Brasília, 13 de Maio de 2010
CIRCULAR 01/2010

Comunicamos a realização do Segundo Seminário da Rede Brasileira do Bambu – RBB: consolidação e perspectivas, em Rio Branco – Acre. O evento está previsto para os dias 25, 26 e 27 de agosto do corrente ano.
Entre outros, são objetivos do evento: tornar pública e avaliar as pesquisas do Edital MCT/CNPq/CT-Agro 25/2008; lançar nacionalmente a Redebambu/BR; fortalecer os laços das pesquisas e demais trabalhos técnico-profissionais do bambu com os setores sociais e produtivos; e, sobretudo, dar continuidade à operacionalização da Rede.
O Seminário é promovido pela Secretaria de Políticas e Programas de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento do Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia – SEPED/MCT com a coordenação do CNPq/MCT. Entretanto, sua execução ficará por conta da Universidade de Brasília – UnB com o apoio da EMBRAPA/AC, da FUNTAC/Governo do Acre e do SEBRAE/AC.
O Seminário seguirá idêntico formato àquele realizado em 2006, Brasília DF, quando da criação da RBB. Serão editados os Anais com trabalhos científicos, culturais e técnico-profissionais a serem selecionados pelo Comitê Científico. Enviaremos oportunamente as diretrizes e as datas para a submissão de trabalhos.
O evento contará ainda com três novas seções: amostra de cartazes (“posters”) sobre trabalhos acadêmicos, prático-profissionais e culturais; exposição de tecnologia e produtos de bambu; e apresentação das pesquisas selecionadas naquele Edital.
Esperamos contar com sua participação e adesão a fim de tornar a Rede um espaço de apoio ao desenvolvimento sustentável do Brasil. O nosso endereço eletrônico (“e-mail”) para contato é [seminariobambu@unb.br].

Cordialmente,

Jaime Gonçalves de Almeida
Comissão Organizadora

Jeffree Trudeau was here on the southeast coast of Massachusetts for a brief visit last week. We had the opportunity to sit and talk and catch up, and we know many of you are wanting news of WBO’s Bamboo Housing Project in Haiti.

As you can imagine, there are scenarios and situations well beyond any one group or any one person’s control there on the ground in Haiti. Unfortunately, the much-needed houses just aren’t being built fast enough, despite a plethora of groups and organizations working hard to see it happen.

Ben Sandzer-Bell of CO2 Bambu met last week with SOGESOL and they are taking a “retail” approach to bamboo housing for reconstruction seriously. They still have to work out the operational kinks, and we are all feeling optimistic.

More important is the fact that CO2 Bambu’s first container, for Lutheran World Federation is on the water and en route to Haiti. It contains 2 – 20m2 homes and 18 kits for walls for transitional shelters. The market for shelters, i.e. selling just the bamboo mats, is significantly larger than that for sale of full houses, so we are all hoping this will lead to a breakthrough. If all goes well with customs clearance the first bamboo homes on Haiti will be assembled on, or close to, World Bamboo Day September 18.

Kevin Rowell of Kliewerks is also still in Haiti and working with us to promote hybrid homes of earth and bamboo,as well as bamboo plantations support.

We are also active with Shelters International in various bamboo-related projects that we will have more details on in the next report.

WBO is actively moving towards promoting a 5-year bamboo plantation program in collaboration with various groups and working with a proposal from Gib Cooper. Planting bamboos seems to be a very realistic goal at this point in time, looking at a long-term commitment for economic and environmental improvement for the people of Haiti. Once the bamboo is growing and models have been established for local community uses, we can work further on development of more bamboo housing projects, etc.

Again, we thank you for your continued support and encouragement in all things bamboo.

Malaysia is committed to combating climate change, as reflected by the Honourable Prime Minister’s pledge at the recently concluded COP 15 under the United Nations Framework on Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to voluntarily reduce by up to 40% of its carbon emission in terms of emission intensity based on Gross Domestic Product by 2020 from the 2005 level. The Symposium is therefore aptly themed, “Addressing global concerns and changing societal needs”.

There will be discussions on issues pertaining to;
· climate change,
· biodiversity,
· forest ecology,
· forest plantations,
· applied biotechnology in forestry,
· green technology,
· eco-tourism,
· socio-economy,
· medicinal products from plant material,
· improved processing, and
· utilisation of wood and non-wood products.

ISFFP 2010 therefore, aims to bring together all the stakeholders to reflect on these issues, in the hope of striking a balance between addressing global concerns and fulfilling societal needs for sustainable development.

Those interested in presenting a paper or poster should submit an abstract to the secretariat at isffp@frim.gov.my by 1 June 2010.

In the meantime, should you require any assistance regarding ISFFP 2010, please do not hesitate to visit ISFFP 2010’s official website at http://www.frim.gov.my/isffp2010/index.html or contact us at:

The Secretariat
International Symposium on Forestry and Forest Products 2010
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
52109 Kepong, Selangor
Malaysia
(Attn: Mr Mahmudin Saleh)

Tel: +603-62797280, 62797316
Fax: +603-62804620
E-mail: isffp@frim.gov.my
Official website: http://www.frim.gov.my/isffp2010/index.html

Last but not least, please pass this message to your contacts whom you think might be of interest to ISFFP 2010.

Thank you.

Dr Mohd Nor Mohd Yusoff

Chairman
ISFFP 2010 Organising Committee
5-7 October 2010
The Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

“Addressing global concerns and changing societal needs”.

18 September

18 September

WBO President, Mr. Kamesh Salam, is busy planning all the details. The highlights of this celebration will take place from the 18th to 22nd September, including:

 Bamboo Planting
 Run for Bamboo (Marathon Run)
 Craft Competition
 Workshops
 Painting Competition for School Children
 Bamboo Music Festival
 Bamboo Food Festival
 Exhibitions on Bamboo Craft and Products

This celebration in Kohima anticipates over 500 participants from around the world, including members of the WBO, high-level policy-makers from the Govt. of India and North East India, Ambassadors of ASEAN countries and the Consulate of the US Kolkata office, etc.

Globally, the WBO encourages all people everywhere, including civic groups like Lions
Club, Rotary International, international agencies, schools, institutions, community centers, and bamboo societies promoting bamboo in all its capacities to celebrate World Bamboo Day! Via education, discovery, music, food, parades and promoting the planting of bamboo, we will spread the message of this unique gift of nature = Bamboo.

The World Bamboo Organization will continue to expand and activate its network of partners, institutions, corporations, alliances and individuals to provide a unique, dynamic, progressive program for the advancement of bamboo promotion worldwide. To celebrate World Bamboo Day in a big way, the WBO will especially encourage and assist with bamboo planting to improve our planet’s health. Stay tuned to learn more on how you can help us help the world through bamboo.