Rizome Bamboo Forestry
- Technology: Forestry and Land Use
- Region: Asia
The Philippines is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. But following the Second World War, large areas were cleared for logging and intensive farming. Since then, deforested areas have become choked by cogon grass, which swamps crops and supports very low levels of biodiversity.
On Mindanao Island, where 66% of the country’s Indigenous population lives and 32% of families are living in poverty, an exciting new initiative is changing that.
A partnership has been established between a US-based bamboo construction materials company, the Filipino Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and local and Indigenous populations. The partnership is planting native giant bamboo on unproductive land, with 15-20% of the biomass harvested annually and developed into high quality, fully traceable building materials for international markets. This harvesting spurs growth and increases sequestration. The project also delivers many co-benefits, including the protection of crops from destructive winds, reducing flood risk and soil erosion, and bringing employment to local populations – women in particular – throughout the bamboo value chain.
The programme aims to plant 40,000 hectares over 10 years starting in 2020, and with a 30-year crediting period the project will sequester over 20 million tonnes CO2e. As the bamboo is so fast growing, the first issuance of credits is expected before the end of 2023.
- First emissions reduction project working with bamboo at scale
- Addresses all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Soil erosion control aids climate adaptation and builds water resilience
Case study
“Here at the nurseries we produce planting materials for bamboo, and most activities are done by women.
Women water, weed and fertilise the plants, as well as many other acitivites around the nursery.”
Myrna Decipulo - Head of Nurseries
Download factsheet on Rizome Bamboo Forestry project
Rizome Bamboo Forestry factsheet
PDF, 5.9MB
Download40,000 Hectares to be planted
All 17 Global Goals contributed to
15-20% Biomass harvested annually
What the carbon finance delivers
Carbon finance provides landowners with the certainty of an income before their bamboo reaches maturity and can be harvested (about six yers after planting). This therefore increases the viability of planting bamboo as an investment decision for landowners throughout Mindanao.
The funds will support the project across the bamboo cycle, including planting, nursery development, harvesting, and quality control. Carbon finance will also support the sophisticated project monitoring, which includes RFID tagging for each planted area and full traceability of the resulting products.
Finally, landowners will receive a percentage of the shared revenue from sales of emissions reductions.
Delivering Towards the Global Goals
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Supporting Climate+Care projects delivers on multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can read more on the Goals below.
Learn more about the global goals
