A presentation given at the Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress (BARC 2018), 25-27 June 2018.

1. Dr. E.M.Muralidharan
Kerala Forest Research Institute, India

2. International standards for Bamboo & Rattan
• For the full potential of the unique features of Bamboo and Rattan to be realised and for the benefits to
reach the local communities, global trade has to be taken to higher levels
• Standards , certification and labels are important ways to overcome the non- tariff barriers to global trade.
• Among others, the need for standards arise because :
• The profusion of local names, the complexities of taxonomy and identification of species,
• Differences in climate, soil and ecosystems result in variation in produce derived from different sources
managed in a range of intensities
• Legal and policy frameworks that operate in different countries cause hurdles
• Incentives for innovation, efficiency and quality control is largely lacking in most countries
• Sustainability of B&R resources is to be ensured for economic as well as environmental reasons

3. • Sustainably managed forest and plantations are the cornerstone for realizing the potential of B&R to make a
difference in the lives of communities in many developing countries of the world and meet the UN SDG
• Sustainable harvesting of B& R and its primary processing significantly impacts the value chain and
profitability
• Management of B&R in forests and plantations should be economically viable, environmentally benign, and
socially beneficial; and which balance the present and future needs
• Standards followed globally will facilitate better understanding of sustainability and foster management
plans in situations use of B&R was at subsistence level but increased exploitation threatens the resource
• B&R benefits by Product as well as Process standards (Management system standards and performance
standards )
•
Sustainable management of B&R resources

4. • ISO/PC 287 is looking at standards for “Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products” that is
applicable to B&R
• This International Standard is intended to enable tracking of materials from different categories of sources to
final products and can therefore address sustainability issues in B&R plantations and harvesting
• LCA addresses the environmental aspects and potential environmental impacts (e.g. use of resources and
environmental consequences of releases) throughout a product's life cycle from raw material acquisition
through production, use, end-of-life treatment, recycling and final disposal (i.e. cradle-to-grave).

5. Certification
• Forest Stewardship Council’(FSC) addresses the environmental, economic and social impacts through
the concept of Scale, Intensity and Risk (SIR) associated with a Management Unit (MU)
• Small management units typical of many developing countries have low intensity of operational
activities and associated risks associated Conversely size management units would have high
intensity operations with increased possibilities of negative impacts.
• The location, landscape, forest type and condition, specific management operations, management
history, dependent communities, landscape etc., also influence the potential impacts of the
management activities on socio-economic and environmental values.
• FSC Rattan certification implemented in Laos

6. Standards for Harvesting of B&R
Bamboo
• Proportion of mature culms to be retained at harvest and options for utilization of slash and waste
• Primary processing of raw bamboo to prevent biodeterioration and to improve quality
• Mechanical harvesting options not sufficiently developed.
Rattan
• Maturity of rattans to be harvested and grading
• Harvesting methods and primary processing for quality and life
• Mechanization prospects
• Disturbance of forest and regeneration of rattan due to harvest
•

7. • Sustainability inherent in the morphology and growth of bamboo: Multiple harvests over long periods
• Harvesting facilitating the regeneration and improving productivity and quality
•Harvesting for bioenergy feedstock usually is through clear cutting
•Harvesting regimes in natural forests
•Leaf litter and below soil biomass ( Rhizome and root system ) and its fate in bamboo and rattan
•Potential for use - Fodder, composting , composites
Issues in Sustainable harvesting in B& R

8. ISO/TC 296
Bamboo and rattan
Scope
• Standardization of bamboo, rattan, and derived materials, including terminology, classification, specifications,
test methods and quality requirements,
• Other bamboo and rattan related standards being developed by:
• ISO/TC 6 Paper, board and pulps
• ISO/TC 34 Food products
• ISO/TC 38 Textiles
• ISO/TC 89 Wood-based panels
• ISO/TC 136 Furniture
• ISO/TC 165 Timber structures
• ISO/TC 218 Timber
• ISO/TC 219 Floor Coverings
• ISO/PC 287 Chain of custody of wood and wood-based products
• Developing standards on sustainability of rattan plantations and methods of inventorying is on the anvil

9. • ISO 14000 family of standards for environmental management developed by ISO/TC 207 is the global
benchmark for good practice in this area.
• Promoting good practice in environmental management and design
• ISO 14001:2015 - Environmental management systems is relevant to B&R

10. How sustainably managed B&R resources
can help in achieving the UN SDG Goals

11. No Poverty
Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean energy
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Climate Action
Life on Land

12. • Improved livelihoods for impoverished bamboo dependant communities possible through value addition and developing of markets
• Bamboo based agroforestry is typically more resilient than other models
• Short gestation period from planting to first harvest, long- term sustained multiple harvests possible.
• Edible shoots yet to be developed to full potential in many parts of the bamboo growing regions .
• Standards in sustainable management of B&R , harvesting and primary processing will ensure
higher prices and long- term sustainability through educating the community on modern scientific management
• FSC Rattan certification implemented in Laos

13. • Surface area of bamboo root system an advantage.
• Bamboo plantations can be a Biological Sewage treatment plant
• Bamboo charcoal for water purification
• Bamboo fibers used in anaerobic bioreactors
THE BAMBOU-ASSAINISSEMENT® - A patented technology by PHYTOREM ®
Effluents infiltrate through the high density of root system of a bamboo plantation with a high
capacity to fix bacteria that are able to remove polluting elements.
These properties are associated with an exceptionally high growth rate which make the plant a very
effective treatment element, naturally extensible and with and unlimited lifetime.
The enhanced production of biomass is a bonus

14. Bamboo
• Fast renewable alternative with advantages over other forms of lignocellulosic biomass.
• Carbon neutral energy through production of Bio-CNG
•Second generation biofuel crop and feedstock as an alternative to food crops
•Standards will promote innovation in this area to bring efficiency of processes and
thereby incentivise the shifting from conventional means of energy production to more environment friendly
means
• Ideal parameters for feedstock and limits of exploitation in natural forests will be defined
• Nutrient removal from soil is a serious issue that threatens the sustainability

15. • Traditional building materials like steel, concrete and plastic have high carbon footprint
• Engineered bamboo for flooring, panelling and structural applications is gaining popularity
• Bamboo finding increased use in reinforced concrete, earthquake resistant buildings, disaster relief measures
• With a tensile strength greater than that of mild steel, tolerating compression twice as well as concrete
• Fast renewed alternative to timber : bamboo grows with much less water, chemicals or fertilisers than
most crops.
ISO 21930:2007, Sustainability in building construction – Environmental declaration of building
products

16. • Nath et al. 2015, Yuen et al., 2017 show the potential of bamboo as an efficient and effective carbon sink, further
research is needed to reduce uncertainties in the underlying data, resulting from a lack of standardization of methods,.
• There is also some debate whether bamboo forest ecosystems are a carbon sink or a carbon source since uncertainty still
exists regarding carbon loss through CO2 emissions from bamboo forests and plantations( Inoue et al., 2018; Zachariah etal.
2016). Further studies are needed on many bamboo species and especially the below-ground and soil organic carbon .
• Product diversity and life of locked-up C in bamboo products,
• Biochar as an attractive option
• ISO 14064 and ISO 14065, developed by ISO/TC 207/SC 7, provide an internationally agreed framework
for measuring GHG emissions and verifying reports made about them
Climate change mitigation through C sequestration, Carbon trade

17. Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt
biodiversity loss
Bamboo:
• Bamboo ideal for stabilizing slopes, banks of rivers and waterbodies
• Managing forests after gregarious flowering and death of bamboo is still subject to debate
Rattan:
• Managing rattan-rich forests sustainably ensures availability of ecosystem services, conserves biodiversity
Standards required for establishing norms for species, planting intensity, harvesting regimes and
methods to ensure sustainability