Bamboo, the fast-growing grass plant, and rattan, the spiky climbing palm, are both important forest resources that have been closely linked with human lives, livelihoods and material cultures since ancient times. Bamboo and rattan resources are widely distributed across the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas, and provide unique ecological, economic and cultural services. They can help solve a series of global challenges and play an important role in developing a green economy, addressing climate change, building disaster-resilient infrastructure, alleviating poverty, revitalising rural areas, and protecting the environment. In recent years, bamboo and rattan have become an important part of the international sustainable development conversation, as key tools for promoting South-South cooperation and contributing to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
In order to promote the green economic development using bamboo and rattan and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Celebration of INBAR’s 25th Anniversary and the Second Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress (BARC 2022) was held in Beijing between 7-8 November 2022. Co-hosted by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China (NFGA) and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), this event brought together representatives from governments, research institutes, international and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the media, to discuss the development of bamboo and rattan. In view of the requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was held in a hybrid format, with sessions both online and in person, with in-person participation open only to guests currently residing in mainland China.
l Theme of BARC 2022
BARC 2022, with the theme of “Bamboo and Rattan — Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Development”, explored new opportunities and created new platforms for bamboo and rattan to support the sound development of the bamboo and rattan sectors and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. BARC 2022 included opening and closing ceremonies, Ambassadors’ Dialogues, keynote plenary session, parallel sessions, product exhibitions and more, and an important new initiative on Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastics was jointly launched by China and INBAR at the opening ceremony.
BARC 2022 hosted parallel sessions in four thematic areas:
ü Thematic Area 1. The Road to Carbon Neutrality
Bamboo can contribute to mitigating climate change and reaching carbon neutrality targets by storing carbon and creating low-carbon products. This thematic area focused on bamboo’s contributions to storing carbon - either through ambitious reforestation projects, preventing deforestation, or as a source of low-carbon products - and helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. This theme also included bamboo and rattan’s role in ecosystem and biodiversity restoration and forest conservation.
ü Thematic Area 2. Green Industry and Economic Recovery
This thematic area showcased bamboo and rattan’s potential for creating sustainable livelihoods, reducing poverty, revitalising rural areas and building a green economy. Topics may include the sustainable management of bamboo and rattan resources, bamboo and rattan in agroforestry, livelihoods for smallholder farmers, small- and medium-sized enterprise development, as well as case studies of successful job creation and green supply chains, eco-tourism and cultural sectoral development using bamboo and rattan.
ü Thematic Area 3. Innovative Materials and Market Development
With the increasing global demand for bio-based and low-carbon products, bamboo and rattan can play a central role in helping develop a circular economy. This thematic area showcased bamboo and rattan’s more innovative applications, including bamboo alternatives to plastics, timber, steel, concrete, cotton and others, their performance compared to more emissions-intensive materials and sources of biomass energy, as well as advances in food products, bio-chemical applications, products standards and certification, market access, industrial upscaling and cluster development, and future trends.
ü Thematic Area 4. Working Together for Inclusive and Green Development
This thematic area looked at the significance of international cooperation and exchanges as a way to support sustainable development with bamboo and rattan. Topics may include best practices of bamboo and rattan research projects, successful cases of South-South and triangular cooperation, capacity building, technology transfer, women and community engagement, public-private partnerships, and other multilateral initiatives which share technologies, knowledge and lessons learnt, and which have demonstrably helped to replicate and scale up investment and engagement and facilitate international trade.
l Bamboo and Rattan Products Exhibition
During BARC 2022, a bamboo and rattan products exhibition was held online to display high-quality products, advanced technologies and the latest scientific research achievements in the field of bamboo and rattan, including bamboo and rattan furniture, building materials, handicrafts, daily necessities, fibre, charcoal and other related products and technologies. The exhibition also displayed the superb skills of bamboo and rattan craftsmen for guests to enjoy and experience.
