103 hectares of giant bamboo they will be used to build the largest Italian forest a Castiglione della Pescaia, in the province of Grosseto. The project will start in the coming weeks.
The project of the Italian bamboo forest
In Toscana, the Italian company Forever Bambù will plant the first 40 hectares by this spring, while the remaining 63 in 2022. The forest, of 100 thousand giant bamboo plants, will be able to absorb 27.500 tons of carbon dioxide in just one year. The land of one square kilometer has the ideal characteristics to be used as a bamboo grove, an ideal condition for creating the forest. Giant bamboo is a great resource because the plant can be crucial in the bioplastics industry. In fact, it is possible to obtain a special ecological plastic, biodegradable, resistant, washable and reusable.
Furthermore, even in construction, giant bamboo represents a very interesting material because it is light (one tenth of steel), flexible, resistant to traction and compression. Bamboo can also be useful for producing excellent quality paper and is capable of replacing fossil fuels because its high calorific value makes it an excellent biomass for energy use.
The unique characteristics of giant bamboo
Giant bamboo does not require specific equipment to grow but only abundant water in the early years of development. 100% biodegradable, is robust with a stem that can reach 40 meters in height and 30 centimeters in diameter. One hectare of bamboo forest produces 100 tons of biomass and has the ability to generate 35% more oxygen than a forest.
The structure of its roots makes it outstanding as natural remediation agent because it allows to counteract landslides and landslides and to retain water. This limits erosion in case of heavy rain and can adapt to degraded and contaminated soils. Finally, there are also benefits for nutrition because the bamboo stem is rich in proteins, vitamins and mineral salts such as calcium, potassium, zinc, selenium and copper. It thus becomes an excellent food supplement, anti-inflammatory for respiratory ailments, low-calorie and rich in fiber. It is also helpful for good bone and skin health.
The bamboo forests in Italy
In addition to the next Italian bamboo forest in Castiglione della Pescaia, there are also other places of this kind in Italy. In the province of Parma, the Labyrinth of Masone is the largest existing labyrinth of bamboo plants between 30 centimeters and 15 meters high, belonging to 20 different species, for a total of 200 thousand specimens. The first bamboo natural park was born in Ivrea and will extend over 15 hectares with the aim of promoting educational paths to discover the properties and benefits of this plant.
