The Bambusetum is becoming a mini bamboo forest in Zamboanga City from what began in 2001 as a one-hectare demonstration site within the Pasonanca Natural Park in Barangay Pasonanca.
The bamboo forest has assorted species ranging from native species like kawayan kiling and kawayan tinik to the towering botong, or giant bamboo, along with anos or bagakay, and the unfamiliar yet equally popular Thailand bamboo, iron bamboo, black bamboo, kayali, laak, and running bamboo.
The Bambusetum, established by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) Region IX now serves as a center for research, education, and ecotourism.
Growing recognition
While the importance of bamboo is often overlooked, the development of the Bambusetum demonstrates the growing recognition of the plant’s social, economic, cultural, and ecological importance for Filipinos.
The Philippine government has integrated bamboo into its National Greening Program (NGP) since its inception in 2011. Executive Order 26, which established the NGP, listed bamboo among the preferred species for propagation and reforestation across eligible development areas.
That same year, the DENR issued Department Administrative Order 2011-11, which laid out the guidelines for producing nursery planting materials, specifically incorporating bamboo.
Globally, the recognition of bamboo is galvanized by the declaration of September 18 as World Bamboo Day to raise global awareness of bamboo’s economic, environmental, and social benefits and to promote its sustainable use.
Planting hope through a versatile plant
Behind the concept of establishing the Bambusetum is the noble idea that not everything is about today. Beyond what can be made from it, bamboo offers something less tangible: Continuity. A way to plant hope for people we may never meet.
Bamboo is not a tree, but a giant grass-and one of nature’s most versatile plants.
Its roots can help hold soil and support watersheds. Its rapid growth makes it a renewable material, while its ability to store carbon gives it a role in climate action.
It can also provide habitat, contribute to biodiversity, and create livelihood opportunities through products made from it.
Ecotourism destination
The Zamboanga City Bambusetum has now become an ecotourism destination for visitors and nature lovers, who come to marvel at the different types of bamboo and its potential aesthetic value in gardening and modern landscapes.
It also serves as a venue for environmental education, research demonstrations, and public awareness activities related to bamboo conservation and sustainable resource management.
Over the years, the facility has welcomed students, researchers, government personnel, environmental advocates, local communities, and other visitors who have participated in various educational, extension, and conservation-related activities.
These visits reflect the Bambusetum’s growing role as a center for learning, environmental awareness, and nature appreciation, while providing opportunities for visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the ecological, economic, and environmental importance of bamboo resources.
Green gold
Bamboo has earned the tag ‘green gold’ as it represents a highly lucrative economic asset while being exceptionally renewable and environmentally friendly.
There are 61 bamboo species in the Philippines, a third of which, about 20 species, are endemic to the country.
Early Filipinos have used bamboo for shelter, firewood, furniture, handicrafts, and countless other things. The traditional nipa hut (bahay kubo) makes use of bamboo for posts, flooring, walls, framing and trusses, windows, and doors.
Bamboo is also used extensively in farms-for fences, livestock pens, harvesting baskets, traditional irrigation pipes, trellises, and fruit-trees support.
In fisheries, it is used for fish corals (baklad), pens and cages; outriggers of fishing boats; rafts; fish and crab traps; and fishing poles.
Bamboo byproducts continue to evolve over the years. It is now used for interior design in hotels and homes; furniture made of bamboo is now exported worldwide.
Engineered bamboo floor tiles abound, and what used to be a basic table and chair at home, are now turned into export-quality, elegant furnitures for big hotels and restaurants.
Carbon sink
Bamboo is extremely important as a fast-growing, highly renewable natural resource that protects the environment, fights climate change, among the other benefits from it.
Most of its species mature in just three years to five years without needing replanting.
Clumping bamboo is similar to a ‘bunch grass’ that expands, forming a separate bunch near the original bunch.
It acts as a carbon sink and absorbs a large amount of carbon dioxide and produces clean oxygen. Because of its strong root network, it is effective in preventing soil erosion, regulates water flow in rivers and streams.
Being fast-growing, it is now being considered as an alternative fuel wood and charcoal wood.
Expanding bamboo forest
Cidur S. Julsadjiri, assistant protected area manager of the Pasonanca National Park, told the BusinessMirror on September 20, that they intend to increase the number of bamboo species in the Bambusetum from 10 to 20 in the next few years, with focus on conserving commercially viable species, including those that are considered ornamentals.
Since the Bambusetum covers just around 1 hectare, he said they intend to promote its cultivation-encouraging every local government unit in Zamboanga to start their own bamboo plantation.
Besides its environmental uses, bamboo serves as food and home to endemic animal species. Long-tailed macaques are known to feast on bamboo leaves. Monitor lizards use its thick bunch as protection against other predators.
Bamboo shoots (labong) are also a favorite dish in the Philippines.
‘Bamboo is economically important,’ he said, citing its many uses from furniture to floor tiles.
Nature-based solutions against biodiversity loss
Executive Director Jerome Montemayor of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) commended the ERDB-Forest and Wetland Research, Development and Extension Center (FWRDEC) in establishing the Bambusetum within the Pasonanca National Park, one of the region’s 71 Asean Heritage Parks (AHPs).
‘A well-managed bambusetum maximises the impact of nature-based solutions to combat biodiversity loss, foster sustainable livelihoods, provide a living laboratory for research and development, and empower communities to safeguard natural wealth,’ he told the BusinessMirror via email on September 21.
According to Montemayor, the usefulness of bamboo species was evident in the results of the Biodiversity-based Products Project of the ACB.
It was able to establish a bamboo furniture and handicraft value chain for nearly a hundred households in four villages surrounding Nam Ha National Protected Area, an AHP in Lao PDR.
Montemayor shared that the ACB’s Small Grants Programme also empowered women’s groups in Gunung Leuser National Park, an AHP in Indonesia, by assisting the establishment of three women-led credit cooperatives, providing them with loans and other financial products that enabled the production and sales of various bamboo crafts.
‘In addition to its contributions to research and in increasing public awareness, we hope that this initiative will truly complement and inspire more people-driven ecologically sound ecosystem restoration efforts for a shared sustainable future,’ he said.
Avoid ‘exotic’ species
For her part, international biodiversity expert Theresa Mundita S. Lim, executive director of Miriam College’s Environmental Studies Institute, also lauded the initiative of the DENR-ERDB to establish the Bambusetum.
However, she took note that managers of the facility should always put a premium on planting native species only.
‘I welcome initiatives that highlight the ecological, economic and livelihood potential of bamboo. I hope, however, that the continuing development of the Bambusetum will start to put more emphasis on our native Philippine bamboo species, many of which also have considerable potential for sustainable utilization and value-added products,’ said Lim, a former DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau director and executive director of the ACB, via Messenger on September 21.
‘This [use of native Philippine bamboo species] is particularly important because the Bambusetum is located within Pasonanca Natural Park,’ she said.
Lim explained that under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, protected areas are intended primarily for the conservation of native plants and animals and their habitats, and the establishment or introduction of exotic species within protected areas is prohibited.
‘The Bambusetum, therefore, presents a wonderful opportunity not only to demonstrate the many uses of bamboo, but also to showcase our own native bamboo diversity-and how conservation, research, education and sustainable livelihoods can reinforce one another. Where ‘exotic’ species are already present, appropriate measures should also be taken to ensure that they do not spread into the surrounding natural ecosystem,’ she said.
Premium alternative
‘We have always considered bamboo as a premier alternative to metal or plastic,’ said Gregg Yan, executive director of Best Alternatives, an organization that promotes eco-friendly solutions to industries that impact the environment.
‘Bamboo is a raw material that’s as strong as steel and as versatile as plastic. It absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows, and since it is completely biodegradable, it generates zero waste at the end of its life cycle…it is affordable, it’s rugged, and honestly, it just makes sense to use it to replace many of the metal or plastic products we’re using today.’
Climate advocate John Leo Algo of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas said initiatives like the Bambusetum are welcomed to emphasize the significance of bamboo, and, by extension, nature and nature-based solutions.
Science-based expansion
‘The Bambusetum can provide a template on how to further raising awareness and understanding of nature conservation, research, environmental education, and public engagement.
While more ‘bamboo forests’ are eyed down the line, ‘we cannot emphasize enough that expansion should remain science-based and consistent with the ecological objectives of a protected area, especially the use of native and locally appropriate bamboo species and protecting natural forests from invasive species and destructive practices,’ Algo said.
‘The DENR must also strengthen on-the-ground ecological monitoring and its cooperation with local stakeholders, especially local communities, in conducting relevant activities. Lessons must have already been learned from what happened with the NGP,’ he said.