New strategy to use bamboo and rattan for ASEAN sustainable development

BEIJING - April 26, 2017 - PRLog -- To celebrate Earth Day, the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines hosted an event on 'Bamboo and rattan for ASEAN sustainable development', with INBAR's support. The event highlighted the importance of bamboo and rattan to drive sustainable, climate-smart growth in Southeast Asia.

Notably, the event took place one day before the Paris Agreement comes into effect in the Philippines. As such, bamboo and rattan's importance for fighting climate change was the focus of the day. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jose Santiago Sta. Romana praised "the positive contributions of bamboo and rattan to climate change mitigation and adaptation and increased resilience to natural disasters."

Ambassador Sta. Romana mentioned in his remarks INBAR's strategic Vision on Bamboo and Rattan for ASEAN Development, which was launched at the event. The Philippines is the 2017 Chair for ASEAN.

The Ambassador informed attendees that ASEAN accounts for approximately 20 per cent of the global trade in bamboo and rattan. However, he also noted that, despite their potential to drive green growth and sustainable development in the area, Southeast Asian bamboo and rattan industries are still in their early stages compared to China.

In his following speech, Dr Hans Friederich, INBAR Director General, addressed these concerns and introduced attendees to INBAR's new Vision for Bamboo and Rattan for ASEAN Development – an important strategy document and call for all ASEAN members to come together in support of bamboo and rattan.

Speaking to attendees, Dr Friederich noted that "Bamboo and rattan represent a unique opportunity to promote ASEAN centrality during the 50th anniversary of ASEAN", and outlined INBAR's Vision for future collaboration in the following priority areas:

• A call to recognise the importance of bamboo and rattan for helping meet various national and global goals across ASEAN countries – including REDD+, the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Bonn Challenge;
• The need to mobilise resources from appropriate banks and funding mechanisms, such as the Asian Development Bank, Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility, as well as China's South-South Cooperation Fund on Climate Change;
• The need for INBAR to establish a Southeast Asian base, to better represent and work with its Member states in ASEAN;
• The importance of developing appropriate policy frameworks that support the sustainable management and trade of bamboo and rattan resources;
• The need to conduct an assessment of bamboo and rattan species in the area, including the types of bamboo and rattan, which ecosystem services they provide and what opportunities they present.

H.E. Santiago Sta. Romana commended INBAR on its ASEAN Vision as "a welcome development for us in the region", and urged other ASEAN member states to consider INBAR's Vision. The Philippines Embassy in Beijing has already conveyed INBAR's ASEAN Vision to Manila and to the Philippines' Permanent Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.

[Pictures and link to our ASEAN Vision available on request]

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International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR)

INBAR is a multilateral development organisation of 42 Member States for the promotion of bamboo and rattan, including 6 members of ASEAN: Thailand, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar. INBAR plays a unique role in supporting its members to find and demonstrate innovative ways of using bamboo and rattan to protect environments and biodiversity, and alleviate poverty. INBAR connects a global network of partners from the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors to define and implement a global agenda for sustainable development with bamboo and rattan. www.inbar.int