The alternative
One of the biggest threats to humanity is undoubtedly the unlimited exploitation of the earth's natural resources. One of those resources is hardwood, particularly the tropical species of wood.
Bamboo offers an excellent alternative: not a tree, but a "grass species" that hardens and grows very fast. In the growing season the "giant bamboo" grows 30 to 50 cm per day and can reach a height of 15 to 20 meters, with a stem circumference of 35 cm or more. There are more than 1300 bamboo species worldwide: the "giant bamboo" can only be found in (sub) tropical climates.
The world's most important source for bamboo is in China. This is where the "giant bamboo" Phyllostachys Pubescens, also called MOSO, grows. This bamboo species is very suitable for decorative purposes, such as for floors and furniture, thanks to its fine structure. It has already been used for centuries as an alternative to wood for many different purposes. The Phyllostachys Pubescens grows naturally in vast primeval forests and also in managed plantations. A third of the number of bamboo stems can be harvested every year, without there being a reduction in the size of the forest.
