Bamboo for climate-smart landscapes in Chishui, Guizhou province: assessment of the vulnerability of bamboo forest ecosystems to climate change.
Abstract
This report presents the first study into the vulnerability and resilience of bamboo forest ecosystems to climate change in China. Chishui, one of the famous hometowns of bamboo in China, is located in a transition area between the Yungui Plateau and the Sichuan Basin in the upper reaches of the Yangtze basin. Research has shown that Chuishui's ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes that are likely to be amplified by the effects of climate change. According to INBAR's research report, bamboo can absorb carbon as quickly into its biomass as other fast-growing sub-tropical tree species, such as Chinese Fir, and this offers huge potential to mitigate climate change for those in remote mountainous areas. Moreover, bamboos vast root and rhizome system holds soil and water, serves to protect the land and prevent soil erosion, thus helping communities adapt to future climate change risks. As part of the first batch of demonstration sites of the National Sloping Land Conversion Programme, Chishui has used bamboo as the main species to return unproductive agricultural land back into forests since 2001. Some significant progress has already been made: the forest coverage has increased from 64% to 80%, and the total bamboo forest area of Chishui has reached 1.3 million mu (86 667 ha), accounting for 60% of total forestland. Although the bamboo forest area has expanded greatly serious gaps still exist, which hinders generation of the full benefits of the bamboo industry: the low yields of bamboo forest (bamboo culms and edible bamboo shoots) due to lack of good management practices, the bamboo forest structure and species composition still need further improvement. Monoculture plantations are more vulnerable to damage caused by extreme climate events, such as extremes in temperatures which, due to climate change, are likely to increase in frequency and intensity. The project 'Bamboo for climate-smart landscapes in Chishui municipality, Guizhou province', kicked-off at Eco-Forum Global in Guiyang in June 2015, with funding from the Swiss Embassy in China, and is implemented by INBAR and Chishui forestry bureau. It aims to increase bamboo forest productivity and resilience for local communities to adapt to climate change through the introduction and demonstration of practical climate-smart landscape management techniques in Chishui municipality, Guizhou province. As one part of the project, experts were invited to conduct an assessment of the vulnerability of bamboo forest ecosystems to climate change, to identify the vulnerability and risks faced by the Chishui communities in the context of climate change, and to find possible solutions to address these issues, which will enhance the resilience of local communities to adapt to climate change with bamboo. Following a literature review, field research in Chishui was conducted by the investigation team in mid-October 2015. The investigators examined the distribution and growth status of several main bamboo forests at different altitudes. Together with climate data and data on Chishui's bamboo forest resource over the past 20 years, the group condensed the information into the present report. It is recommended to expand the area of P. edulis and D. farinosus at lower altitudes, and the area of B. rigida and N. affinis [B. emeiensis] at higher altitudes. Reduce the area of B. pervariabilis×D. daii, gradually replacing it with P. edulis and D. farinosus to optimize the landscape structure. Maintain optimal numbers, ages, sizes and density of bamboo culms to enhance productivity of the forests.