Zest Cleantech
Bamboo in the desert
This company uses bamboo to sequester huge volumes of carbon, and its strain grows in harsh desert conditions
Summary
This strain of bamboo grows very fast and is tolerant to hot and dry conditions, like those in the Middle East
It can be fed with treated wastewater and planted in dedicated areas or alongside roadways to act as a windbreak that stops sand from blowing onto the road
The company has planted 2,000 hectares of bamboo in Italy, France and Florida, and a 20,000 hectare land concession in Madagascar that is ready to be planted
Carbon reduction potential
The bamboo captures 275 tCO2/hectare/year, about 10 times more than a normal forest
These offsets can be produced in Gulf countries, or grown on degraded land internationally
Opportunity to participate
The company is looking for investment to carry out planting and infrastructure development on its 20,000 hectare land concession
It also seeks additional land in Gulf countries and access to treated wastewater effluent for irrigation