Sustainable Use and Management of Bamboo Resources

Bamboo is a widely distributed, renewable resource that can deliver a broad range of green products and ecosystem services while supporting rural livelihoods. It has been increasingly acknowledged as a nature-based solution for mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable development, and facilitating the transition to a circular economy. This review synthesizes current knowledge of the global distribution of bamboo and its ecological functions, product innovations, and emerging role in carbon finance. It identifies major barriers, including those in life-cycle assessments, product standards, and carbon accounting frameworks, that limit bamboo's integration into climate policy. Drawing on previous experience, this review underscores the importance of green technologies, value chain development, and policy mainstreaming. It outlines future pathways to advance sustainable bamboo forest management, enhance bamboo's role in carbon policy frameworks, and promote inclusive income opportunities, particularly in regions with abundant but underutilized bamboo resources. Realizing bamboo's full potential for sustainability will require coordinated efforts across science, governance, and industry.