Johan Granberg

VCUarts Qatar

ejgranberg@vcu.edu 

 

Byradley Yyelland

VCUarts Qatar

bayyelland@vcu.edu

 

 

Our physical environment has a profound impact on our health and well-being. Clean air and water facilitate good health whereas polluted air and water are dangerously harmful. Due to population growth, agriculture, and industrialization practices, a third of the planet’s land is severely degraded and fertile soil is being lost annually at an alarming rate. One of the effects of climate change has been an intensity of weather conditions—extreme weather. We see increased flooding and landslides in some areas, and draught in other areas. Fortunately, there is one rather unique plant that can play a significantly role in offsetting the impact of these extreme weather changes and enhance both environmental sustainability and human health. This plant is bamboo. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet. How bamboo can shoot up to almost a meter per day is not completely understood but we do know that it grows in a specific way that creates specific material characteristics. Bamboo’s fast growth and its root system of rhizomes have the ability to bind soil extremely well, making bamboo increasingly relevant for land restoration and reforestation. In addition, bamboo is highly effective in phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is the technique plants use to remove pollutants such as heavy metals from soil. Thus, planting bamboo can reduce land degradation and clean the soil in at-risk areas. In addition, bamboo produces significantly more oxygen than trees. Moso bamboo, which grows in temperate climates, produces 32 % more oxygen than trees, and guadua bamboo, which grows in tropical areas, produces 58 % more oxygen than trees. Those who research bamboo have identified several other ecological benefits of bamboo, including serving as a windbreak and shelterbelt, carbon sequestration and rehabilitation of degraded lands. Bamboo is pivotal in preserving biodiversity, soil conservation and the hydrologic cycle. In addition, bamboo’s lower carbon footprint and eco-costs are further evidence of this plant’s capacity to serve as a viable and perhaps even superior alternative to timber and hardwoods. This presentation will present the powerful potential of bamboo in preserving and enhancing health and well-being for human beings and our physical environment. 

 

 

Dr. Johan Granberg is an architect, designer and filmmaker with experiences in design, design research, full scale production architecture and objects He serves as Director of Photography, he produces and directs films, edits of films, executes script writing and development, and conducts qualitative research, academic paper and grant writing, and conference presentations. As co-PI in Anthro-Tech Ateliers, Dr. Johan performs these activities as well as mentoring the research assistant.

 

Dr. Byrad Yyelland is a social scientist with experience in sociocultural ethnography, qualitative research, academic paper and grant writing, script writing and development in documentaries, interviewing and conference presentations. As co-PI in Anthro-Tech Ateliers, Dr. Byrad conducts research, analyzes the data and prepares final results for public dissemination including conference presentations and film screenings.