Communities and conservation

This issue of Bamboo and Rattan Update considers the complex, interwoven relationships between bamboo, rattan, and the species which depend on these plants, from the giant panda to humans.

Bamboo and rattan cover some of the most biodiverse and carbon-rich areas of the tropics and subtropics. They play a critical role in sustaining life, landscapes and livelihoods. In this issue, authors follow the giant panda across the mountains of Sichuan province, China, and explore the relationship between rattan, farmers and forest conservation in Laos. They also look at the innovative ways in which humans are using these plants, for everything from elephant prevention to riverbank restoration.

This issue also contains the winning entries from INBAR's 2020 photography competition, chosen from more than 100 entries around the world.