AR-News: Endangered species at risk from demise of bamboo

[jim robertson]

Endangered species at risk from demise of bamboo
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
11 May 2004
Bad news for the giant panda. Many types of bamboo, the animal's staple food 
and one of the world's most important plant families, are in trouble because 
of massive deforestation, a study reports today.

As many as half of the 1,200 woody bamboo species may be in danger of 
extinction because of the continuing destruction of their forest habitats, 
says the report. Large numbers of vulnerable animals that depend almost 
entirely on bamboo for food and shelter - which include pandas, lemurs and 
mountain gorillas - face an even greater struggle for survival.

The study, by the United Nations' Cambridge-based World Conservation 
Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and the International Network for Bamboo and 
Rattan, is the most comprehensive yet on the subject, using novel analyses 
to combine data on the distributions of bamboo species and existing forest 
cover.

The study found that many types of bamboo have tiny amounts of forest 
remaining within their native ranges. About 250 woody bamboo species have 
less than 2,000 square kilometres of forest remaining within their ranges.

Bamboos are large, woody grasses. Their life cycle - individuals of each 
species flower once, simultaneously every 20 to 100 years, then die - makes 
them especially vulnerable to rapid deforestation that is restricting the 
areas in which they can survive.

They not only provide habitats for large numbers of other species, but are 
used for human purposes. International trade in bamboo products, mostly from 
cultivated sources, is worth more than $2bn annually.

Klaus Toepfer, the executive director of the United Nations Environment 
Programme (Unep), the WCMC's parent body, said: "Trade in these plants is 
worth as much as bananas or American beef. Yet until now, their status and 
condition have been largely ignored with many species taken for granted. 
This new report highlights how vital it now is for the international 
community to take a far greater interest in these extraordinary plant 
species."

Millions of people depend on wild bamboos for food, construction material, 
furniture and even musical instruments. The commercial potential of many 
wild species of bamboo has yet to be evaluated, but among the 
internationally traded products derived from bamboos are edible bamboo 
shoots, furniture and paper. Bamboo is used in the making of acupuncture 
needles, flooring, firewood and paper.

The report identifies endangered species whose fates are linked with the 
demise of bamboos. There are such animals in every region in which bamboos 
grow. In Asia these include the red panda, Himalayan black bear and the 
giant panda. About 15 species of birds live almost exclusively in bamboo. 
And in Africa, mountain gorillas depend on bamboo for food.

ANIMALS IN DANGER

Giant panda

The giant panda (Ailuropda melanoleuca) is dependent on bamboo, its only 
food. Only 600 exist in the wild. Half of their bamboo forests have 
disappeared since 1974.

Lesser bamboo bat

The lesser bamboo bat (Tylonycteris pachypus) is the world's smallest bat 
(some say it is second smallest), and roosts in hollow bamboo. Found in 
Philippines and India.

Mountain gorilla

Gorilla beringei beringei inhabits bamboo forests of the Democratic Republic 
of Congo, Rwanda and south-west Uganda. Shoots can be 90 per cent of the 
diet.

Golden bamboo lemur

The golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus) of Madagascar is rare and 
critically endangered. Thought to have a total population of only 200 to 400 
individuals.

Also in Environment
Monsanto abandons its plans to sell GM wheat
Endangered species at risk from demise of bamboo
Warming up: the debate over a movie that claims to be a vision of the future
He saved the elephant. But can he save the Great Apes?
Why Antarctica will soon be the only place to live - literally


http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=520092&host=3&dir=507


"Just remember it's the birds that's supposed to suffer, not the hunter." 
—George W. Bush, advising quail hunter and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, 
Roswell, N.M., Jan. 22, 2004