Acknowledgements

Although Yunnan has only 110.4 thousand ha of bamboo forest, it has the most diverse bamboo species (220 species), with many rare and endangered bamboo species. This province is one of the world's center of bamboo distribution. Bamboo forests can be divided into three types, namely cool temperate bamboo forests, warm and temperate bamboo forests, and hot bamboo forests. Different types of bamboos have various uses, commercial values, and ecological functions. Bamboo plays an immense role in the development of Chinese historical culture

China has made a breakthrough in the development and scientific cultivation of bamboo. At present, China ranks first in bamboo research worldwide, because of its numerous bamboo research units and strong technical force. A bamboo research institute has been established in China Academy of Forestry Sciences, Southwest Forestry University, Nanjing Forestry University, Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Jiangxi Academy of Forestry, and other forestry research institutions. In this chapter, we introduced the "International Bamboo and Rattan Center." The main duties and tasks of this center are as follows: to set up a national key laboratory for biological technology and material processing and utilization; to conserve bamboo and rattan; to build a world bamboo gene library; and to conduct international technology cooperation on bamboo resource protection, cultivation, material research, and development. In addition, many of the key bamboo timber-producing provinces and counties and large bamboo handicraft factories have set up a group of full-time staff engaged in bamboo science and technology work. Bamboo research covers a wide range of topics including the classification of germplasm resources, the application of bamboo, and the improvement in the aspects of high-yield culti-

Scholars must focus on discovering plants/crops that can be used as a new energy resource, particularly renewable energy. Energy development and utilization have become inevitable for sustainable development of economy and society. At present, China has limited energy supply, which is much lower than the world average supply of only 19.4% [17]. Bamboo is a renewable resource with many uses and may be considered as a lignocellulose substrate for bioethanol production because of its environmental benefits and high annual biomass yield [18]. Biological bamboo resources are mainly used in two ways. First, bamboos are used as raw materials in bioethanol production. Second, bamboos are used as raw materials for power generation [17]. The use of bamboos as new raw materials for energy supply in the bioenergy industry has opened up novel strategies and growth points for the development of the bamboo industry. Using bamboos to provide bioenergy is an important area to be explored in the future. This phenomenon requires careful and strategic planning based on adequate knowledge on the availability and potential use of bamboo resources for society and environment and on their

China has the most abundant bamboo resources worldwide and the richest bamboo culture. Bamboo greatly influences not only the Chinese history and culture but also every aspect of

and the formation of Chinese ideology.

140 Bamboo - Current and Future Prospects

vation, processing, and utilization [16].

production and growth behavior [19].

6. Conclusion

This work was financially supported by the 13th Five-Year Science and Technology Support Issues (2016YFD0600902, 2016YFD0600903), the National Scientific Foundation (31660173), the Key Project of Yunnan Provincial Education Department (515006009), and the Southwest Forestry University Talents Project 2012BAD23B04).
