Rehabilitating degraded land using Bamboo Plantation
One of the most effective impact projects that can be undertaken, directly and indirectly contributing to 12 different SDGs.
Unchecked human activities have led to massive land degradation which has a drastic effect on the environment and the community dependent on it.
Loss of soil, destruction of habitat and biodiversity, soil erosion, nutrient run-off, etc. have devastating effects on the environment and community.
Today, there are over a billion hectares of degraded land. At the current rate, we would have converted over 10% of all landmass on Earth’s surface into degraded land by 2050. At the current rate, all the landmasses on Earth’s surface would be converted into degraded land by 2050.
Cause and Consequence
Anthropological activities, directly and indirectly, have caused more than 80% of all land degradation.
Soil contains over 1,500 Gt of carbon which is about 3 times the carbon found in the atmosphere. As the land degrades, some of this carbon escapes into the atmosphere making climate-change reversal efforts more difficult.
- By rehabilitating degraded lands, we can sequester an additional 30-60 tCO₂e emissions per hectare annually.
- By rehabilitating all the degraded land worldwide, we have the potential to sequester nearly 6 billion tCO₂e, or over 15% of annual emissions.
- Our little contribution? Our project aims to rehabilitate 1,500,000 hectares of degraded land in India by planting Bambusa Bamboos in the agroforestry model.
Why did we choose Bamboo?
Bamboo is characterized by its fast growth properties, producing optimal stocks of biomass within a span not exceeding five to eight years for most species. Being a fast-growing, high-density plant, it can remove GHG from the atmosphere as it grows, acting as an ideal carbon sink.
An INBAR study concludes that bamboo biomass and carbon sequestration could be 7-30% higher compared to other fast-growing wood species. The unique growing capacity makes bamboo a valuable sink for carbon storage.
It is reported that the total carbon content comprises usually about 50% of the total biomass. Bambusa Bamboos is characterized by high biomass production; thus the resultant carbon content is also expected to be high.
Tree Name
Bambusa Bambos
Life
24-32 Years
Length
20-35 meters
Carbon sequestering below ground (10-year Period)
367 tCO2e
Carbon sequestering above ground (10-year Period)
183 tCO2e
Carbon sequestered annually per hectare
55 tCO2e
CarbonWatch's Project Size
1,500,000 Hectare
Expected Carbon sequestration from our programme (10-year Period)
500,000,000 tCO2e
Climate change presents a dual challenge and opportunity: as the Global South seeks to leapfrog into sustainable technologies that can improve lives and foster growth, it is crucial that the developed world pays its dues for the carbon it has emitted. This responsibility creates the financial and technological pathways for a just transition, empowering emerging economies to chart a more resilient and equitable future.
Deepak Mawandia
Founder (ICAM)
Benefits
Carbon
Sequestering
We expect each tree to sequester nearly 200 kilograms of CO₂e annually. This converts to 55 tCO₂e per hectare and nearly 75 million tCO₂e emissions being sequestered directly through our project.
Healing Degraded
Lands
Bamboo has a unique ability to stitch and repair damaged soil and holds water making it ideal for rehabilitating degraded lands.
Uplifting Marginalized Communities
By including socially marginalized communities, our project aims to equip them with skill sets, enabling them to take up jobs and reducing inequalities.
Economic
Benefits
The project generates sustainable income for the stakeholders through the bamboo supply chain starting from the field all the way to converting them into a final end product.
The farmers can also benefit from intercropping which can provide them with an additional source of revenue.
Employment
Opportunity
The project provides direct and indirect employment opportunities along the bamboo supply chain and the finished product.
Benefits
Carbon Sequestering
We expect each tree to sequester nearly 200 kilograms of CO₂e annually. This converts to 55 tCO₂e per hectare and nearly 75 million tCO₂e emissions being sequestered directly through our project.
Healing Degraded Lands
Bamboo has a unique ability to stitch and repair damaged soil and holds water making it ideal for rehabilitating degraded lands.
Uplifting Marginalized Communities
By including socially marginalized communities, our project aims to equip them with skill sets, enabling them to take up jobs and reducing inequalities.
Economic Benefits
The project generates sustainable income for the stakeholders through the bamboo supply chain starting from the field all the way to converting them into a final end product.
Employment Opportunity
The project provides direct and indirect employment opportunities along the bamboo supply chain and the finished product.
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