World Bamboo Day is observed annually across the globe on September 18 to promote awareness of bamboo’s environmental, cultural, and economic significance.
- September 18 2025, marks the 17th observance of the World Bamboo Day.
Exam Hints:
- What? World Bamboo Day 2025
- When? September 18 (Annually)
- Observer: World Bamboo Organisation(WBO)
- Aim: Promote awareness of bamboo’s environmental, cultural, and economic significance
- First Observance: 18 September 2009, initiated by Kamesh Salam from Assam
- Northeast Bamboo Conclave 2025: Held in Guwahati, Assam
- Nickname: Green Steel (Globally); Green Gold (India)
Background:
Origin: World Bamboo Day was established in 2009 during the 8th World Bamboo Congress (WBC) in Bangkok, Thailand, by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO).
- The 13th WBC is scheduled for 2026, while the 12th WBC was held in Taiwan under the aegis of the United States of America(USA).
Observance: Kamesh Salam from Assam, who served as WBO President from 2007 to 2009, initiated the observance of World Bamboo Day.
First Observance:The first celebration took place on 18 September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Description on Bamboo:
Nature & Appearance: Bamboo (Bambusoideae) is a grass from the Poaceae family with woody stems, called culms, that grow from underground rhizomes. Globally, it is called “Green Steel” for its strength and renewability.
Fast Growth & Renewable Resource: Bamboo grows rapidly with support from Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSCs) and regenerates naturally. Some species can grow over 3 feet (47.6 inches) in a single day.
Eco-Resilience: Bamboo absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide(CO2) and releases oxygen, helping mitigate climate change.
Versatility: Used in housing, furniture, biodegradable packaging, textiles, and more, bamboo drives eco-innovation.
- For centuries, bamboo has been used across Asia, Africa, and Latin America for construction, food, medicine, and handicrafts.
Species & Distribution: Over 1,700 species in 128 genera exist worldwide, classified as “clumping” or “running” bamboo. China, with 500+ species in 39 genera, is called “The Kingdom of Bamboo.”
Initiative:
BAMBOOK Project: In 2016, the WBO launched ‘BAMBOOK: The Global Bamboo Resource Directory’ to connect the global bamboo community and provide information on suppliers, products, and research.
India’s National Bamboo Mission (NBM): Launched in 2000–01 under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, NBM promotes bamboo cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing. By December 31, 2024, it had set up 408 nurseries, 60,000 hectares of plantations, 528 processing units, and 130 market facilities nationwide.
Bamboo Wealth: Bamboo is often called “Green Gold” in India for its environmental and economic benefits.
- India holds 13.96 million hectares of bamboo area, second richest globally after China, with 136 species across 24 States/Union Territories (UTs) .
Policy Shift: In 2017, bamboo was reclassified as an agricultural crop, allowing farmers to commercialize it.
Production Hubs: Leading bamboo-producing states include Assam and Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Underutilization: Despite having 136 species, only a small fraction is commercially exploited.
2025 Events
Northeast Bamboo Conclave 2025: The conclave held on September 9, 2025, in Guwahati(Assam), outlined a roadmap for developing a sustainable bamboo economy in India’s Northeast.
- The event is organised by the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC), with the support of the North Eastern Council (NEC), the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), and NBM.
- Theme: “Promoting Investments, CSR, and Bio-Economy”
- Roadmap: Aimed to expand Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), boost exports, and build a global bamboo value chain by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision.
MoUs Signed: With Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Guwahati(Assam) and Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) to develop bamboo processing technologies.
Industry Partnerships:
- Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), Assam and SELCO Foundation collaborated on CSR initiatives.
- All Time Plastics, Mumbai, Maharashtra, a partner of IKEA, announced investment in engineered bamboo wood packaging.
Plant: The world’s largest bamboo-based ethanol plant was inaugurated by Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi on September 14, 2025 in Golaghat district, Assam.
About World Bamboo Organisation (WBO):
WBO was initially established as the International Bamboo Association (IBA) in 1992 at the 3rd International Bamboo Congress in Japan. The IBA was renamed as the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) in 2005.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Susanne Lucas
Headquarters– Boston, Massachusetts, the United States of America (USA)
