Bamboo sequesters carbon, but not how you think. #shorts #science #SciShow

Bamboo is an invasive species in a lot of places. It could also be a key part of fighting climate change. Plus, the secret to its success may lie in the fact that bamboo is really a team player.

Hosted by: Hank Green (he/him)

Emma Dauster: Writer
Heather Hess: Fact Checker
Amy Peterson: Script Editor
Madison Lynn: Videographer
Savannah Geary: Script Supervisor, Editor, Associate Producer
Daniel Comiskey: Editorial Director
Sarah Suta: Producer
Caitlin Hofmeister: Executive Producer
Hank Green: Executive Producer

Sources:

Image Sources

[SciShow]

Thanks to every who is so interested in this topic! World wide there are hundreds of species of bamboo that are native to every continent except Europe and Antarctica. Arundinaria bamboos are native to North America, but a few non-native species of bamboo have become invasive in North America in recent years. The research we used for this video mainly looked at the carbon uptake of _Phyllostachys edulis_ and 75 other species.

[BlastTheBat]

When a grass tricks you in to thinking it is a tree, you have been bamboozled.

[noobulon]

Its also an amazingly sustainable material to farm because it is almost all composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a few molecules and glows insanely fast with little water and nutrients

[andrewlucero]

the US has three species of native bamboo in the genus arundinaria commonly called river cane. River cane used to being extremally abundant on riversides in the south eastern us and was an important resource for the native tribes of the regions where they grew. However the Europeans basically let their cows overgraze so canebrake are relatively rare today.

[littleblueclovers]

That’s like struggling at work and some customer gets behind the desk and solves the problem.

“You’re not supposed to be here, but you’re also really helping us out a lot so… thanks?”

[nownotavailable]

They’re also extremely helpful during earthquakes! My mother is from Japan and she learned in her childhood to run to the bamboo forest if there was a big earthquake because the roots are so strong and sturdy underground that you’ll get out unscathed.

[calebmcurby]

The US actually does have its own native bamboo species: River Cane. Almost all of the cane breaks are gone because they were in the flood plains and humans tend to like planting their crops there

[nicolle]

bamboo is such a miracle of a plant tbh, esp with how extensively its used in asian furniture, architecture, and even cuisine. Not to mention that its a grass, not a tree, so its really sustainable to use for its wood as it grows so fast after you cut it

[esker]

This is why bamboo MUST be contained within a rhizome barrier or it will spread uncontrollably & need to burned out to remove… even then there’s no guarantee it’s gone.

[jamesshaw]

The issue is when it grows so well, it doesn't let anything else grow. Like in Texas, once you plant bamboo it will NEVER go away, which kills many different kinds of local grasses (and Flowers) which are local to the area. But, Bamboo is a really good material for making stuff out of; I will never forget making a teepee and a fishing pole out of bamboo with my grandfather.

[kris]

I love how you legit made the joke: “Mah carbon brings all copiotrophs to tha yaard.” 🤣

[guilxle]

everyone that has played animal crossing knows how invasive bamboo is

[alteria]

I also feel we should replace materials that don't need to last long but are made from trees with bamboo, .since it grows quick, sucks up carbon, and seems relatively easy to grow and harvest

[la_gobba_di_aigor]

And not to forget, it also is an extremely ecological alternative for wooden furniture-flooring!

[non_existnt]

I remember I used to have some in front of my old house. My dad assumed it wouldn’t get to big, but that stuff ended up growing like crazy and ended up getting so thick that it essentially acted like a makeshift fence

[frogmatt]

There are stacks of Bamboo species that are not invasive at all. As a general rule, it's probably better to avoid running species - stick to clumping. Also, do a little fact finding and find out which species are invasive in your local region. VERY versatile and useful material. Along with hemp, there's not much we can't do with them, and there value goes WAY beyond their ability to capture carbon.

[melody-]

There are two types of bamboo, running and I think the other is called clumping or clustering. The running bamboo is what you have to watch for because it spreads quickly out of control. The other kind will stay in place so if maintained won’t take over everything. It’s an amazing plant for sure!

[KellyDVance]

Bamboo being invasive isn't just "it grows really fast because it has no natural predators." It also crowds out native species and utterly depletes the soil of nutrients. One of my neighbors planted bamboo and it spread to every backyard. Our yards can't grow anything, even native grasses. Most of us have had to hardscape our yards or put up with bare dirt. And even with yards (as in measurement) of rock laid down, I am still battling bamboo.

[sallyrutledge]

I LOVE this giant grass plant. At 72, I moved from my home, where I had planted a single gallon of Henon . I nurtured it and thinned for 25 years and I was SO sad when I had to leave it. I had watched It grow into a beautiful grove where deer would come with their fawns. I felt but I had to leave it. So now here, at nearly 76, at my townhouse in the hills above Nashville TN, I planted this beautiful "grass" in huge pots and it is thriving. I will have someone dig holes and put in the limiting barrier so it will be planted in to ground....next spring. And we will grow old together !

[Death__]

India 🇮🇳 is also focusing on "National Bamboo Mission". It's objective is to supplement farm income & "climate resilience".
I just understood why it could help in "climate resilience" better than other trees/grass/plants.