United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - The National Bamboo Project -Central America and Caribeean

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM AFRICA

The National Bamboo Project

Location Central America & Caribbean (including Mexico).

Responsible organization Proyecto Nacional de Bambu
Ministerio de Vivienda y Asentamientos Humanos, San Jose, Costa Rica
UNDP, HABITAT, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Description The National Bamboo Project started in 1986 as a new technological approach to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica. The idea was to replace the use of wood with an alternative cost-effective and seismically sound building material.
The project has been monitored in three phases. The preparatory phase saw the pilot-project being transferred from experiences in Colombia and Ecuador.
During the following two phases an intensive construction scheme in the rural areas was developed including technical training, massive bamboo cultivation, community and labour organization, environmental assessment of the technology and production of furniture and handicrafts for export. The project has fostered the sustainable use of bamboo as raw material for an indigenous housing programme and for the industrialization and marketing of by-products.
In July 1995, a foundation was setup (FUNBAMBU) to assist and eventually take-over the whole program, thus ensuring its sustainability. Up to now 700 low-cost houses have been built and 200 hectares of bamboo have ben cultivated.

Issues addressed Environmental Protection, Housing Construction, Rural Development, Sustainable Development, Transfer of Technology.

Objectives The National Bamboo Project was initiated in 1986 as a new technological approach to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica. The idea was to replace the use of wood with an alternative cost-effective and seismically sound building material.

Results achieved 1989 to date: 700 bamboo houses built 200 hectares cultivated with bamboo 400 people trained in building, cultivating and crafting of bamboo

Lessons learned Community participation and capacity building has not only helped to solve low-cost housing problems, but other problems such as unemployment and deforestation, particularly protecting some river basins. The stablishment of a system of communal organizations has contributed to their development, not only to the building of houses, but also to road repairs, supply of drinking water, improvement of health conditions and commercialization of agricultural products. The project has been so successful, that the practice is being transferred to other countries where bamboo can grow (i.e. Colombia,Ecuador).

Financing This organization, as part of the Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements, financed by the Government of the Netherlands, administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and HABITAT as the executive body, has developed the National Bamboo Project. In July 1995, the FUNBAMBU Foundation was established with the goal of managing the project to ensure its sustainable implementation.
Contact Arq. Ana Cecilia de Soto
Proyecto Nacional de Bambu, Apto. 21-1350
San Sebastian, San Jose, Costa Riva
Tel: (506) 26-39-39, 26-38-70, 26-48-48

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	The National Bamboo Project
	Location	Central America & Caribbean (including Mexico).
	Responsible organization	Proyecto Nacional de Bambu Ministerio de Vivienda y Asentamientos Humanos, San Jose, Costa Rica UNDP, HABITAT, San Jose, Costa Rica.
	Description	The National Bamboo Project started in 1986 as a new technological approach to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica. The idea was to replace the use of wood with an alternative cost-effective and seismically sound building material. The project has been monitored in three phases. The preparatory phase saw the pilot-project being transferred from experiences in Colombia and Ecuador. During the following two phases an intensive construction scheme in the rural areas was developed including technical training, massive bamboo cultivation, community and labour organization, environmental assessment of the technology and production of furniture and handicrafts for export. The project has fostered the sustainable use of bamboo as raw material for an indigenous housing programme and for the industrialization and marketing of by-products. In July 1995, a foundation was setup (FUNBAMBU) to assist and eventually take-over the whole program, thus ensuring its sustainability. Up to now 700 low-cost houses have been built and 200 hectares of bamboo have ben cultivated.
	Issues addressed	Environmental Protection, Housing Construction, Rural Development, Sustainable Development, Transfer of Technology.
	Objectives	The National Bamboo Project was initiated in 1986 as a new technological approach to prevent deforestation in Costa Rica. The idea was to replace the use of wood with an alternative cost-effective and seismically sound building material.
	Results achieved	1989 to date: 700 bamboo houses built 200 hectares cultivated with bamboo 400 people trained in building, cultivating and crafting of bamboo
	Lessons learned	Community participation and capacity building has not only helped to solve low-cost housing problems, but other problems such as unemployment and deforestation, particularly protecting some river basins. The stablishment of a system of communal organizations has contributed to their development, not only to the building of houses, but also to road repairs, supply of drinking water, improvement of health conditions and commercialization of agricultural products. The project has been so successful, that the practice is being transferred to other countries where bamboo can grow (i.e. Colombia,Ecuador).
	Financing	This organization, as part of the Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements, financed by the Government of the Netherlands, administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and HABITAT as the executive body, has developed the National Bamboo Project. In July 1995, the FUNBAMBU Foundation was established with the goal of managing the project to ensure its sustainable implementation.
	Contact	Arq. Ana Cecilia de Soto Proyecto Nacional de Bambu, Apto. 21-1350 San Sebastian, San Jose, Costa Riva Tel: (506) 26-39-39, 26-38-70, 26-48-48