The Second International Young Scientist Forum – Bamboo Resources in a Changing Climate

2023 International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change - Bamboo-based solutions

The Second International Young Scientist Forum
Bamboo Resources in a Changing Climate

When?

December 11 – 12, 2024
5:00 – 8:30 PM (Vancouver Time)

Where?

Hybrid: Onsite at Zhejiang A&F University, China, and online globally
The forum will be conducted in English.

The deadline for abstract submission is November 15, 2024.
For any questions please contact: info.afrc@ubc.ca

Forum Summary

The Second International Young Scientist Forum with the broader theme of bamboo resources in a changing climate is a two-day hybrid event organized by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Zhejiang A&F University (ZAFU), and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR), co-organized by International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR), China-Canada Joint Laboratory for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism (APFECM), Nanjing Forestry University, Southwest Forestry University, and IUFRO Division 5.11.05 – Bamboo and Rattan. Taking advantage of hybrid platforms, the forum will facilitate international participation and communication. The event will explore innovative bamboo-based solutions to combat climate change, covering a range of topics in the following 4 sessions:

Theme I: Bamboo Ecology and Physiology (including but not limited to):

Bamboo Growth Cycles and Adaptation: How bamboo species adapt to various ecological conditions, including soil type, water availability and climate variations.

Physiological Responses to Climate Change: How photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and water regulation mechanisms in bamboo respond to increased CO2, temperature changes, and extreme weather events.

Ecological Interactions: Bamboo’s role within ecosystems, such as how it interacts with soil microorganisms, other plant species, animals and the impact of its fast growth on local ecosystems.

Soil Health and Bamboo: How bamboo contributes to soil health through organic matter input, root stabilization and the prevention of erosion.

Theme II: Carbon Management and Livelihood (including but not limited to):

Carbon Sequestration and Storage: Bamboo’s role in capturing carbon and its importance for long-term carbon storage through both natural forests and bamboo-based products with a low lifecycle carbon footprint.

Carbon Offsetting Programs: Opportunities and challenges in integrating bamboo forests into carbon credit markets, providing local communities with economic benefits through carbon offset programs.

Community-Led Carbon Management: Case studies where community-based bamboo management is enhancing carbon sequestration while supporting rural livelihoods.

Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry Systems: How the incorporation of bamboo into agroforestry can boost carbon capture and provide farmers with diversified income

Theme III: Biodiversity of Bamboo Forests (including but not limited to):

Biodiversity Hotspots in Bamboo Ecosystems: Regions where bamboo forests support high levels of biodiversity, focusing on the conservation of species that depend on bamboo habitats.

The Role of Bamboo in Habitat Connectivity: How bamboo forests act as ecological corridors for wildlife, supporting migration and genetic flow in fragmented landscapes.

Conservation Threats and Solutions: Threats to bamboo biodiversity, such as land-use change, and innovative conservation approaches that integrate bamboo forests with broader biodiversity strategies.

Bamboo Forest Restoration and Biodiversity Recovery: Case studies on how bamboo is being used in habitat restoration projects and the subsequent impact on local species diversity.

Theme IV: Emerging Technologies and Businesses (including but not limited to):

Innovative Bamboo Products and Markets: Advanced products derived from bamboo, such as bamboo textiles, composites and construction materials, and their potential for product substitution.

Digital Technologies in Bamboo Cultivation and Business: How advanced technologies in digitalization, AI, blockchain and remote sensing are transforming bamboo farming.

Bamboo in the Circular Economy: How bamboo waste is being recycled and upcycled into value-added products, contributing to a circular economy model.

Entrepreneurship and Bamboo-Based Businesses: Success stories and business models for startups and enterprises leveraging bamboo to create sustainable products and services.

This forum welcomes global young scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors conducting relevant research. Participants will engage in discussions, share knowledge, and foster collaborations to promote a sustainable future using bamboo as a key resource in combating climate change. There are also opportunities to submit posters to the forum. Furthermore, the journal Advances in Bamboo Science will launch an eponymous special issue reflecting the theme of the forum, encouraging global young scientists to participate and showcase their work.

Organizers

  • Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
  • Zhejiang A&F University
  • International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR)

Co-organizers

  • International Center for Bamboo and Rattan (ICBR)
  • China-Canada Joint Laboratory for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology
  • Asia Pacific Forestry Education Coordination Mechanism (AP-FECM)
  • Sichuan Agricultural University
  • Jiangxi Academy of Forestry
  • Southwest Forestry University
  • Nanjing Forestry University
  • IUFRO Division 5.11.05 – Bamboo and Rattan

Supporting Organization

  • Journal: Advances in Bamboo Science

How to Join the Forum

The forum will take place online via Zoom. Please refer to the details below to join your corresponding session(s). If this is your first time using Zoom, please refer to the Joining a Zoom meeting article for instructions on how to join from your system.

Main Room (TBD)

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Room 1 (TBD)

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Room 2 (TBD)

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About the Forum

The Second International Young Scientist Forum is committed to investigating bamboo-based solutions to address the urgent issue of global climate change, emphasizing the crucial role of young scientists. The ongoing climate crisis poses significant and irreversible impacts on natural ecosystems, human societies and economies, demanding urgent, immediate and ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically and initiate a transition toward a sustainable and resilient future. Bamboo, a fast-growing woody grass, has shown immense potential as a nature-based solution to climate change. It outperforms many tree species growing in similar regions in terms of carbon sequestration and storage capacity. Bamboo forests, now covering over 35 million hectares globally, serve as an exceptional renewable resource, yielding a variety of durable and sustainable products, from flooring to furniture, that can substitute carbon-intensive materials, thereby reducing deforestation and pollution. In 2022, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) launched the ‘Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative’. This initiative aims to amplify the use of bamboo to mitigate plastic pollution and address climate change challenges. With the global bamboo industry estimated to reach USD 90 billion by 2030, the development of bamboo-based products holds significant economic potential. In addition, introducing improved forest management activities in bamboo forests can generate carbon offset credits, providing financial incentives for farmers to better manage their bamboo forests and thus contributing to climate change mitigation and rural poverty reduction.

The forum seeks to gather young scientists from around the world, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and young professors, to delve into the potential of bamboo as a climate change solution. The forum will explore a range of topics, including bamboo livelihood and rural development strategies, climate change mitigation strategies, sustainable management practices, emerging bamboo-related technologies and businesses, and biodiversity conservation. The forum aims to inspire and empower young scientists to contribute to a more sustainable future by facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange. The forum will encourage high-quality article submissions to an eponymous special issue of the Journal of Advances in Bamboo Science.

Awards

  1. Best Presenter – First Place
    • 3 winners ($1200 each)
  2. Best Presenter – Runner-up
    • 4 winners ($600 each)
  3. Best Presenter – Third Place
    • 6 winners ($300 each)
  4. Best Poster
    • 3 winners ($200 each)