Evolution of Bamboo

Author: Karmuki E

Resources such as plants and trees have played an important role in economic development and human civilizations. Humans of those ages used plants as important sources for heating and cooking and as the raw materials for furniture, textiles, paper industries, etc. Also, if we talk about the population today, it is increasing day by day, and it is well known that plant resource demand never ends. 

The most unique grass plant resource that is available in our environment is bamboo. It is needless to say that bamboo is one of the most useful grass plants. We always love to use bamboo and its products to decorate our home or any place. Hence, Bamboos are truly an astonishing gift in mother earth and bamboo grass plants have several beneficial features and can be used in a multitude of ways.

Thus, bamboo was regarded for its importance since seven thousand years ago, when people of those ages used it to make fire and arrows to hunt animals, and it has been utilized throughout history not just because of its strength, but also because of its renewable potential. From this blog, we will get to know interesting facts about the importance and usage of bamboo from past to present centuries.

Let’s see the evolution of bamboo usage from past to present:

• Bamboo was first used by the Chinese 5000 years ago to build tree houses, and there was a belief that the juice from bamboos could cure Asthma. Bamboos were used to make paper and books between 200 BCE and 200 CE.
• During Neolithic times, bamboo shoots were high in both fibre and potassium, so they were extensively used in the human diet and helped in making utensils, chopsticks, etc.
• Dating back to the 1300s, the Ming Dynasty, brought bamboo for interior construction, and it was utilized to make bedding and carpeting for people's houses. They have found a bamboo charcoal alternative to traditional coal. Bamboo charcoal is produced from plant parts that have been aged for at least 5 years. They're then heated to roughly 120 degrees, and this purifies the air and minimizes the amount of pollution residue.
• During the 17th century, bamboo was used as arrows, bows for hunting animals, and items for houses were made.

Most interestingly, in England, the first bamboo bicycles were invented and presented in 1894. Moreover, it is more comfortable to use even today. Basically, bamboo is a grass plant that can grow and be harvested easily. In many countries today, people grow bamboo mainly for its use and to gain profit through farming. Uses of bamboo in the modern era include bamboo flooring in houses, as it is easier to clean and seems like a unique style of decoration, and it helps at times of climate change. And bamboo has the best medicinal values, which are highly considered by people. Everyone loves to use bamboo everywhere, including the industrial sectors for manufacturing, and it provides innovative solutions to poverty and creates environmental sustainability.

Now, we will see the importance of bamboo that everyone in this era needs to be aware of:

From the above topics, we get to know that bamboo is an important resource that is widely used by all. Bamboos are extremely adaptable to a wide range of climatic conditions and ecosystems. Bamboos have more environmental benefits, which help in preventing soil erosion, maintaining soil stability, and having a high water-absorbing capacity. Hence, bamboo plays a very crucial role in ecological engineering.

Next, bamboo applications are used in the building process during the construction of bridges, pipes, and other renewable energy machines. Bamboo has a position in the construction process at every level, just as it did in previous times. Many builders utilize bamboo for decorative motives rather than structural or functional ones. More and more architects are recognizing the beauty and wisdom of employing bamboo for structures and other construction materials, and they are gaining notoriety as a result of their work. 

We can see many musical instruments, such as drums, flutes, and rattles, are made from bamboo. There, we can see how bamboo has played an important role in music, literature, and martial arts. As a result of understanding its significance, people today can transform themselves into bamboo products and reap the benefits of bamboo.

Directions towards the future:

Looking back on bamboo’s history, we are able to recognize that bamboos are very easy to grow, and planting one bamboo grass plant in our house will benefit us with its economic and medicinal values. In particular, bamboo charcoal is the best alternative to wood charcoal and helps in making cosmetics and generating electricity. 

Bamboos are the only option that can help reduce rural poverty in terms of living standards, safeguard the environment, and improve ecosystem functions. Analysing its uses, the government must increase the pressure to use bamboo and must implement many strategies to increase the protection and utilization of bamboo. Undoubtedly, the best way to increase the efficiency of the bamboo resource is to recognise and promote its numerous uses and to ask industries to manufacture bamboo products.

Concluding, remembering the past and present usage of bamboo, we must also adapt to use bamboo products in our day-to-day lives. It is not just a responsibility of the government; it is also an important duty for us to spread awareness about the uses of bamboo products through social media and other platforms. Bamboos act as an important resource in benefiting ecosystems; in protecting the world from pollution and by increasing the quality of the soil. Therefore, knowing it’s need, it is our duty to save our planet and create a positive environment. If we need a change, it must start with us. Let’s join our hands to use eco-friendly products and make a change.