Inventory and utilization of bamboos in Ngao district Lampang province [Thailand]

There were 7 bamboo species in this area as follows : Phai Rai (Oxytenanthera albociliata) Phai Sang (Dendrocalamus strictus), Phai Bong (Bambusa natans), Phai Khao Laam (Cephalostachyum pergracile), Phai Haea (Cephalostachyum virgatum), Phai Lai Lo (Bambusa affinis), and Phai Plong Yao or Phai Lam Ma Log (Dendrocalamus longispathus) with the quantity of 6.18, 5.05, 2.50, 0.65, 0.27, 0.09, and 0.03 million clumps making the total amounts of 14.77 million clumps. There were 114.17 million culms divided into 52.93 million dead culms and 61.23 million living culms. The living culms were categorized into 2 groups, 20.81 million culms of 1-2 years old and 40.42 million culms of older than 2 years old. From the utilization points of view, Phai Sang was found to be the most common both in terms of the whole culm and split bamboo. There were 175 bamboo harvesters having an individual daily wage of 54 baht from bamboo cutting. There were 16 working days a month equivalent to 192 working days a year resulting to the total income of 10,368 baht/person/year. Total amounts of bamboo harvested were of 1,209,600 culms a year having the values of 2,419,200 baht. The principal sectors of living bamboos were used for fencing while the dead bamboos were used as fuelwood for pottery burning. Living bamboos were also demanded by several industries, such as, toothpicks, chopsticks, incense, pork barbeques, and meat balls. There were 96 shoot harvesters during June to September. Bamboo shoots were harvested about 15 kg/person/day making a daily income of 30 baht/person. Total amounts of bamboo shoots harvested a year were of 171,000 kg having the values of 342,000 baht. 129,000 kg of pickle bamboo shoots were annually produced from this forest making the total values of 232,200 baht. In conclusion, annual incomes gained from bamboos at Ban Huad forest were of 2,993,400 baht, divided into 2,419,200 baht from culms, 342,000 baht from green shoots, and 232,200 baht from pickle shoots.