Bamboo resources, utilization and ex-situ conservation in Xishuangbanna, South-eastern China

Abstract

This paper describes the geographical distribution, utilization, cultural value and ex-situ conservation of bamboo resources in Xishuangbanna, Yunan Province, China. Sixty species of bamboo in 19 genera are recorded in Xishuangbanna. The area of natural bamboo forest is 14319 ha, accounting for 5.92% of whole area of Xishuangbanna. The abundant resource of bamboo plays an important role in the economics and culture of national minorities in Xishuangbanna. Xishuangbanna Tropic Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), started to introduce bamboo species in 1961 and established the ex-situ conservation reserve (8 ha) of bamboo in 1981. Up to now, 211 species in 27 genera collected from tropic and sub-tropic of China and South-east Asia have been planted in the bamboo reserve, of which 11 species have bloomed and seeded, and their seeds were cultivated in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Gardens, CAS, China.

Value addition to bamboo shoots: a review

“…Taiwan consumes about 80,000 tonnes of bamboo shoots annually constituting a value of 2,500 million Indian rupees, covering 30,000 ha of land of bamboo shoots under cultivation, producing total 380,000 tonnes of bamboo shoots per year (Tai 1985). In Japan, the present annual consumption of bamboo shoots is 3 kg per person, compared to 1.2 kg per person in 1950s (Yang et al 2008). At present, over two million tonnes of edible bamboo shoots are consumed in the world in each year (Yang et al 2008;Vaiphei 2005).…”

“…In Japan, the present annual consumption of bamboo shoots is 3 kg per person, compared to 1.2 kg per person in 1950s (Yang et al 2008). At present, over two million tonnes of edible bamboo shoots are consumed in the world in each year (Yang et al 2008;Vaiphei 2005). Statistic shows that about 26.2, 435 and 426.8 tonnes of bamboo shoots are harvested annually in the north eastern states of India like Sikkim, Meghalaya and Mizoram, respectively, where about 20-30 million tonnes of bamboo shoots are utilized for production of canned bamboo shoots annually (Bhatt et al 2003;2005a;b).…”

“…Sweet pickles, chutney and candies are prepared from the pith of the bamboo shoots in the region. The sap of young stalks tapped during the rainy season is simply made into a soft drink in China (Yang et al 2008). In Manipur, the fresh bamboo shoots are taken with dry fish ).…”

Diversity of Bamboo Species and its Utilization in the North-Eastern Region of India

“…This understanding has helped to preserve traditional cultural knowledge systems in this mountainous province of China. Yang et al (2008) have surfaced interesting facts on the cultural value of bamboo in south-eastern China. The importance of studying diverse structural utilisation of bamboos in different cultures and geographic regions has been asserted by Ranjan (1995), as various cultures have interpreted the same species of bamboo in subtle ways that reflect and preserve their unique identity.…”

Cyanogeni cglycosides in Edible Succulent Bamboo Shoots of Manipur, India

“…The emerging fresh young bamboo shoots are used in numerous Asian dishes and are available in markets in various sliced forms, fresh, fermented and canned version (Tai, 1985;Fu et al, 1987;Midmore, 1998) . At present over two million tons of edible bamboo shoots are consumed in the world in each year (Yang et al 2008). In Manipur, a state located in the north eastern part of India, the fresh succulent bamboo shoots slices and the fermented shoot slices done in large scale are highly prized vegetable food items.…”