● For a bamboo plantation to generate carbon credits, every step of the process—from bamboo growth to their usage in downstream processes—must be meticulously measured and documented.
● This involves tracking how much CO2 is sequestered in both the biomass and the productsas well as quantifying any losses during harvesting and product generation.
● Specialised experts are required to certify these numbers and ensure they meet the criteria set by international carbon standards, for instance, the Gold Standard.
gold-standard
Hybrid Bamboo for Carbon SequestrationI
Class Detail
Est annual biomass production 150-200 tonnes of biomass/ha
Est. carbon content in biomass 48-52%
Maximum carbon sequestration period
  • High density plantation: from the fourth year onward
  • Low density plantation: from the sixth year onwards
Factors affecting yield and carbon sequestration
  • Use of genetically superior clones
  • Precision farming practices
  • Timely irrigation and proper fertilizer application
  • Inter-cultivation operations
  • Site and climatic conditions
Potential Biomass and Carbon-based Yield of a 40,000-ha Hybrid Bamboo Plantation
Class Year 3 Year 6 Year 9 Year 12
Culm Biomass (kg) 2.4 10.5 22.0 24.5
Biomass (t/ha−1) 17.9 78.4 164.3 183.0
Total Biomass from 40,000 ha (Mt) 717.1 3,137.4 6,573.6 7,320.6
Potential carbon sequestered/annum 358.6 1568.7 3286.8 3660.3
Potential CER*/annum (Gt) 1.3 5.7 12.0 13.4
Potential carbon credit returns/annum 11.44 - 88.4 50.2 - 387.6 105.6 - 816.0 117.9 - 911.2
Dendrocalamus asper (Buluh betong) Southeast Asia, China 30 16 559
*CER = Certified Emissions Requirement. **Pricing estimated based on MNC+ and GNC+ Contracts offered at the Bursa Carbon Exchange.
Comparison of Aboveground Carbon Stock and Calorific Values of Selected Plant Species in Various Regions
Species/Variety Geographic Location Climate Est. Co2 Absorption (t/ha/yr) Reported Aboveground Biomass (harvest, t/ha) Age to Maturity (years) Est Calorific Value (MJ/kg)
Hybrid Bamboo South Asia, SEA Tropical 275-350 150.0-200.0 4-6 19.6
Bambusa vulgaris (bamboo) Bangladesh Tropical 20-50 50.4 5 18.2
Tectona grandis (teak) Bangladesh Tropical 10-20 91.3 18 31.0
Acacia mangium (acacia) Bangladesh Tropical 30-60 83.0 11 20.1
Paulownia fortunei (Revotropix) Indo-China Tropical 30--65 20.0-80.0 8-12 10.0