NewsChad validates its national bamboo resource assessment
The event marks a key step for the sustainable utilization of Chad’s bamboo resources.
On 7 August 2024, the Government of Chad, in collaboration with INBAR, held an important workshop to validate the findings of the national bamboo resource assessment. The opening session was attended by René Kaam, Regional Director of INBAR’s Central Africa Office, Prof. Mahamoud Youssouf Khayal, Director General of the National Research Support Center at the National Research Center for Development (CNRD), and was chaired by Yamita Hassane Tete, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development.
Chad joined INBAR on 1 September 2022 as its 49th Member State. As part of its support, INBAR has been assisting Chad with (i) remote sensing and mapping of bamboo resources and (ii) bamboo and rattan value chain analysis. These studies are critical for advancing the knowledge needed to develop effective policies and strategies in Chad. 
The remote sensing and mapping of bamboo resources inventory in Chad was carried out by the University of Dschang and the CNRD, with INBAR providing technical support. The primary objective of this workshop was to share and validate the findings of the bamboo resource study in Chad. The workshop had several specific goals, including to:
- Present the methods used for the remote sensing and mapping of bamboo resources;
- Analyze and discuss the results obtained from the study;
- Engage with stakeholders on the relevance of the results and collate recommendations;
- Validate the maps by comparing them with field data; and
- Propose an action plan for implementing the study’s recommendations.
In his opening remarks, Kaam highlighted the excellent diplomatic relationship between Chad and INBAR, emphasizing INBAR’s ongoing support for the development of Chad’s bamboo sector. Tete also underscored the crucial importance of the inventory report being validated, noting that the report provides valuable information regarding the location, quantity and species of bamboo resources in Chad.
Equipping the Chadian government with detailed data on bamboo resources marks a key step for the development of the bamboo sector in Chad. These data form the bedrock for making decisions on the implementation of government programs and projects related to nature conservation, sustainable development, economic, growth and integrating bamboo into Chad’s development policies. INBAR reaffirms its commitment to supporting Chad in achieving sustainable development through the utilization of the “green steel” that is bamboo.
