Versatile bamboo attracts increasing global attention

Bamboo's potential in the energy, construction and textile sectors is attracting increased global interest, and China - the world's largest source and processing leader - is well-positioned to take advantage of the versatile plant's growing popularity, a leading specialist told an international forum on Wednesday.

China has more than 6 million hectares of bamboo forest, according to the national forestry survey conducted this year. This represents an 11 percent increase on the previous survey carried out in 2008.

In terms of export value, bamboo products from China hit nearly $1.9 billion in 2012 and the domestic market in China reached $19.5 billion, said Hans Friederich, director general of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, at an international seminar on the Green Growth and Innovation-Driven Bamboo Industry in Huangshan city, Anhui province.