The Re-emergence of a Formerly Maligned Plant: A New Perspective of Bamboo in Alabama
The Re-emergence of a Formerly Maligned Plant: A New Perspective of Bamboo in Alabama
Session:
Poster SessionPrior to 1871, Northport, Alabama was known as “Canetuck,” a dense, canebreak wilderness. The plant that once defined and thrived in this area is returning with a renewed interest. This paper focuses on a bamboo park, featuring 15 different species, developed by the community. In 2010, the United States imported $225 million in bamboo and bamboo related products from China. It is not farmed in the United States. The climate in the Black Belt Region of Alabama is ideal for growing bamboo to maturity, most importantly, Moso. Included in the discussion will be how this park will serve as a demonstration site for farmers, exhibit the potential for environmentally friendly bamboo processing and manufacturing opportunities, and showcase the social, economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo in order to raise awareness of how this plant could be a catalyst for a new type of agricultural development in Alabama.