In view of the existing and projected supply-demand gap for timber inputs into the wood-based industry, there is a growing interest in tree planting and plantation establishment in Ghana. Some sawmill owners and individuals have begun establishing their own plantations to ensure future supplies of logs.

In spite of these efforts to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of wood, the major concern of most investors and plantation developers is the long gestation period of most timber trees. There is therefore the need to explore the possibility of using alternative wood resources, which have shorter gestation period to supplement the government's reforestation initiatives.

The Bamboo and Rattan Development Programme (BARADEP) is a government initiative under the Ministry of Lands and Forestry established in December 2001 to address some of the concerns stated above. The office is located in Room 19 of the Forestry Services Division Headquarters.

The NGO, Bamboo and Rattan Network of Ghana (BARNET) started creating awareness on the usefulness of bamboo and rattan as a non-timber forest resources that can be used as substitute for timber. This message attracted the attention of government, which responded by establishing BARADEP.

BARADEP has been set up as a policy making body within the bamboo and rattan sector which will also serve as an information dissemination platform for all stakeholders.

Objectives:

The main objectives of the programme are:

1. To promote bamboo and rattan resources as an alternative to timber in Ghana and thus reduce the pressure on the natural timber forest.

2. To ensure sustainable management of the country's bamboo and rattan resources

3. To facilitate the setting up of bamboo and rattan nurseries and plantations

4. To facilitate research into bamboo and rattan

5. To build capacity in terms of human and other resources

6. To engage the rural communities in income generating activities with bamboo and rattan as a means of reducing poverty in the communities.

Activities:

1. Awareness Creation - Since its inception in December 2001, BARADEP has organized a series of sensitization workshops for all regions of the country except the three northern regions. The effect of these workshops is characterized by a number of calls and visits to the office for inquiries on one aspect of the other on the bamboo and rattan industry.

2. Training Workshops - A number of training workshops on the management of bamboo natural stands, propagation and harvesting of bamboo has been held in various localities for members of the communities. Staffs of Forestry Services Division (FSD) and the Department of Parks and Gardens have also been given training in these aspects to equip them to be trainers in the various districts in which they are located. The head of the Botany Department of the University of Ghana and some of his staff have also benefited from these training workshops. They plan to inculcate the study of bamboo into their syllabus possible from this academic year.

3. Housing Workshop: BARADEP collaborated with the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) in organizing a bamboo-housing workshop in Fumesua in the Ashanti Region. A three-classroom block was constructed with bamboo as part of activities for the workshop. INBAR intends to donate the building to the community before the end of the year.

4. Capacity Building: The above-mentioned activities have built-up some human resources in the country for the bamboo industry. The topics were new to most of the participants to the workshops, and feedback shows that a lot had been learnt, some of which is now being put into practice.

5. Nurserys: The country was presented with 18 new improved bamboo species in April 2003 via OIC International. BARADEP is funding the care of these seedlings in the BARNET nursery until the plants are matured and multiplied for distribution to various agencies interested in bamboo plantation like, the Universities, Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) and FSD.

6. Donor Proposal: A consultant was tasked to write a donor proposal for the funding for the programme. The work has been completed and distributed to donor agencies by the Ministry. We are awaiting a response.

Funding:

The main source of funding for the programme at present is the Government of Ghana.

Relationships and Partnerships:

BARADEP has good working relationships with organizations like, INBAR, BARNET, CARE International, OIC International and a range of private individuals.

OIC International for instance was instrumental in the presentation of 18 new improved bamboo species by one Prof. Bezona on behalf of the Tropical Agriculture University in Hawaii.

Projections for the future:

- Acceptability of Products

Since this whole concept is new to the people of Ghana, there is still much more to do in making the populace accept bamboo and rattan products as substitutes for wood products. The products that have come out from some of our factories are very beautiful and comparable to any wood product but have not achieved the level of acceptability desired.

- Training

There is the need for more people to be trained in the cultivation and processing of bamboo.

- Research

UNIDO engaged the services of some scientists to make some studies in the market potentials and the processing of our bamboo for flooring and other industrial products. The market potentials is great but there is still the need to research into various aspects of bamboo and rattan before we can be comfortable to use these two resources as substitute for timber.

Our bamboo was sent to for processing and the feedback was not too good. With some initiatives that have started here by some firms like, Kumasi Logging and Lumber, Masterpiece Bamboo Ltd., it has been realized that our bamboo is usable but not with the Chinese machines. Our bamboos are harder than what they have so it is difficult to process our bamboo in their factories.

The machines produced locally, are doing the job with ease, thus the need to do some more research on our type of bamboo.

- Nursery and Plantation Development

For the industry to strive, there is the need for the raw materials. The bamboo in the country presently has not been managed so most of them in the stands are of no economic value. There is the need therefore to facilitate the establishment of more nurseries and encourage the establishment of plantations. That will be the main focus of the programme in the coming years as we also encourage the establishment of processing plants.

- Preparation and Printing of Training Manuals

There is a need to prepare and print manuals on nursery and plantation development and processing.