With great excitement and with great pleasure,
the World Bamboo Organization announces the Official Hosts of the next
World Bamboo Congress:
Damyang-gun, South Korea / Summer 2015
For those present at the recent 9th WBC in Antwerp, Belgium, it may come as no surprise, although applications from several groups were received and the final decision was challenging. The South Korean delegation of Damyang-gun attending the 9th WBC came well-prepared with an introductory video and personal appeal of the County Governor, Mr. Choi Hyung-sik, inviting all to Damyang in hope of being selected as hosts for the 10th WBC; they are thrilled now with the realization that indeed we will come!
Damyang county is located in the southwest corner of South Korea, in Jeollanum-do. It enjoys a southern continental climate and temperate climate forest zone with high temperatures and precipitation in summer, providing ideal conditions for bamboo growth. The county has 1,797 hectares of bamboo forest equal to 25.5% of Korea’s total bamboo habitat. It is rural and scenic, far from the hectic city of Seoul, and very much worth the travel to get there, especially if you want to see bamboo forests!
Damyang has been home to bamboo craft for about 300 years and since 2003 promotes the development of “New Bamboo Products” as a means to boost the local economy. The “Bamboo Park” in the capital town of the county attracts approx. 1.3 million visitors annually.
Not only will the 10th World Bamboo Congress take place in Damyang. The city will host the “Damyang World Bamboo Exposition 2015″ for an entire month, from June 20th to July 19th 2015. This exposition will show ways to improve the value of bamboo on an international level under the slogan “Green future out of the bamboo forest”. The exposition will consist of a variety of exhibition halls including halls for ecology, history, science, construction and Green Development. The event will be complemented by several cultural programs and workshops and highlighted by the hosting of the 10th WBC.
Stay tuned for details, exact dates, program development and tour packages. Most importantly, SAVE THE DATES and plan to attend!
With best regards to all of you out there in the world of bamboo,
Susanne Lucas, Executive Director WBO
and
Michel Abadie, President WBO
