During 27-31 May 2024, a 5-day capacity building event on sustainable bamboo utilization between Thailand and China was organized with an aim to initiate a potential collaboration on bamboo technology transfer. With support from UNEP-IEMP and the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, the event was hosted by Nanjing Forestry University (NJFU) and co-hosted by Zixi County Government, Jiangxi Province. The delegation from Thailand was led by Dr Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) of the National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand. From UNEP-IEMP, Ms Guoqin Wang and Ms Tatirose Vijitpan participated in the event.

The event was kicked off through a workshop at the NJFU to exchange on experiences and technologies applied for bamboo life cycle management to ensure socio-economic and ecological benefits. The delegation then visited Zixi County in Jiangxi province to explore on bamboo material processing techniques and machines for furniture, construction, plastic substitute, bamboo carbon credits, as well as on planting and harvesting. At the closing workshop, prioritized areas were identified and agreed for cooperation. 

Group photo at NJFU

With regard to this cooperation, UNEP-IEMP plays a facilitating role, providing platform for concrete cooperation to benefit not only for Thailand and China, but also the planet in general. “As bamboo is a nature-based solution, it very well supports the UNEP Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods Flagship Programme, especially when considering the bamboo in whole life cycle. It creates invaluable contributions towards ecosystem restoration, carbon sequestration, community resilience, supply for energy, food and clean water, alliterative building martial, substitutes for plastic.” Ms Guoqin Wang mentioned in her remarks, “We hope this event will pave the way for substantial steps ahead.” 

Visiting bamboo scrimber factory in Zixi County