COOL FACTS ABOUT BAMBOO Bamboo is a self-renewing, sustainable grass resource. (This means no deforestation.) Bamboo can be harvested every year after seven years, compared to 30-50 years for trees. Bamboo can be selectively harvested and regenerated without replanting. Ecological benefits:  Bamboo produces a 10-30% annual increase in biomass (vs. 2-5% for trees) and 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest. Bamboo can yield 20 times more timber than trees on the same area. Bamboo can be grown in soil damaged by over-grazing and poor agriculture and grows without pesticides or fertilizers. When bamboo is tempered over fire it has a tensile strengh superior to steel. Bamboo has been used for centuries for food, shelter, and clothing. Bamboo has a growth cycle of three to seven years. Some species of bamboo can grow up to 3 feet per day. Bamboo reaches its full height in about two months. There are over 1200 species of bamboo in the world. Most bamboo used in commercial applications is not the same species consumed by Pandas. Bamboo is durable, strong and sturdy. Bamboo is harder than Oak or Maple. Bamboo makes beautiful picture frames.