Biodiversity- Flora

Bamboo – Is not a tree Anymore

The Union government has amended the Indian Forest Act to change the status of bamboo from tree to grass (which is taxonomically correct).

Old Classification

Earlier, with bamboo classified as a tree — with its multifarious uses as an edible item, furniture and construction — as a tree meant that it couldn’t be easily ferried across State borders. It also required permits from village councils and couldn’t be cultivated in non-forest areas.

Two Objectives

Now, with the amendment of act, the government is hoping to promote cultivation of bamboo in non-forest areas to achieve the “twin objectives” of ....