ABSTRACT
Research and development in bamboos has received much lower attention compared to other areas in forestry and agroforestry. Bamboos are also only a secondary component of national forestry institutions. The decline in bamboo resources has been mainly driven by over-exploitation of bamboos, death of stands following mass flowering, and habitat loss due to deforestation. Bamboo stands have similarly been cleared and planted with coffee and tea or replaced with eucalyptus plantation in parts of Ethiopia. Another major threat has been the expansion of settlements into bamboo forests. The rapid decline of the bamboo resource base can stifle the development of cottage industries and enterprises based on bamboos. As local resources decline and the introduction of fast-growing regional/exotic species may relieve the pressure on natural stands, diversify the bamboo resources and provide suitable species for specific industrial applications.
