Introduction
When we talk about the benefits of a material, we are referring to its contribution to human well-being. Wether it comes from natural resources or an industry, it is important to remember that this instrument is not an isolated entity, but it is related to other elements belonging to a certain process or ecosystem.
Bamboo is a grass known as “vegetable steel” in the construction world. It grows naturally in almost all continents, mostly in tropical and subtropical environments. Depending on the species, with proper forestry management, propagation, cutting, preservation and drying techniques, this plant achieves the ideal physical and mechanical characteristics for construction. According to the study World Bamboo Resources (2005) there are approximately 1,500 bamboo species on 36 million hectares. However, surveys are still being carried out and more bamboo species are being found worldwide
According to the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR, 2016) , “Bamboos include all plants in the grass family Poaceae subfamily Bambusoideae, a single evolutionary radiation of 1,642 species, including 1,521 woody bamboos. Bamboos can be woody or herbaceous, with considerable variability in habit. They occupy a broad range of environments across the world, largely in tropical to warm temperate ecosystems, with some diversity in cold temperate regions. For species classification and distribution recording bamboos present a particularly challenging scientific problem. Superficial similarity between different species in the vegetative state and the common lack of flowering material mean that identification and systematics of bamboos are difficult areas that need dedicated specialists with many years of experience. Bamboo classification is currently in flux and extensive future research is necessary” .
Written by Arch. Lorena Nolte www.lorenanolte.
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