Kenya's Green Gold: Laura Koech on Bamboo's Untapped Potential for Climate ResilienceLaura Koech, a Yale University alumna, shares her inspiring journey into the world of bamboo, sparked by its innovative use in construction which she witnessed in China. Getting in touch with a bamboo expert at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), further set her ambition to unlock the potential of this useful resource in Kenya. Her project focuses on cultivating bamboo both individually and in collaboration with farmers in the Kuresoi South Subcounty, a significant area within the vital Mau Forest water catchment area. Laura highlights the advantages and features of bamboo, particularly its effectiveness in water filtration on riparian land and its ability to thrive even in degraded soils, making it ideal for reclaiming deadland. Its adaptability to unused land and the high yield potential of 6-10 poles per seedling every six months, present significant business opportunities within bamboo farming. From her, we learn about the relatively simple cultivation process, requiring minimal watering after establishment and allowing for harvesting for up to 70 years. This underscores its viability and long-term benefits. With a relatively short maturity period of 5-7 years and the potential for harvesting every 6 months, bamboo offers a sustainable source of wood for diverse applications, from construction to utensils, thus reducing reliance on plastics. She informs us that beyond its practical uses, bamboo plays a crucial role in increasing tree cover and acts as an effective carbon sink, even after harvesting, making it attractive for carbon investment.

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