directly supports the Global Strategy for all our futures.
Plant Conservation, adopted under the Convention on
Biological Diversity, which expressly recognizes the need
for more knowledge on distribution and threats as a basic
requirement for effective conservation measures. A
Global Partnership for Plant Conservation has recently Mark Collins
been formed to help implement the Global Strategy, and Director
UNEP-WCMC is pleased to be one of its founding UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
5
Bamboo biodiversity
Bamboo biodiversity
B
amboos are distinct and fascinating plants, with a Bamboos are a significant structural component of
wide range of values and uses. Although their many forest ecosystems and play a major role in
diversity and their importance are highest in, and ecosystem dynamics through their distinctive cycles of
have been best documented for, the Asia-Pacific region, mass flowering and subsequent die-off, which may
they are also important in continental Africa, Madagascar increase the importance of fire (Keeley and Bond 1999).
and the Americas. Worldwide they are associated with Inhabiting moister, more benign habitats in old-growth
unique elements of biodiversity, many with great forests, bamboos are often associated with threatened
conservation significance. They are important in local cul- plants, and there are many specialized animal species that
tures and economies, and contribute to soil and water depend upon them. There are also many little-known
management. The purpose of the present study is to invertebrates specially adapted to the environment within
synthesize existing knowledge to provide an overview of hollow bamboo culms. These specialized relationships,
the richness and distribution of woody bamboos in Africa, which reflect a long history of co-evolution between
Madagascar and the Americas. It shows that a number of bamboos and other species, can shed light on evolutionary
bamboo species in these regions are potentially threatened and ecological processes.
by the destruction of natural forest cover. Conservation and Bamboos are multipurpose crops, with over 1 500
sustainable management of wild populations of bamboo documented uses. Their most important traditional uses
should be a priority, especially where diversity is high or include housing, food and material for handicrafts.
deforestation is a significant threat. Worldwide, over 2.5 billion people trade in or use bamboo
Bamboos are plants of global interest because of (INBAR 1999). Globally, domestic trade and subsistence
their distinctive life form, their ecological importance and use of bamboo are estimated to be worth US$4.5 billion
the wide range of uses and values they have for humans. per year, and export of bamboo generates another US$2.7
Woody bamboos are an ancient group of forest plants, billion (INBAR 1999). The many uses and the economic
which evolved in the lowland tropics of Gondwanaland importance of bamboo mean that it plays a considerable
during the Tertiary (Clark 1997). role in improving the livelihoods of rural poor people. The
7
Bamboo biodiversity
8
Bamboo biodiversity
9
Bamboo biodiversity
appropriate way to generate potential species distribution Table 1. The five species of woody bamboo
maps where data are limited. However, for a minority of occurring in Africa, and the total area of forest within
species, e.g. Guadua amplexifolia (Map 3.28) and Otatea their range
acuminata (Map 3.41), the range of point locations was
larger than predicted by potential species distribution SPECIES AREA OF
maps, suggesting that the source data on political units POTENTIAL
need verification. It is important to recognize that this study OCCURRENCE
does not address the persistence of many bamboo species (KM2)
outside forests and in cultivation, or the potential beneficial
effects of forest disturbance for some woody bamboo Hickelia africana 1 174
species (Judziewicz et al. 1999). Yushania alpina 202 019
We gathered data on 388 species and subspecies Oreobambos buchwaldii 527 789
that occur in Africa, Madagascar and the Americas, and Oxytenanthera abyssinica 7 117 915
mapped the potential current distributions of 379 Thamnocalamus tessellatus 89 260
individual bamboo species within natural forest. Thirty-
seven genera occurring naturally in these regions were
included in this study (Annex I).
The low diversity of bamboo species in mainland
BAMBOOS IN AFRICA Africa, compared with Asia, Madagascar and the
The lowest diversity of woody bamboos is found in Africa, Americas, may relate to past climatic variation on the
where five species representing five genera occur (Table continent. The ancestral woody bamboos are thought to
1). Tanzania has the largest number of species followed have arisen in the wet forests of Gondwanaland (Clark
by Malawi, Uganda and Zambia (Table 2). The greatest 1997). It is possible that after the break-up of
potential bamboo richness (two co-occurring species) is Gondwanaland isolated the African genera (Clayton and
in East Africa, especially around Lake Victoria, and in Renvoize 1999), climate and vegetation patterns in Africa
southern Africa in Zambia and Zimbabwe (Figure 1), while have provided limited opportunities for their expansion
the countries of West Africa have only a single species of and radiation within forest habitats, in contrast to genera
woody bamboo (principally Oxytenanthera abyssinica). on other continents.
10
Bamboo biodiversity
Figure 1. Map of potential bamboo species richness in Africa, derived by integrating the distributions of the five woody
bamboo species that are native to the continent.
Conservation and biodiversity importance wild. The conservation of bamboo forests is a vital part of
Of the African bamboos mapped, only Thamnocalamus such protection given their key role in sheltering the
tessellatus has been listed by IUCN as of conservation mountain bongo during the dry season.
concern (Annex II) (Gillet and Walter 1998; Hilton-Taylor Another close dependence between an en-
2000). According to our analysis, it currently has 89 260 dangered mammal and bamboo occurs with the eastern
km2 of potential forest habitat remaining. Potentially of mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). Mountain
great concern but not presently red-listed, is Hickelia gorillas, which are classed as ‘Endangered’ (IUCN 2002),
africana, which is especially limited in its current extent inhabit montane and bamboo forests in the eastern
(Table 1), having little more than 1 000 km2 of forest Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and
remaining within its range. southwestern Uganda (IGCP 2003). They eat large
Despite their lack of diversity in Africa, bamboos amounts of vegetation from more than 70 different plant
play an important role in ecology and biodiversity species, including bamboo (Fossey and Harcourt 1977).
conservation. In many places, especially at high altitude, When the bamboo plant sprouts in June and November,
African bamboo species form vast pure stands (Chihongo bamboo shoots can make up to 90 per cent of a gorilla’s
et al. 2000; Kigomo 1988), which provide important shelter diet. An adult male can eat up to 35 kg of bamboo each day,
and resources for some key species of conservation and females about 18 kg (WWF 2003a).
interest. For example, the eastern or mountain bongo
(Tragelaphus euryceros ssp. isaaci) of the Aberdare Uses of bamboo
Mountains in Kenya is considered by IUCN to be In terms of utilization, the most important African species
‘Endangered’ (Antelope Taxon Advisory Group 2003). This are Oreobambus buchwaldii, Oxytenanthera abyssinica
large forest antelope spends the wet season in cloud and Yushania alpina (Annex III and Annex V: Maps 1.1, 1.2
forests lower down the mountains, but migrates to spend and 1.4). These are mostly harvested from the wild. For
the dry season in the dense Yushania alpina thickets and example, in Kenya only 0.6 per cent of total bamboo
open moorland 1 000 m further up the slopes. Effective harvested is produced on farms (Ongugo et al. 2000).
protection of the surviving remnant populations of the African bamboos have not been exploited in pulp
mountain bongo in Kenya is critical to its survival in the and paper production, or in any other large-scale bamboo
11
Bamboo biodiversity
industry. The economic value of trade in bamboo products countries both to forest areas and on farmlands on an
in Africa is negligible. Since the products are traded experimental basis (Ongugo et al. 2000; Kigomo 1999). A
locally, statistics do not enter the national accounting number of species, among them Bambusa bambos, B.
systems (Chihongo et al. 2000). tulda, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, D. brandisii, D.
Although there is little cultivation of bamboo and membranaceus, D. strictus, Phyllostachys pubescens and
little or no international trade in bamboo from Africa, Thyrsostachys siamensis, have been established
many bamboo products are used domestically and can be successfully in several ecological zones.
very significant in both household and local economies. Regulation has also been used as a means to
Key bamboo uses include small-scale construction, ensure continued supply of bamboo in parts of Africa. In
handicrafts, residential fencing, horticultural flower Uganda bamboo harvesting is allowed in some areas, but
farming, water pipes, farm props for banana plantations, collectors have to obtain permits from the Forestry
furniture, and other minor cottage industry products like Department. In Kenya bamboo in state forests is
basketry and toothpicks (Chihongo et al. 2000). According protected, although controlled harvesting is allowed in
to the results of a survey carried out in several Ethiopian places (Ongugo et al. 2000). A government ban on cutting
states (Kelbessa et al. 2000), the majority of rural families bamboo was proclaimed in 1982 to control further
were entirely dependent on raw bamboo for construction, indiscriminate cutting and to allow the overcut areas to
household furniture and as a source of domestic energy. regenerate to their full potential. Bamboo harvesting from
Where collecting and processing bamboo provides income, state forests was allowed only with a special licence.
as for example in the production of toothpicks and incense However, regulation is not always a successful
sticks in Kenya, women are mainly involved in processing approach. Even in Ugandan forest reserves with no legal
whereas men are involved in harvesting, transportation public access, illegal harvesting of bamboo occurs (Esegu
and processing (Ongugo et al. 2000). et al. 2000). Implementation of the government ban in
In some parts of Africa, bamboo is also a source of Kenya has resulted in conditions that have encouraged
food and drink. In Tanzania and Uganda, young shoots and corruption and made the bamboo resource unavailable to
seeds of Oxytenanthera abyssinica, a medium-size poor entrepreneurs. A rough comparison of the figures for
bamboo reaching 8-16 m in height, are consumed as food. the bamboo actually used and the official figures for
The principal use of this species in Tanzania, however, is in harvested bamboo shows a difference of 88 per cent,
the production of bamboo wine, also known as ulanzi which means that a large part of the bamboo used in
(Chihongo et al. 2000; Kigomo 1988). Tips of young shoots Kenya is harvested illegally (Ongugo et al. 2000).
are cut off and the stem portion bruised every morning and Further work is needed to identify appropriate
evening for about a week. The exudate from the bruises is mechanisms and regimes for managing bamboo
collected and allowed to stand for two days to ferment. The resources, ensuring conservation of native bamboo popu-
resulting ulanzi, which is 5-5.5 per cent alcohol, is one of lations and maintaining their roles in forest ecosystems.
the principal forms of alcohol consumed in some areas
(Willis 2003). BAMBOOS IN MADAGASCAR
. Information about bamboos in Madagascar is far from
Other roles of bamboo complete. Although bamboos began to be described in
The role of bamboo in conserving soil and protecting Madagascar in 1828, there was a long hiatus during the
watersheds is also substantial in Africa. For example, in latter half of the 19th century. Limited collection during the
Kenya, Yushania (formerly Arundinaria) alpina is receiving early 20th century permitted the description of a total of 27
attention from the government especially for catchment species up to 1960. New collections between 1987 and 1996
rehabilitation, regulation of water-flow and erosion control permitted recent revisions of Hickelia and Decaryochloa
(Ongugo et al. 2000). and descriptions of three new genera, Valiha,
Cathariostachys and Sirochloa (Dransfield 2000; Dransfield
Conservation and management 2002). It is likely that additional revisions and some new
The importance of bamboos and their products in local species descriptions may be produced in the future.
economies has led to overexploitation and a decline in the At present, Madagascar is considered to have 33
supply of bamboo from natural stands in some parts of species of woody bamboo and is therefore strikingly more
Ethiopia and Tanzania (Chihongo et al. 2000). Approaches rich in species than continental Africa. Thirty-two of those
to reverse these trends have included efforts to establish species are endemic and a single species, Bambusa
introduced species. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute vulgaris, is pantropical in distribution. As this last species
has introduced several bamboo species from Asian is found principally near villages and along rivers, it is
12
Bamboo biodiversity
13
Bamboo biodiversity
14
Bamboo biodiversity
Table 3. Numbers of species of Bambuseae occurring in the countries of North, Central and South America
COUNTRY/TERRITORY NO. OF NATURALLY COUNTRY/TERRITORY NO. OF NATURALLY COUNTRY/TERRITORY NO. OF NATURALLY
OCCURRING SPECIES OCCURRING SPECIES OCCURRING SPECIES
Figure 4. Map of potential species richness of woody bamboos in the Americas, derived by combining the distribution maps
for 341 species native to the region.
15
Bamboo biodiversity
Number of species
to be concentrated in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais
(nine co-occurring genera), whereas other authors have 60
60
16
Bamboo biodiversity
young shoots of bamboo (Judziewicz et al. 1999). Table 4. Threatened bird species of the Atlantic Forest
‘Endangered’ mountain tapirs (Tapirus pinchaque) eat associated with bamboo
considerable amounts of grasses, bamboo, sedges and
bromeliads in their high-altitude habitats (Downer 1996). IUCN RED LIST STATUS SPECIES
The ‘Vulnerable’ lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), which (HILTON-TAYLOR 2000)
feeds on grasses and aquatic plants in the Amazon,
consumes substantial amounts of bamboo leaves and ‘Endangered’ Purple-winged ground-dove
twigs in the Atlantic Forest (Rodrigues et al. 1993). (Claravis godefrida)
At least four South American rodent species known Fork-tailed tody-tyrant
as bamboo rats (Dactylomys dactylinus, D. peruanus and (Hemitriccus furcatus)
D. boliviensis in Amazonia and Kannabateomys amblyonyx Wied’s tyrant-manakin
in the Atlantic Forest) use bamboo patches as their (Neopelma aurifrons)
principal habitat and also eat bamboo (Nowak 1995;
Haemig 2003a,b).
At least 4-5 per cent of all the bird species that ‘Vulnerable’ Canebrake groundcreeper
occur in Amazonia are dependent on bamboo, and 34 bird (Clibanornis dendrocolaptoides)
species are reported to be confined to bamboo thickets in White-bearded antshrike
at least one of the regions of Amazonia (Haemig 2003a). In (Biatas nigropectus)
the Atlantic Forest, which extends along the coast of Buffy-fronted seedeater
eastern Brazil into neighbouring parts of Argentina and (Sporophila frontalis)
southeastern Paraguay, at least 27 bird species were Temminck’s seedeater
reported to be confined almost entirely to large stands of (Sporophila falcirostris)
bamboo, or most abundant where bamboo is common, or
to forage most extensively on bamboo (Haemig 2003b). In ‘Low Risk’/ White-browed foliage-gleaner
at least one case, that of the uniform finch (Haplospiza ‘Near Threatened’ (Anabacerthia amaurotis)
unicolor), the life cycle of a bird species is synchronized Rufous-tailed antbird
with that of mast-seeding bamboos (Chusquea spp.), so (Drymophila genei)
that this finch breeds in the austral autumn rather than Spotted bamboowren
the austral spring (Haemig 2003b). Of the Atlantic Forest (Psilorhamphus guttatus)
bird species associated with bamboo, 11 are of Blackish-blue seedeater
conservation concern (Table 4). (Amaurospiza moesta)
The water that accumulates in bamboo internodes
provides important habitat for numerous invertebrates Source: After Haemig 2003b, IUCN http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/
(Judziewicz et al. 1999) and some amphibians. Further- search/species_search.html.
more, evidence is emerging of complex ecological
relationships between forest bamboos and ant species
that inhabit their internodes and defend them from attack Uses of bamboo
by herbivores (Davidson et al. 2003). The Americas have never had a ‘bamboo culture’ in the
Canebrakes, dense stands of Arundinaria gigantea, way that Japan and China may be said to have had. The
were once widespread throughout the southeastern exploitation of native bamboo in Latin America is limited to
portion of the United States, where they provided shelter the local use of species found close by. It is only in
and resources for rare species such as the ‘Critically Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil that bamboo plays a more
Endangered’ Bachmann’s warbler (Vermivora bachmani) conspicuous role in the local economy (Londoño 2001).
and the now ‘Extinct’ Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis Nonetheless, bamboo is of local importance throughout
carolinensis) (Judziewicz et al. 1999). Other species that the region, and many species are used.
rely on canebrakes include at least five species of The most useful species in Latin America are found
butterfly, which require the cane as food during the in the genus Guadua, and there are several others in the
caterpillar stage (Hendershott 2002). These important native genera of Apoclada, Aulonemia, Chusquea,
habitats have been much reduced by development, Elytrostachys, Otatea and Rhipidocladum. Bambusa,
drainage and suppression of the fire regime that was which has been introduced from Asia, is also extensively
important to their maintenance, with resulting adverse used. Cultivation of bamboos on a commercial scale is
effects on the species that depend on them. limited to only a few native (Guadua angustifolia, G.
17
Bamboo biodiversity
18
Bamboo biodiversity
Figure 6. Distribution of potential generic richness of woody bamboos across the three study regions, derived by combining
the distributions of 37 genera, and showing the strong concentration of generic diversity in eastern Brazil.
Figure 7. Distribution of potential species richness of woody bamboos across the three study regions, derived by combining
the distributions of 379 species, and showing a pattern similar but not identical to that of generic richness.
19
Bamboo biodiversity
20
Bamboo biodiversity
References
Antelope Taxon Advisory Group 2003. Clark, L. 1995. Diversity and Dransfield, S. 2000. Woody bamboos
BONGO, Tragelaphus eurycerus. distribution of the Andean woody (Gramineae-Bambusoideae) of
http://www.csew.com/antelopetag/ bamboos (Poacea: Bambuseae). In: Madagascar. In: Jacobs, S.W.L. and
Professional%20Site/Prof%20Bio% Churchill et al. (eds) Biodiversity Everett, J. (eds) Grasses:
20Facts/Bongo/bongo.htm and Conservation of Neotropical Systematics and Evolution. CSIRO,
(accessed 22 October 2003). Montane Forests. Proceedings of Melbourne, Australia.
the Neotropical Montane Forests
Burman, A.G. and Filgueiras, T.S. Biodiversity and Conservation Dransfield, S. 2002. Sirochloa, a new
1993. A review of the woody Symposium. New York Botanical bamboo genus from Madagascar
bamboo genera of Brazil Garden, USA. pp 237-248. (Poaceae-Bambusoideae). Kew
(Gramineae: Bambusoideae: Bulletin 57: 963-970.
Bambuseae). Thaiszia, Kosice 3: Clark, L. 1997. Bamboos: the
53-88. centrepiece of the grass family. In: Esegu, J.F., Ssenteza, J. and
Chapman, G.P. (ed.) The Bamboos. Sekatuba, J. 2000. Rattan and
Bystriakova, N., Kapos, V., Lysenko, I. Linnean Society Symposium Series Bamboo in Uganda: A Study of the
and Stapleton, C. 2003a. Number 19. Academic Press, Production to Consumption
Distribution and conservation London, UK. pp 501-512. Systems. INBAR Working Paper No.
status of forest bamboo biodiversity 29. International Network for
in the Asia-Pacific Region. Clayton, W. and Renvoize, S. 1999. Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China.
Biodiversity and Conservation 12: Genera Graminum: Grasses of the
1833-1841. World. Kew Bulletin Additional FAO 2001. Global Forest Resources
Series XIII. Royal Botanic Gardens, Assessment 2000. Main Report.
Bystriakova, N., Kapos, V., Stapleton, Kew, London, UK. FAO Forestry Paper 140. Food and
C. and Lysenko, I. 2003b. Bamboo Agriculture Organization of the
Biodiversity: Information for Conservation International 2003. United Nations, Rome, Italy.
Planning Conservation and Biodiversity Hotspots: Madagascar
Management in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Islands. Ferraro, P.J. 2001. The Local Costs of
Region. UNEP-World Conservation http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/ Establishing Protected Areas in
Monitoring Centre and International xp/Hotspots/madagascar/ Low-income Nations: Ranomafana
Network for Bamboo and Rattan, ?showpage=ConservationAction National Park, Madagascar.
Cambridge, UK, and Beijing, China. (accessed 22 October 2003). Appendix DD Environmental Policy
Working Paper No. 2001-006.
CBD 2002. Decision VI/9. Global Davidson, D.W., Arias U, J.A. and Georgia State University, USA.
Strategy for Plant Conservation. Mann, J. 2003. Specialized bamboo http://epp.gsu.edu/pferraro/docs/
Convention on Biological Diversity. ants of western Amazonia. In: Biotic APPENDD-ForestUse.pdf
http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/ Interactions in the Tropics. Special
default.asp?lg=0&dec=VI/9 Symposium of the British Fossey, D. and Harcourt, A.H. 1977.
Ecological Society and the Feeding ecology of free ranging
Chihongo, A.W., Kishimbo, S.I. and Association for Tropical Biology. mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla
Kachwele, M.D. 2000. Bamboo beringei). In: Clutton-Brock, T. (ed.)
Production-to-Consumption Downer, C.C. 1996. The mountain Primate Ecology: Studies of Feeding
Systems in Tanzania. INBAR tapir, endangered ‘flagship’ species and Ranging Behaviour in Lemurs,
Working Paper No. 28. International of the high Andes. Oryx 30: 45-68. Monkeys and Apes. Academic
Network for Bamboo and Rattan, Press, London, UK. pp 415-449.
Beijing, China.
Garbutt, N. 1999. Mammals of
Madagascar. Pica Press, Sussex,
UK.
21
Bamboo biodiversity
Gillet, H. and Walter, K. 1998. 1997 Hilton-Taylor, C. (compiler) 2000. Keeley, J.E. and Bond, W.J. 1999.
IUCN Red List of Threatened 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Mast flowering and semelparity in
Plants. IUCN–The World Species. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland bamboos: the bamboo fire cycle
Conservation Union, Gland, and Cambridge, UK. hypothesis. American Naturalist
Switzerland. 154: 383-391.
IGCP 2003. Mountain Gorillas: Some
Grass Phylogeny Working Group Social and Biological Data. Kelbessa, E., Bekele, T., Gebrehiwot,
2001. Phylogeny and subfamilial International Gorilla Conservation A. and Hadera, G. 2000. A Socio-
classification of the grasses Programme. http://www.mountain economic Case Study of the
(Poaceae). Annals of the Missouri gorillas.org/pdf/gorilla_profile.pdf Bamboo Sector in Ethiopia. INBAR
Botanical Garden 88: 373-457. (accessed 22 October 2003). Working Paper No. 25. International
Network for Bamboo and Rattan,
Green, G. and Sussman, R. 1990. INBAR 1999. Socio-economic Issues Beijing, China.
Deforestation history of the eastern and Constraints in the Bamboo and
rain forests of Madagascar from Rattan Sectors: INBAR’s Kigomo, B.N. 1988. Distribution,
satellite images. Science 248: Assessment. INBAR Working Paper Cultivation and Rresearch Status of
212-215. No. 23. International Network for Bamboo in Eastern Africa.
Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China. Ecological Series Monograph No. 1.
Gutierrez, J.A. 2000. Structural Kenya Forestry Research Institute,
Adequacy of Traditional Bamboo INPE 2002. Monitoramento da Nairobi, Kenya.
Housing in Latin America. INBAR Floresta Amazônica Brasileira por
Technical Report No. 19. Satélite 2000-2001. Instituto Kigomo, B.N. 1999. An overview of
International Network for Bamboo Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais. bamboo and rattan sector in Kenya.
and Rattan, Beijing, China. São José dos Campos, Brazil. Materials of the INBAR workshop,
Beijing, China. Unpublished.
Haemig, P.D. 2003a. Amazonian birds Iremonger, S., Ravilious, C. and
associated with bamboo. Quinton, T. (eds) 1997. A Global Kirkby, C. 2003. The Distribution,
ECOLOGY.INFO #7. Overview of Forest Conservation. Abundance, Clump Characteristics
http://www.ecology.info/ecology- Including: GIS files of forests and and Techniques for Managing
bamboo-amazon.htm protected areas, version 2. CIFOR Guadua cf. angustifolia,
and WCMC, Bogor and Cambridge, Bambuseae, a Potential Non-wood
Haemig, P.D. 2003b. Birds and UK. CD-ROM. Forest Product, in Madre de Dios,
mammals associated with bamboo Peru. http://www.geocities.com/
in the Atlantic Forest. Itapagé 2003. The Raw Material. marona_mdd/ (accessed 22 October
ECOLOGY.INFO #5. http://www.itapage.com/html/ 2003).
http://www.ecology.info/birds- materia_prima.htm (accessed 22
bamboo-atlantic-forest.htm October 2003). Londoño, X. 2001. Evaluation of
Bamboo Resources in Latin
Hendershott, A.J. 2002. Canebrakes: IUCN 1992. Protected Areas of the America. A summary of the Final
Missouri’s bamboo forests. World: A Review of National Report of the Project 96-8300-01-4.
Missouri Conservationist Online 63. Systems. Volume 3: Afrotropical. International Network for Bamboo
http://www.conservation.state.mo. IUCN–The World Conservation and Rattan, Beijing, China.
us/conmag/2002/10/30.htm Union, Gland, Switzerland.
Mittermeier, R., Tattersall, I.,
Heying, H.E. 2001. Social and IUCN 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Konstant, W., Meyers, D. and Mast,
reproductive behaviour in the Threatened Species (accessed 6 R. 1994. Lemurs of Madagascar.
Madagascan poison frog, Mangella October 2003). Conservation International,
laevigata, with comparisons to the Washington DC, USA.
dendrobatids. Animal Behaviour 61: Judziewicz, E.J., Clark, L.G., Londoño,
567-577. X. and Stern, M.J. 1999. American
Bamboos. Smithsonian Institution
Press, Washington DC, USA.
22
Bamboo biodiversity
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Rao, A.N., Rao, V.R. and Williams, Willis, J. 2003 Alcohol in East Africa,
Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, J.T. (eds) 1998. Priority Species of 1850-1999. http://www.dur.ac.uk/
G.A.B. and Kent, J. 2000. Bamboo and Rattan. IPGRI-APO, History/web/makingit.htm
Biodiversity hotspots for Serdang, Malaysia. (accessed 22 October 2003).
conservation priorities.. Nature 403:
853-858. Rodrigues, M., Olmos, F. and Galetti, WWF 2003a. Gorillas.
M. 1993. Seed dispersal by tapir in http://www.worldwildlife.org/
Nelson, B.W. 1994. Natural forest southeastern Brazil. Mammalia 57: gorillas/natural_history.cfm
disturbance and change in the 460-461. (accessed 22 October 2003).
Brazilian Amazon. Remote Sensing
Reviews 10: 105-125. UNEP-WCMC 2000. Global WWF 2003b. Madagascar Dry
Distribution of Current Forest Deciduous Forests (AT0202).
Nowak, R.M. 1995. Walker’s Cover. http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ http://www.worldwildlife.org/
Mammals of the World Online. The forest/global_map.htm wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/at/
Johns Hopkins University Press. UNEP World Conservation at0202_full.html (accessed 22
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/ Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK October 2003).
walkers_mammals_of_the_world/ (accessed 22 October 2003).
prep.html (accessed October 2003). WWF 2003c. Southwest Amazon
3
VAST 2003. w Tropicos. Moist Forests (NT0166).
Ohrnberger, D. 1999. The Bamboos http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/ http://www.worldwildlife.org/
of the World. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Search/vast.html (accessed 22 wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/
Netherlands. October 2003). nt0166_full.html (accessed 22
October 2003).
Ongugo, P.O., Sigu, G.O., Kariuki, Williams, J.T. and Rao, V.R. (eds)
J.G., Luvanda, A.M. and Kigomo, 1994. Priority Species of Bamboo
B.N. 2000. Production-to- and Rattan. INBAR Technical Report
Consumption Systems: A Case No. 1. International Network for
Study of the Bamboo Sector in Bamboo and Rattan, and
Kenya. INBAR Working Paper No. International Board for Plant
27. International Network for Genetic Resources, New Delhi,
Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing, China. India.
23
Bamboo biodiversity
Source: according to Ohrnberger (1999). Dransfield (2000, 2002) has distinguished a further three genera from Madagascar.
24
Bamboo biodiversity
* Taxa that are known no longer to exist in the wild after repeated searches of the type localities and other known or likely places.
25
Bamboo biodiversity
26
Bamboo biodiversity
Source for both tables: Burman and Filgueiras 1993; Chihongo et al. 2000; Dransfield 2000; Judziewicz et al. 1999; Londoño 2001;
Ohrnberger 1999; Rao et al. 1998.
27
Bamboo biodiversity
2
501-1 000 KM FOREST REMAINING WITHIN RANGE
Arthrostylidium judziewiczii Chusquea talamancensis
Aulonemia pumila Nastus ambrensis
Aulonemia viscosa Neurolepis nana
Chusquea deficiens Neurolepis pittieri
Chusquea maclurei Rhipidocladum maxonii
2
1 001-5 000 KM FOREST REMAINING WITHIN RANGE
Alvimia auriculata Arthrostylidium fimbriatum
Alvimia gracilis Arthrostylidium merostachyoides
Alvimia lancifolia Arthrostylidium pinifolium
Arthrostylidium distichum Atractantha falcata
Arthrostylidium ekmanii Atractantha radiata
28
Bamboo biodiversity
2
5 001 - 10 000 KM FOREST REMAINING WITHIN RANGE
Arthrostylidium cubense Chusquea falcata
Arthrostylidium excelsum Chusquea glauca
Arthrostylidium urbanii Chusquea latifolia
Arthrostylidium youngianum Chusquea lehmannii subsp. Lehmannii
Aulonemia gueko Chusquea longipendula
Aulonemia radiata Chusquea lorentziana
Aulonemia ramosissima Chusquea nutans
Aulonemia setigera Chusquea patens
Cephalostachyum perrieri Chusquea sclerophylla
Chusquea abietifolia Chusquea sneidernii
Chusquea andina Chusquea spadicea
Chusquea breviglumis Chusquea urelytra
29
Bamboo biodiversity
2
10 001 - 15 000 KM FOREST REMAINING WITHIN RANGE
Apoclada cannavieira Chusquea peruviana
Arthrostylidium haitiense Chusquea purdieana
Arthrostylidium schomburgkii Chusquea subulata
Aulonemia effusa Chusquea tenuiflora
Chusquea exasperata Merostachys magellanica
Chusquea grandiflora Myriocladus cardonae
Chusquea lehmannii subsp. farinosa Nastus elongatus
Chusquea leptophylla Olmeca recta
Chusquea longifolia Schizostachyum parvifolium
Chusquea muelleri
2
15 001 - 20 000 KM FOREST REMAINING WITHIN RANGE
Arthrostylidium ecuadorense Chusquea repens
Aulonemia haenkei Colanthelia macrostachya
Aulonemia parviflora Merostachys abadiana
Cephalostachyum madagascariense Merostachys burchellii
Cephalostachyum viguieri Merostachys caucaiana
Chusquea anelytroides Merostachys fischeriana
Chusquea aspera Merostachys kunthii
Chusquea cumingii Merostachys scandens
Chusquea londoniae Ochlandra capitata
Chusquea nelsonii
30
Bamboo biodiversity
31
Bamboo biodiversity
32
Bamboo biodiversity
33
Bamboo biodiversity
34
Bamboo biodiversity
35
Bamboo biodiversity
36
Bamboo biodiversity
37
Bamboo biodiversity
38
Bamboo biodiversity
39
Bamboo biodiversity
40
Bamboo biodiversity
41
Bamboo biodiversity
42
Bamboo biodiversity
43
Bamboo biodiversity
44
Bamboo biodiversity
45
Bamboo biodiversity
46
Bamboo biodiversity
47
Bamboo biodiversity
48
Bamboo biodiversity
49
Bamboo biodiversity
50
Bamboo biodiversity
51
Bamboo biodiversity
52
Bamboo biodiversity
53
Bamboo biodiversity
54
Bamboo biodiversity
55
Bamboo biodiversity
56
Bamboo biodiversity
57
Bamboo biodiversity
58
Bamboo biodiversity
59
Bamboo biodiversity
60
Bamboo biodiversity
61
Bamboo biodiversity
62
Bamboo biodiversity
63
Bamboo biodiversity
64
Bamboo biodiversity
65
Bamboo biodiversity
66
Bamboo biodiversity
67
Bamboo biodiversity
68
Bamboo biodiversity
69
Bamboo biodiversity
70
Bamboo biodiversity
71
Bamboo biodiversity
72
Bamboo biodiversity
73
Bamboo biodiversity
74
Bamboo biodiversity
75
Bamboo biodiversity
76
Bamboo biodiversity
77
Bamboo biodiversity
78
Bamboo biodiversity
79
Bamboo biodiversity
80
Bamboo biodiversity
81
Bamboo biodiversity
82
Bamboo biodiversity
83
Bamboo biodiversity
84
Bamboo biodiversity
85
Bamboo biodiversity
86
Bamboo biodiversity
87
Bamboo biodiversity
88
Bamboo biodiversity
Africa, Madagascar and the Americas
Bamboos are distinct and fascinating plants, with a wide range of values and
uses. They play a significant role in biodiversity conservation, are important to
ecosystem dynamics, and contribute to soil and water management. They play
an increasing role in local and world economies.
This study used an innovative approach to map potential current
distributions of nearly 400 individual bamboo species that occur naturally
within the remaining forests of Africa, Madagascar and the Americas. The
maps were also combined to generate regional maps showing potential
species and generic richness.
By quantifying the area of forest cover remaining within each species’
range, this analysis shows that over half the species studied are potentially
threatened by the destruction of natural forest cover. The situation is par-
ticularly alarming in Madagascar, where the woody bamboos are all endemic
and 75 per cent of them have only very small amounts of forest remaining
within their ranges. Conservation and sustainable management of wild popu-
lations of bamboo should be a priority in all three regions, especially where
diversity is high or deforestation is a significant threat.
This report contributes to implementation of the Global Strategy for
Plant Conservation, which aims to halt the current and continuing loss of
plant diversity.
www.unep.org
United Nations Environment Programme
P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0) 20 621234
Fax: +254 (0) 20 623927
Email: cpiinfo@unep.org
Website: www.unep.org
219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge Beijing 100102-86 UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 19
CB3 0DL, United Kingdom People’s Republic of China
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Tel: +86 (0) 10 6470 6161 ISBN: 92-807-2383-9
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Fax: +86 (0) 10 6470 2166
Email: info@unep-wcmc.org Email: info@inbar.int
Website: www.unep-wcmc.org Website: www.inbar.int