The Urban and Biodiversity Research Development and Extension Center (UBRDEC) of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), promoted the use of bamboo charcoal, bamboo charcoal briquette and other bamboo by-products in Palawan, in an attempt to help absorb pollutants.
Engr. Niro M. Villaceran, Community Development Officer II said that bamboo charcoal is made up from pieces of bamboo, which are taken from plants 3 to 5 years old or older, and carbonized inside a kiln at temperatures over 500°C.
“It not only provides a new way to utilize bamboo, but also benefits to environment protection by reducing the wastes and/or residues that causes pollution. Bamboo charcoal is an environmentally functional material which has excellent absorption properties,” he said.
Other important uses of bamboo charcoal and other bamboo by-products include as raw material for charcoal soap, deodorizer, materials for construction, water purifier, wastewater treatment, ground charcoal used as fertilizer, and charcoal as ethylene filter for fruits and vegetable.
Gerald Opiala, forest ranger of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office said that among their important learnings include the concept of green charcoal and bamboo charcoal making.
“Other knowledge and skills acquired upon completion of 3-day training is determining appropriate cutting age for bamboo propagation and culm harvesting for commercial and furniture industry,” Opiala said.
The Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. through Turismo at Negosyo Dulot ng Ingat Kalikasan (TANDIKAN) project sponsored the three-day training of trainers on carbon sequestration and bamboo production for their partner communities in Palawan including Community Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) sites in Puerto Princesa and El Nido, the academe, non-government organizations, and local government units (LGUs).
The training aims to educate the trainees on the potential of bamboo in the rehabilitation and reforestation, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, sustainable bamboo-based industry, and poverty alleviation through introduction and learning from latest bamboo technologies.
UBRDEC of ERDB is the research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
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