SERDANG - The Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has participated in the Bamboo Tree Planting Programme held recently in conjunction with the World Bamboo Day Malaysia 2021 celebration organised by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB).
The programme was led by the Director of INTROP, Prof. Ts. Dr. Khalina Abdan, and conducted simultaneously across the country virtually. It was designed to demonstrate the strong support for developing the country's bamboo industry and as a symbol of the 58th Malaysia Day celebration.
INTROP, UPM, as part of HICoE (Higher Institutions Centres of Excellence) in the field of tropical wood and fibre, and Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) Pahang branch were two local Public Institutions of Higher Learning (IPTA) participated in the programme.
The bamboo planted by INTROP in the programme is known as the honey bamboo (Gigantochloa albociliata), a commonly planted bamboo by villagers to harvest its delicious shoots.
The potential of honey bamboo in the field of laminated bamboo panel processing has attracted the attention of plantation operators and operators of laminated bamboo products lately.
Unlike regular bamboo that has a hole in the middle, honey bamboo has a dense midsection. In the production of laminated bamboo panels, honey bamboo is advantageous as it can produce thicker bamboo strips (> 20 mm) compared to ordinary bamboo (~ 10 mm).
In producing laminated bamboo panels, thin bamboo strips must go through an additional process where strips are glued to make them thicker and suitable for manufacturing laminated bamboo panels. However, thick honey bamboo strips need not go through this additional process, increasing the manufacturing efficiency of laminated bamboo panels.
Participants of the programme planted their bamboo shoots simultaneously in their respective houses/residences/offices on the day according to the stipulated SOP of the National Rehabilitation Plan of each state.
The programme had received a good response from the participants from all over the country, including Tanah Merah, Kelantan; Mount Lang, Perak; UiTM Pahang, Jengka, Pahang; Bandar Puteri Bangi, Selangor; Kampung Melayu Seri Kundang, Rawang, Selangor; Royal Bamboo Garden, Kampung Lada, Jerantut, Pahang; An-Nur Mosque, Taman Putera Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Kuala Kepok, Kelantan; Kuala Berang, Terengganu; Kampung Rantau Panjang, Klang, Selangor; Taman Sri Jelok, Kajang, Selangor; Kampung Bukit Bidang, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan; Goshen Village, Marudu City, Sabah; Kuala Nerus, Terengganu and Kampung Tarom, Johor Baharu, Johor. - UPM
