Planting regenerative bamboo forests by Dutch farmers

Why this project?

Europe’s agricultural sector faces mounting challenges like soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and the growing urgency of climate change. There's a pressing need for nature-based solutions that restore land health while actively removing carbon from the atmosphere. This project, developed with Dutch farmers and certified by ONCRA, introduces bamboo as a regenerative crop with long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and a powerful tool for climate action and land restoration. Once planted, bamboo fields can thrive for 60 to over 100 years, requiring no replanting. Its dense root network prevents soil erosion, improves water retention, and supports the formation of a rich humus layer, boosting long-term soil fertility.

In addition to enhancing soil and water quality, bamboo acts as a biodiversity catalyst. It provides a habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna, especially when fields are harvested instead of being clear-cut. With Dutch farmers at the center, the project offers an alternative land-use model that combines ecological regeneration with rural economic resilience.

Carbon impact

Each hectare of bamboo has the potential to capture up to 616 tons of CO₂, with the majority of sequestration taking place within the first 12 years. Once fully grown, bamboo fields continue to store carbon for decades, both in the soil and in long-lasting products made from the harvested biomass. As bamboo is harvested, it naturally regenerates, and when transformed into durable goods, the carbon it contains remains securely stored for extended periods.

Thanks to ONCRA-certified monitoring and annual site inspections, the project ensures a verifiable, long-term climate impact, enabled exclusively through carbon financing.

Co-benefits

Bamboo offers wide-reaching environmental and economic benefits. It improves soil health, prevents erosion, and retains water, helping farmlands become more climate-resilient. Its year-round leaf creates a rich humus layer, while its dense root system supports biodiversity and improves water quality.

Economically, bamboo is a game-changer for farmers. It provides long-term income through carbon credits and serves as a renewable raw material for multiple industries. Bamboo can be used in construction (as a replacement for concrete, steel, and PVC), furniture, textiles, packaging, and bioplastics. Its strength, flexibility, and fast regrowth make it ideal for the green building economy.

With demand for sustainable materials growing rapidly across Europe, bamboo helps farmers tap into new markets by creating jobs, local businesses, and a more self-sufficient green supply chain.