Ecological implications of village bamboo as global climate change mitigation strategy: A case study in Barak Valley, Assam, North East India

Abstract

Purpose – The present study seeks to evaluate the role of village bamboo management in the rural landscape of North East India in global climate change mitigation.

Design/methodology/approach – A set of 100 home gardens and 40 bamboo groves were selected from Irongmara and Dargakona village, in Cachar district, Assam, North East India through random sampling. Sampling was done mostly for smallholders. Culm growth, carbon storage, carbon sequestration and carbon in litter floor mass and soil of bamboo growing areas in homegarden was explored from 2003-2007.

Findings – Culm growth extension revealed the brief periodicity of culm growth in a single growth period. Of the total carbon storage soil contributed 84.6 per cent of the total (50.1 Mg ha^-1) followed by carbon in above ground vegetation 15 per cent (9Mg ha^-1) and carbon in litter floor mass 0.4 per cent (0.2 Mg ha^-1).

Practical implications – Bamboo plantation development and its management in home gardens has social, ecological and economical benefits for the rural life in North East India and its promotion can become an effective choice for climate change mitigation strategy.

Originality/value – Bamboo forms an important component in the traditional home garden system of North East India where the practice of bamboo cultivation and management provides an important sink for CO₂. Village bamboos play an important role in local economics, societies and environments and, considering its potential to mitigate global climate change, the authors recommend the promotion of bamboo in agroforestry expanding practices and rehabilitation of degraded lands. Management of village bamboos in rural landscape is highlighted in context to environmental sustainability and as a sink measure under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of Kyoto Protocol.

Keywords Carbon storage, Carbon sequestration, Environmental sustainability, Village bamboos, Carbon, Climate change, Agriculture, India

Paper type Case study

Authors Arun Jyoti Nath and Ashesh Kumar Das

Journal Name and Issue: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 4 (2): 201-215

Year of Publication 2012