With a vast increasing population, the demand for new housing and consumables is diminishing Africa’s forests. Trees are vital for our planet’s survival especially for cleaning the air and our environment from all the toxic gasses. Tree overage has decreased from 35% to a mere 3% in the last decade. By using products made from bamboo instead of hardwood, you can make a difference. Read on, see the various uses of bamboo and save the planet, one tree at a time.Nothing can beat the look, feel and smell of wood, but let’s face it, if the demand of wood doesn’t decrease, the cutting down of trees wouldn’t either. To give the earth a bit of a break, start using alternatives such as plastic toothpicks or go digital to save paper. However, I will not tell you to stop braaiing, because it’s what we do!Did you know that 70 hectares of bamboo could produce enough material to build 1000 houses?Bamboo does not need pesticides or herbicides to grow. Similar to grass, bamboo grows from its roots and, unlike hardwood trees, it grows back after it has been cut and can be harvested every year thereafter. Bamboo grows much faster than trees and takes between three to six years to mature.Here are a list of things bamboo is used for, so the next time you go shopping, try to look out for alternative products made from bamboo instead of trees;Functional Uses of BambooDomestic and home uses Kitchenware and utensilsCraft beautiful furniture out of bambooMakes beautiful hardwood flooringUsed in various cosmetic products and deodorantsOffice useBamboo provides high quality pulp used for making paperPen, USB casings and various other stationary items are made from bambooMedicinal healingBamboo sprouts can be helpful in treating ulcers and woundsBamboo extract is used to treat various inflammationsThe roots and leaves are used for treating venereal diseasesUsed as an abortifacient for kidney diseasesUsed to treat infantile epilepsyBuilding material Building materials used in constructionUsed to reinforce roads and bridgesUsed as eco-friendly and more cost-effective scaffoldingBamboo stems are used to make fences, roofs and roof tilesFood preservative Used in food as a natural food preservative because the bamboo skin prevents bacteria from growing.Clothing and accessories Bamboo makes a strong and durable fabric with a long-lasting antibacterial quality and is therefore used to make clothing as well as rugs.Made into accessories such as necklaces, earrings and other types of jewelleryTools and equipment Bamboo is used in making weapons as well as handicraftsThe stems of bamboo are used to weave strong and durable basketsCrafting musical instrumentsFarming Bamboo roots enrich the soil by drawing up heavy metals from the groundThe roots holds the soil together and draws the water closer to the surface which can benefit other nearby plantsBamboo is planted on steep slopes or riverbanks to help prevent erosion and mudslidesBamboo shoots are planted as boundary markers to help support banana treesCharcoal is made from the pyroligneous acid extracted from the bamboo which is then used in insecticides
