The Environmental Bamboo Foundation () is an Indonesian
nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
involved in sustainable forestry management, specifically by using local bamboo plantations as a way to preserve tropical forest resources. The organization has partnerships with numerous civil and academic institutions as well as government institutions including the Indonesian
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
The Ministry of Forestry () is the cabinet-level, government ministry in the Republic of Indonesia responsible for managing and conserving that nation's forests. The current Minister of Forestry is Raja Juli Antoni.
History
From 1983 to 1998 ...
. A manufacturing company, Indobamboo (), was set up to oversee the production of bamboo products stemming from the organization's activities. The organization has been represented at recent climate conferences, notably including recent United Nations
COP conferences COP21, COP23, and COP26.
In 2021, the foundation's manufacturing company Indobamboo secured a €350,000 grant from the
Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) and
WWF to set up a bamboo manufacturing factory in
Flores
Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in the eastern half of Indonesia. Administratively, it forms the largest island in the East Nusa Tenggara Province. The area is 14,250 km2. Including Komodo and Rinca islands ...
, Indonesia.
History
The Environmental Bamboo Foundation was founded in 1993 by Linda Garland, an interior designer and environmentalist who was recognized as a 'Bamboo Pioneer' by the
World Bamboo Organization for her contribution to the use of bamboo in design and work in environmental conservation.
Notable initiatives and programs
Pre-2015 initiatives
The Environmental Bamboo Foundation has had numerous partnerships with public, private and academic institutions since its foundation. In the late 90s, it partnered with the
Rhode Island School of Design
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...
on exploring sustainable and innovative applications of bamboo in architecture.
In 1995 it was the host of the 4th International Bamboo Congress and 5th International Bamboo Workshop in Bali, a conference organized by the
International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation
The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) is an independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan.
Histo ...
to present scientific findings and promote discussion around the use of bamboo.
Vertical soak diffusion method
The Environmental Bamboo Foundation is credited with developing a method for bamboo treatment known as vertical soak diffusion method, where a solution of borax, boric acid and water is poured into harvested bamboo culms to protect it from insect and fungal attack.
1,000 bamboo villages
The 1,000 bamboo villages project was announced by Arief Rabik at the
COP21. As part of the project, degraded land is being converted into productive bamboo plantations which are independently managed by local communities. The bamboo is then used to manufacture products like bamboo laminates, textiles, paper and pulp which can be sold at a profit on the global market.
References
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Foundations based in Indonesia
Bamboo