International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Encyclopedia
The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is an independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan.
INBAR's mission is to improve the well-being of the producers and users of bamboo and rattan within the context of a sustainable bamboo and rattan resource base. It aims to achieve this by:
1. Consolidating, coordinating and supporting strategic and adaptive research and development, primarily at a series of Action Research Sites in its member countries, with replication and adaptation of the results across the world;
2. Developing and disseminating essential knowledge on the increasing number of ways in which bamboo and rattan can be applied to poverty reduction and sustainable natural resource management;
3. Helping foster the development and adoption of better trade policies, collating and disseminating statistical data (e.g. on trade, resources), and developing product standards and codes.
(IDRC) of Canada
. In 1993 the network was formalized under its present name, but remained a project of IDRC. Work to launch INBAR as an independent organization started in 1995, and was completed in 1997 when INBAR became an independent organization with its headquarters in Beijing
, China
– the first intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in the People's Republic.
and to intergovernmental organizations. INBAR currently has 35 member countries. INBAR's supreme governing body is the Council of representatives of its member countries which meets biennially. The Board of Trustees is the second tier of governance, and develops appropriate policies, oversees management and ensures efficient operations at its annual meetings. The Director General is a member of the board, and is responsible for day-to-day running of the organization. The current, and third, Director General is Dr. J. Coosje Hoogendoorn.
INBAR's secretariat is in Beijing
, China
and it has regional offices for East and Southeast Asia (Beijing, China), South Asia (New Delhi
, India
), East Africa (Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
), West Africa (Kumasi
, Ghana
) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Quito
, Ecuador
). INBAR runs three thematic programmes (Environmental Sustainability; Livelihoods and Economic Development; Trade Development), and three partnership programmes (Global Bamboo Housing; NTFP Global Partnership Programme; Global Rattan Programme), supported by four units (Development and Communications; Networking and Partnerships; Member Country; Human Resources, Finances and Services), all overseen by an Executive Management team. Additionally, its Global Marketing Initiative seeks to improve the marketability of new products in affluent markets such as North America and Europe by linking local producers to overseas designers.
; the Common Fund for Commodities
; the European Commission
. Major bilateral partners are INBAR’s member country governments, including agencies such as the State Forestry Administration, China, and the International Development Research Centre
, Canada. INBAR also partners with organizations such as the Blue Moon Fund, Citi (China), and with commercial companies to develop Public-Private Partnerships. INBAR is an affiliated member of the World Fair Trade Organization
.
INBAR works on field projects with a wide range of local and national organizations such as the Tripura Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (India
); the Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (India
); Forest Research Institute of Ghana http://www.csir-forig.org.gh; Kenya Forest Research Institute http://www.kefri.org; Federal Micro and Small Enterprises Development Agency (FeMSEDA)http://www.telecom.net.et/~femseda/, Ethiopia
; In-Hand Abra, Philippines
; CEDERENA, Ecuador
; Sacha Urku http://www.sachaurku.org, Ecuador
; CIPAP, Peru
; Mexican Bamboo Society; Nanjing Forestry University http://www.njfu.edu.cn/english/index.htm, China
; Mozbambu http://www.mozbambu.org/, Mozambique
.
is easy to grow and can be harvested annually from about the fourth year after planting. The hollow stems are light, easy to handle and can be split with a large knife. There are many stages of processing between raw material and finished product, and much of the processing can be done by the communities that grow and harvest the bamboo, so a large proportion of the value addition can be retained with them. As a source of soft wood, bamboo can complement/substitute for timber wood, and help reduce forest destruction. Many new bamboo products, and the technologies for producing them, have been developed over the past thirty years, for example laminated boards, textiles and modern housing, and more are being innovated.
Rattan
s are spiny climbing palms
, and have a long history of use in furniture which has been sold throughout the world for centuries. Rattans grows in tropical rainforests and have been subject to considerable over-harvesting, resulting in greatly increased prices for raw cane, and limiting the opportunities for processors. As with bamboo, processing rattan involves many stages which can be done within the communities, but the range of products that can be produced is more limited, so innovations in design and quality of existing product groups (furniture, handicrafts) is often more important for developing livelihoods and expanding sales into new markets.
Sustainable Development
Forestry
Bamboo
Rattan
Intergovernmental organizations in China
Vision and mission
INBAR's vision is that sustainable use of bamboo and rattan makes a major contribution to many people's livelihoods, their environment, and their businesses to help create a better world.INBAR's mission is to improve the well-being of the producers and users of bamboo and rattan within the context of a sustainable bamboo and rattan resource base. It aims to achieve this by:
1. Consolidating, coordinating and supporting strategic and adaptive research and development, primarily at a series of Action Research Sites in its member countries, with replication and adaptation of the results across the world;
2. Developing and disseminating essential knowledge on the increasing number of ways in which bamboo and rattan can be applied to poverty reduction and sustainable natural resource management;
3. Helping foster the development and adoption of better trade policies, collating and disseminating statistical data (e.g. on trade, resources), and developing product standards and codes.
History
INBAR evolved from an informal network of bamboo and rattan researchers set up in 1984 by the International Development Research CentreInternational Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
(IDRC) of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1993 the network was formalized under its present name, but remained a project of IDRC. Work to launch INBAR as an independent organization started in 1995, and was completed in 1997 when INBAR became an independent organization with its headquarters in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
– the first intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in the People's Republic.
Membership and structure
Membership of INBAR is open to member states of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and to intergovernmental organizations. INBAR currently has 35 member countries. INBAR's supreme governing body is the Council of representatives of its member countries which meets biennially. The Board of Trustees is the second tier of governance, and develops appropriate policies, oversees management and ensures efficient operations at its annual meetings. The Director General is a member of the board, and is responsible for day-to-day running of the organization. The current, and third, Director General is Dr. J. Coosje Hoogendoorn.
INBAR's secretariat is in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and it has regional offices for East and Southeast Asia (Beijing, China), South Asia (New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), East Africa (Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
), West Africa (Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
). INBAR runs three thematic programmes (Environmental Sustainability; Livelihoods and Economic Development; Trade Development), and three partnership programmes (Global Bamboo Housing; NTFP Global Partnership Programme; Global Rattan Programme), supported by four units (Development and Communications; Networking and Partnerships; Member Country; Human Resources, Finances and Services), all overseen by an Executive Management team. Additionally, its Global Marketing Initiative seeks to improve the marketability of new products in affluent markets such as North America and Europe by linking local producers to overseas designers.
Operation
INBAR works in partnership with other international and multilateral organizations to help build mutual capacity and increase the sustainability of the results of its work. Major international partners are the International Fund for Agricultural DevelopmentInternational Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development , a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries...
; the Common Fund for Commodities
Common Fund for Commodities
The Common Fund for Commodities is an inter-governmental financial institution established within the framework of the United Nations. It is a vestige of the proposed New International Economic Order.-External links:*...
; the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. Major bilateral partners are INBAR’s member country governments, including agencies such as the State Forestry Administration, China, and the International Development Research Centre
International Development Research Centre
The International Development Research Centre is a Canadian Crown Corporation created by the Parliament of Canada that supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development...
, Canada. INBAR also partners with organizations such as the Blue Moon Fund, Citi (China), and with commercial companies to develop Public-Private Partnerships. INBAR is an affiliated member of the World Fair Trade Organization
World Fair Trade Organization
The World Fair Trade Organization , formerly the International Fair Trade Association , was created in 1989 and is a global association of 324 organizations in over 70 countries...
.
INBAR works on field projects with a wide range of local and national organizations such as the Tripura Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
); the Konkan Bamboo and Cane Development Centre (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
); Forest Research Institute of Ghana http://www.csir-forig.org.gh; Kenya Forest Research Institute http://www.kefri.org; Federal Micro and Small Enterprises Development Agency (FeMSEDA)http://www.telecom.net.et/~femseda/, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
; In-Hand Abra, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
; CEDERENA, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
; Sacha Urku http://www.sachaurku.org, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
; CIPAP, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
; Mexican Bamboo Society; Nanjing Forestry University http://www.njfu.edu.cn/english/index.htm, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
; Mozbambu http://www.mozbambu.org/, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
.
Bamboo and rattan for poverty alleviation
BambooBamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
is easy to grow and can be harvested annually from about the fourth year after planting. The hollow stems are light, easy to handle and can be split with a large knife. There are many stages of processing between raw material and finished product, and much of the processing can be done by the communities that grow and harvest the bamboo, so a large proportion of the value addition can be retained with them. As a source of soft wood, bamboo can complement/substitute for timber wood, and help reduce forest destruction. Many new bamboo products, and the technologies for producing them, have been developed over the past thirty years, for example laminated boards, textiles and modern housing, and more are being innovated.
Rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
s are spiny climbing palms
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
, and have a long history of use in furniture which has been sold throughout the world for centuries. Rattans grows in tropical rainforests and have been subject to considerable over-harvesting, resulting in greatly increased prices for raw cane, and limiting the opportunities for processors. As with bamboo, processing rattan involves many stages which can be done within the communities, but the range of products that can be produced is more limited, so innovations in design and quality of existing product groups (furniture, handicrafts) is often more important for developing livelihoods and expanding sales into new markets.
See also
Poverty alleviationSustainable Development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
Forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
Rattan
Rattan
Rattan is the name for the roughly 600 species of palms in the tribe Calameae, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australasia.- Structure :...
Intergovernmental organizations in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...