Representing ISBC2016 at the World Bamboo Congress in Damyang, South Korea
In mid-September I found myself traveling to South Korea representing New Zealand on behalf of the International Straw Building Conference (ISBC) at the World Bamboo Congress (WBC). Tourism New Zealand, as part of their sponsorship for the ISBC, gave us the opportunity to try to garner overseas interest in our conference.
Damyang, the host city in South Korea, for both the World Bamboo Congress & the World Bamboo Fair, was clearly passionate about bamboo and bringing its benefits to it’s guests.
Everywhere you walked, there was evidence in the city welcoming us... Bamboo growing in beautiful ceramic pottery, bamboo crafts & artwork, bamboo structures (both temporary and permanent), the large bamboo forest (some of it in flower), the food, and most importantly the local people that greeted us so warmly during our stay with them.
In mid-September I found myself traveling to South Korea representing New Zealand on behalf of the International Straw Building Conference (ISBC) at the World Bamboo Congress (WBC). Tourism New Zealand, as part of their sponsorship for the ISBC, gave us the opportunity to try to garner overseas interest in our conference.
Damyang, the host city in South Korea, for both the World Bamboo Congress & the World Bamboo Fair, was clearly passionate about bamboo and bringing its benefits to it’s guests.
Everywhere you walked, there was evidence in the city welcoming us... Bamboo growing in beautiful ceramic pottery, bamboo crafts & artwork, bamboo structures (both temporary and permanent), the large bamboo forest (some of it in flower), the food, and most importantly the local people that greeted us so warmly during our stay with them.
The WBC was organized by the World Bamboo Organization, which has a history of holding its conferences all over the world every 3-4 years, all in the common interest of BAMBOO.
Personally, I was thrilled to be making this journey to learn much more about this magnificent grass and to be amongst a community of passionate bamboo enthusiasts. I was curious to see if many fellow delegates knew much about straw bale building and/or other natural building materials. I must say that the bamboo and the straw bale communities have more than one thing in common. They are passionate. They want to work together, they want to collaborate and share ideas. They really love the material they are working with and they want to improve the environment we all share, by utilizing a natural resource that has so much potential.
Representatives from 40 countries attended the WBC and many of the people that I met hadn’t heard of straw bale design and construction. I shared my story and why I was there. During my 10 minute presentation on the benefits of straw bale design and construction and the ISBC, I invited them to open the doors to collaboration and connection with all natural building systems. The intention of encouraging collaboration of the bamboo communtiy with the international natural building community will hopefully be evident during the ISBC.
Representatives from 40 countries attended the WBC and many of the people that I met hadn’t heard of straw bale design and construction. I shared my story and why I was there. During my 10 minute presentation on the benefits of straw bale design and construction and the ISBC, I invited them to open the doors to collaboration and connection with all natural building systems. The intention of encouraging collaboration of the bamboo communtiy with the international natural building community will hopefully be evident during the ISBC.
I may have been to only one of the 320 delegates at the WBC not specifically working with bamboo, but I clearly began to understand it’s benefits as well as the potential over the course of the 5- day congress.
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing, renewable plant resources we have where we can utilize all the components of the plant. The bamboo leaf (tea, alcoholic beverages, kimchi), the bamboo stem (crafts, structural components, landscaping, plywood, bamboo sap, oil and vinegar), and the bamboo shoots (food) can all be used. The benefits just don’t stop there, the potential to use bamboo to improve soil and water quality as well as a social avenue to empower communities in developing skills, leadership and a source of income is high. Biomass production by bamboo is four times higher than most trees and the annual average rate of absorption of atmospheric CO2 by plants (CO2 ton/ha) is 7.68/ha for pine versus 29.34/ha for bamboo.
However, I quickly began to realize with any material that has such great potential, the risks of mis-management practices of the bamboo forests (a mono-culture) and the social processes (workers safety) increases. But as I listened to a wide variety of presentations, it was comforting to hear such passionate & committed people currently working with bamboo to create an industry that aims to better our communities and natural environment.
As I left Damyang, with new friendships and connections made and the hope of collaboration, the spirit of the bamboo continues to resonate with me.
Gamsahabnida
(Thank you, in Korean)
For more information on the WBO www.worldbamboo.net
For more information on the New Zealand Bamboo Society bamboo.org.nz
However, I quickly began to realize with any material that has such great potential, the risks of mis-management practices of the bamboo forests (a mono-culture) and the social processes (workers safety) increases. But as I listened to a wide variety of presentations, it was comforting to hear such passionate & committed people currently working with bamboo to create an industry that aims to better our communities and natural environment.
As I left Damyang, with new friendships and connections made and the hope of collaboration, the spirit of the bamboo continues to resonate with me.
Gamsahabnida
(Thank you, in Korean)
For more information on the WBO www.worldbamboo.net
For more information on the New Zealand Bamboo Society bamboo.org.nz
A special thanks to Michael Stokoe at Tourism New Zealand, Darrel Deboer and Suzanne Lucas, both of the WBO, for their support in making my journey and experience incredible! And of course the rest of the very supportive ISBC Organizing team, Min, Tim, Kerry & Verena! I am grateful.
