| European
Tropical Forest Research Network |
GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF BAMBOO AND RATTAN RESOURCES
Over 1,000 known bamboo and rattan species grow over wide areas of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America and contribute to the livelihoods of millions of people. Despite its economic significance, statistics on bamboo and rattan resources, especially in natural stands, are very poor. Classified as "non-timber forest products", bamboo and rattan are not routinely included in resource inventory. A good and transparent estimate of bamboo and rattan resources has yet to be developed.
As a first step to improve the information available, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) are jointly initiating a project to estimate the magnitude and distribution of bamboo and rattan resources within natural stands. In the first instance, the project will combine information on the distribution of individual taxa with floristic data and global data on forest cover to generate a global distribution and estimated total area of forest containing bamboo and rattan. For this reason, we are seeking advice and information about bamboo and rattan occurrence and distribution. We would be grateful for any information you might be able to provide concerning:
Please contact us with comments and questions:
Nadia Bystriakova and Valerie
Kapos
UNEP - WCMC
219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge
CB3 0DL United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1223 277314
Fax: +44 1223 277136
Email: nadia.bystriakova@unep-wcmc.org
or val.kapos@unep-wcmc.org