ABSTRACT
Many bamboo species are important in local economies; their most important economic uses include food, handcraft, fencing, and cottage industry. This chapter aims to quantify the occurrence of bamboo resources in bamboo-based family forests (BBFF), evaluates appropriate models for estimation of bamboo biomass, and estimates biomass and carbon stock of BBFFs. Bamboos possess a high potential for biomass production and carbon sequestration. Although bamboos are characterized by fast growth and high biomass productivity, they have been neglected in selecting fast-growing species for plantation. The biomass density recorded in this study was comparable with those reported for the thin-walled bamboos S. dullooa, P. polymorphum, and M. baccifera. Selective culm felling in BBFF could have accelerated bio-carbon sequestration resulting in high biomass carbon stock in bamboo stands. Management of BBFF can store high biomass carbon, and its permanency in the system carbon management can offer an opportunity for consideration of village bamboo species for carbon farming.
