Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, recently opened its first wetland park. One of its highlights is a 1.1-square kilometer forest of Guangdong’s Guangning Bamboo (广宁竹) .
Guangning bamboo was introduced from Guangdong to Rwanda in Africa a decade ago. After rooting and sprouting, it has now grown into a spectacular bamboo forest in the park.
Guangning County, known as the hometown of Chinese bamboo, has cultivated 128 kinds of bamboo species and 720 square kilometers of bamboo forest. The scientific name for "Guangning Bamboo" is bambusa textilis, or slender bamboo and clumping bamboo.
In 2007, the Rwandan government asked China for bamboo industry-related technical assistance for environmental protection and economic development. Then the training project of China-Rwanda bamboo planting and processing technology was launched. In 2013, China's Forestry and Grassland Administration selected a small batch of Guangning bamboo and other bamboo species and sent them to Rwanda by air. A group of Chinese bamboo experts were also invited to Rwanda to provide technical guidance.
Wu Haitang, a forestry engineer from Guangning County, and a local Rwandan pose for photos. Wu has been assigned to work in Rwanda for more than six years. (Photo: Guangning Fabu广宁发布)
With the help of experts, many local people have learned to make bamboo shoe racks, seats and other items. These made-of-bamboo items are popular at the local market.
Additionally, since 2007, Guangning County has held training courses on bamboo technology and industry every year. People from more than 60 countries including Brazil, Nepal, Pakistan, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, The Central African Republic and Lesotho came to Guangning for the courses and exchanges.
Guangning bamboo also contributes to local economic and tourism development. In 2021, the total output value of Guangning bamboo has reached 3.3 billion RMB, and 40 percent of farmers in the county directly benefit from the development of the bamboo industry.
Take the Guangdong Yufeng Bamboo Fiber Co., Ltd. as an example. The company has developed a technology to extract raw bamboo fiber from natural bamboo, making them into yarn, clothes, mattresses, circuit boards of mobile phones, and interior panels of cars. Now its annual income is estimated to exceed 60 million RMB.
Guangning also develops many bamboo-themed scenic spots such as bamboo hiking and a bamboo sanatorium.
Author: Ariel, Tonny (intern)
Editor: Wing, Nan, Abby, Jerry
