Indigenous knowledge on highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) management and utilization practices in Kokosa Woreda, South East Ethiopia

Abstract

Bamboo is one of the world's most important non-timber forest products (NTFPs) which have been advocated for poverty alleviation in many regions. However, in Ethiopia it is utilized below its potential due to lack of scientific knowledge and awareness on its management and utilization. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the indigenous knowledge of highland bamboo management and utilization practices of local communities in Kokosa woreda. Five kebeles were purposively selected and 196 sample households (HHs) were selected randomly. Primary data was collected through face-to-face interview, direct observation, key informant interview and focus group discussion. The collected qualitative data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, mean and percentage values and standard error. The result of the study indicated that, local people have experience of developing bamboo stands using their indigenous knowledge on propagation techniques. Among the propagation techniques, bamboo offsetting (82%) was preferred most, where 89% of the source of bamboo offset was obtained from individual farmers. The local communities have experienced bamboo stand management practices of which fencing the bamboo stands (44%) was most applied followed by compost application (33%). Mean bamboo area coverage is 0.32 ha per household. The average number of bamboo landraces was 4. Bamboo landrace identification criteria used in the area are bamboo diameter (21.31%), length of internodes between nodes (21.20%), bamboo stem color (21.20%) and splitting nature (18.68%). Bamboo is used for a variety of traditional applications including house construction (100%), fencing (100%), fodder (99.48%), household furniture and utensils (92.34%), fuel wood (98.97%) and as cash source (100%). Traditionally, farmers somehow know how to take care for bamboo roots and rhizomes, which is a good habit to sustain bamboo resource utilization. Such habit has to be integrated with modern knowledge as skilled capability of the harvesters for scientific management is required.

Moisture Absorption Characteristics and Subsequent Mechanical Property Loss of Enset–PLA Composites

“…Enset fibers (Figure 1) were sourced from Ethiopian indigenous enset plant (Ensete ventricosum) from Kokosa, Oromia, Ethiopia, found at an altitude of 2627 m with min and max annual average temperatures of 12 and 18 • C, respectively [36]. Manually extracted fibers from enset plants with 3 different ages (1, 2, and 3 years after the pulp is ready for first round of extraction, approximately 5, 6, and 7 years) using a technique developed in house [1].…”

Characterization of Bamboo Culm as Potential Fibre for Composite Development

“…The most recent Global List of Bamboos, which updated information from the Global List of Bamboos and Rattans in 2016, ref. [ 5 ] states that there are 130 genera and 1700 species of bamboo worldwide [ 6 ]. Only a small number of bamboo species have been successfully planted and harvested.…”