Bamboo Forests: Unleashing the Potential for Carbon Abatement and Local Income Improvements

Xu, Jiaming ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3273-9806, Tan, Shen, Wang, Han, Zhang, Xin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7844-593X and Hong, Yifeng (2024) Bamboo Forests: Unleashing the Potential for Carbon Abatement and Local Income Improvements. Forests, 15 (11). 1907. ISSN 1999-4907

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Abstract

Bamboo forests exhibit a unique efficient growth pattern that makes them invaluable in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Additionally, bamboo forests offer a diverse range of products, thus holding the potential to bolster local income. Despite these benefits, the comprehensive assessment of bamboo forests’ potential in both carbon abatement and improving local income enhancement has been hindered by the absence of a detailed bamboo biomass map. In this study, we address this gap by amalgamating a bamboo aboveground biomass (AGB) map covering three prominent producing provinces in southern China, utilizing multi-source remote sensing datasets. The results not only demonstrate a satisfactory consistency with China’s Ninth National Forest Inventory but also provide a more detailed spatial distribution. Based on this AGB estimation, we project an approximately threefold potential increase in annual bamboo culm harvest from existing bamboo forests. This represents a significant opportunity for expanding carbon abatement efforts, elevating local income levels, and facilitating the production of bamboo-derived biofuels. Furthermore, the adoption of an optimized management strategy has the potential to further enhance bamboo production. This study generates the first high-resolution bamboo AGB map and underscores the substantial potential of China’s bamboo forests in contributing to carbon sequestration and improving local income. The favorable income generated for local residents can serve as a compelling incentive for the implementation of sustainable forest management practices, offering a promising pathway toward achieving carbon-related objectives within the forestry sector and providing necessary support for forestry designation projects.