Rehabilitation of Malaysian forests: perspectives and delimitation of planting bamboo as a commercial species

摘要

Bamboo has been a multipurpose plant associated with rural people since the old days. Its physiological characteristic as a very fast-growing species has given bamboo recognition as a suitable species for plantation purposes. Besides the shoot, its culm can be used anytime, especially in the rural areas, for small cottage industries. Based on the Forest Research Institute Malaysia's (FRIM) experiences, bamboo can be exploited as a potential plant for rehabilitation either on a small scale or as a plantation. This can be done in rehabilitating Malaysian forests as seen in ex-logging areas where bamboo has invaded more than 70% of these forest compartments. Bamboo established here is suitable for rehabilating purpose as the timber remnants are small in diameter and the amount is not economical for the next harvesting. Other unproductive forest and marginal lands can similarly be rehabilitated. Land areas where agricultural crops cannot be planted with maximum yield can be planted with bamboo species either as food from shoots or for the higher value-added culms. It is hoped that large tracts of land available in the forest can be rehabilitated as a money spinner, and create job opportunities for the rural poor. The delimitation and perspectives of planting, bamboo, and government policy in tackling certain issues are also discussed in this paper.