Bamboo farming eyed for quick rehab of mined lands

Lopez said a meeting between the government and stakeholders of the mining industry was held early this week, wherein the use of bamboos for the faster recovery of mined lands was recommended.

“Mining companies have vast tracts of land that need rehabilitation and they have funds, as mandated allocation from their operation expenses, for rehabilitation use,” he said.

“Bamboo, on the other hand, grows fast and also has strong capability of absorbing carbon, effective to prevent soil erosion and more importantly has the ability to make the mined areas restore its condition for agriculture purposes,” he added.

The top trade official mentioned “there are not enough areas that are planted with bamboo”, as it is only being cultivated in about 10,000 hectares.

Mined areas that need rehabilitation cover about 300,000 hectares, Lopez noted.

Lopez said cultivating bamboos for mined lands rehabilitation could also be a source of livelihood for communities in mining areas.

He mentioned that the demand for bamboo culms is more than 20 million, but the local supply is currently at 5 million culms.

“From the bamboo industry cluster perspective, the rehabilitation program will solve the bamboo supply problem needed in the growing demand for bamboobased products -- from poles to panels, finer boards, lumber, handicrafts, food, beverage, modern furniture, clothing, fabric, paper, flooring, and many more,” the DTI chief said.

“Also as part of the bamboo development plan, we need to supply the classroom tables and chairs for Department of Education, which is currently underserved due to lack of bamboo material supply,” he added.

Lopez said Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu is open to work out a sustainable mining development plan through planting bamboos for rehabilitation.

“Secretary Cimatu and I believe that presenting this mining rehab plan using bamboo can meet the requirement of the President to have a clear and sustainable mining development and rehabilitation plan especially for open pit mining activities,” Lopez noted.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered mining firms to implement reforestation, or the government will revoke their permits. He also warned mining companies to avoid open pit mining.