A Eugenia species has been chose for this occasion.
Common Name: Eugenia oleina
Botanical Name: Syzygium myrtifolium
Full Grown Height: 6 m
Spacing: 2-5 m
A Eugenia species has been chose for this occasion.
Common Name: Eugenia oleina
Botanical Name: Syzygium myrtifolium
Full Grown Height: 6 m
Spacing: 2-5 m
18 Aug 2022
This afternoon at 2.30pm, 130 teachers from SJKC Yuk Choy Ipoh and SJKC Chung Tack Simee will be a attending a talk on Sustainable Environment. It was jointly organised by Lions Club of Velcity, Lions Club of Perak Silver State and Lions Club of Ipoh Central in collaboration with the two schools.
The talk will be conducted by Ipoh City Councillor, Dr. Richard Ng, an Environmentalist cum the President of Lions Club of Perak Silver State.
Teachers will be briefed on Climate Change and how we could reduce its impact. They will be given knowledge on what might happen in 2050 if nothing is done today under the theme "Save Earth, Save Our Home".
They will also be taught on how to make eco-bricks to stop plastic pollution. A Eugenia tree will be planted at the school compound and eco-bricks will be placed around the tree planted.
About Eugenia Tree:
Common Name: Eugenia oleina
Botanical Name: Syzygium myrtifolium
Full Grown Height: 6 m
Spacing: 2-5 m
July 12, 2022
LIONS CLUB OF PERAK SILVER STATE
ROS Registration NO: PPM-015-08-16032006
No. 39, Persiaran Bandar Baru Tambun 8, Desa Tambun
Indah
31400 Ipoh, Perak
About Lions Club of Perak Silver
State:
Lions Club of Perak Silver State (LCPSS) was
established in Ipoh on 16 March 2006 as part of the Lions Club International
Organization. It was grouped under the 308B2 District which consists of Lions
Clubs in the Northern States of Malaysia consist of; Perlis, Kedah, Penang,
Perak and North of Selangor. LCPSS is one of the 143 Lions Club in the District
of 308B2. To date there are 50,098 Lion clubs worldwide.
As part of the Lions Clubs International, LCPSS
carried out 5 core programmes yearly which include; Environmental, Sight First,
Feed the Hunger, Diabetes and Childhood Cancer. Besides that, the club also
carried out humanitarian projects such as flood relief and assisting senior
citizens for covid vaccination and also legacy projects. We also participated
in the International Peace Poster contest to promote peace to the world.
Our club which to highlight our most prominent
projects – the Environmental Project that helps reduce climate change.
Project Background, Its Impact and Sustainability:
The Earth sustains human life. That is why Lions Club of Perak Silver State (LCPSS) is dedicated to helping create a sustainable and healthy future for our generations to come. Among the environmental projects undertaken by LCPSS include Tree Planting, recycling and Upcycling programs and environmental talk and activities with corporate customers and schools during World Earth Day and Earth Hour.
The following are the list of programmes being carried out over the last 3 years:
aa. Tree Planting Projects via “Green Our Earth, Save Our Future Generation”
Since 2020, LCPSS has planted more than 120 trees in collaboration with Ipoh City Council. Each tree planted comes with a QR code that will provide information about the tree planted, the serial numbers, who and when planted and the amount of CO2 absorbed by the tree.
These trees were planted in the village, in the city as well in open fields and schools to help absorb CO2 and produce Oxygen to the people. Our first tree planting project in collaboration with Ipoh City Council was carried out on 9 August 2020 where two red Bucida trees were planted in front of the Rela Community Hall in Pasir Pinji. It coincides with Merdeka Day Celebration where 100 residents and volunteers were involved. It was planted by YB Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Binti Dato’ Mohammad Radzi, Perak State Exco. Also presence include the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Bahrin and other dignitaries
On 12 December 2020, we planted another six Mempari trees at Housing Trust Padang in Ipoh in collaboration with Ipoh City Council. Guest of Honour was the Perak Chief Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Ahmad Faizal Bin Dato’ Azumu. Also presence include the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Bahrin and other dignitaries.
On 4 April 2021, we planted 5 Yellow Flame trees at the field of Taman Kledang Permai in collaboration with Ipoh City Council, Community Policing Bukit Merah and The Loyal Academy. Guest of Honour was Lions Club International District 308B2 Governor, Lion Dato’ Yeoh Moh Chai and spouse. Also presence include the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Bahrin and other dignitaries as well as students of The Loyal Academy and other volunteers.
On 22 April 22021, we planted five Tecoma trees in front of Kinta Heights in conjunction with World Earth Day in collaboration with Ipoh City Council. Guest of Honour was YB Siva Subramaniam, State Assemblyman for Buntong. Also presence include Clr. Mohamad Iskandar Abdul Rahman, Ipoh City Councillor. The programme was held together with our “Trash 4 Food” project, where 100 senior citizens were given groceries in exchange for empty mineral water bottles dropped into our recycling cage. Earlier Datuk Dr. Denison Jeyasooria, Head of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM) Secretariat on sustainable development goals who came to visit our office at Kinta Heights, planted a Brazil Iron tree.
On 30 July 2021, two Tembusu trees were planted at Pasir Pinji Community Hall in collaboration with Ipoh City Council. Presence to plant the tree was Sargent Ramli Ahmad, the Police Chief of Pasir Pinji together with other volunteers. It was also held in conjunction with the distribution of groceries to 100 senior citizens.
On 12 August 2021, in conjunction with Merdeka Day, we
planted three Mempari trees in collaboration with Ipoh City Council at St.
Michael Secondary schools in Ipoh. Guest of Honour was YB Leong Cheok Keng,
State Assemblyman for Malim Nawar.
On October 8, 2021, LCPSS together with Lions Club of Cameron Highlands Hillview and The Loyal Academy in collaboration with Ipoh City Council planted 88 Tembusu and Bunga Tanjung trees at Taman Pakatan Jaya. We also did the tree tagging for each tree here.
On 25 November 2021, we welcome the German Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Dr. Peter Blomeyer to our office at Kinta Heights. He wanted to find out more from us about our efforts in keeping the environment clean. He was given the honour to plant a Bamboo Tree in front of Kinta Heights donated by Ipoh City Council.
On 29 March 2022, our club planted five Tecoma trees at SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh in conjunction with the launching of World Earth Day. The trees were donated Bond Suites Holding Berhad which costs RM600 per tree. Guest of Honour was Dr. Richard Ng, Ipoh City Councillor for Zone 14 cum President of Lions Club of Perak Silver State. These trees planted at the field are to replace five trees that have fallen due to storm a few years ago. The school emerged as National Champion of the Toyota Youth Eco Programme.
On 31 March 2022, in conjunction with National Consumer’s Day 2022, three Bucida trees were planted at Desa Tambun Indah in collaboration with Ipoh City Council, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affair, Persatuan Prihatin Kinta Perak and Residents of Desa Tambun Indah. Guest of Honour was YB Abdul Yunus Bin Jamhari, Perak State Exco for Consumer Affairs. Also presence include Perak Director of Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affair, Tuan Saifullizam and Director of Ipoh City Council Town Planning and other dignitaries.
On 22 April 2022, five Tecoma trees were planted beside the
Kinta River in conjunction with World Earth Day. The trees were donated Bond
Suites Holding Berhad, which costs RM600 per tree. The project involved
students and volunteers was organised by Ipoh City Council. Our NGO was invited
to spearhead this tree planting project. Among the guests include YB Akmal
Kamarudin, Perak State Exco for Environment, Kinta District Officer, Tuan Meor
Hezbullah Bin Abdul Malik, Ipoh City Mayor, Dato’ Rumaizi Bin Bahrin and other
government agencies and volunteers including students from SMK Raja Perempuan
Ipoh.
An estimated total of 30,000 people has benefited from these
tree planting programme especially our future generations. This is a climate
action programme to lower the earth temperature to stay below 1.5 degrees.
This is very much in line with UN SDG Goal #3 - Good Health and Well-being and Goal #13 – Climate Action
This project helps mothers and single women to learn how to make decorative bags and become social entrepreneurs and help reduce plastic pollution
100 women especially from the B40 group have been trained in collaboration with Ipoh City Watch and funding of RM10,000 from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. They were trained on how to convert trashed plastic rice bags and plastic detergent bags and woven into decorative bags. Each bag produced can be sold from as low as RM10 to RM100 depending on their creativity. Each bag woven will consume between 5 to 20 plastic bags which otherwise go the landfills. Plastic is known to take more than 500 years to decompose. When left at the landfills, it will melt or got burned and produce methane gas which will increase the earth temperature twice more than CO2.
LCPSS acts as agent for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to help develop women’s entrepreneurial skills so that they can earn a decent living independently and reduce poverty and hunger. This project is now being conducted during Ipoh Car Free Day every month as well conducted in schools after Move Control Order was lifted.
The programme fulfils UN SDG Goal #1 – No Poverty, Goal #2 –
Zero Hunger, Goal #5 – Gender Equality and Goal #13 – Climate Action.
In this project, single use plastic bags and 3 in 1 Coffee or Tea tubes were collected and then insert into empty mineral water bottles. Each bottle can take in about 1 kg of plastic bags or about 200 pieces of 10 in x 15 in plastic bags.
The mineral water bottles which have been filled up will then be used as eco-bricks to decorate our garden by making the fence of trees or vegetables plots. Plastic takes more than 500 years to decompose and when turn into eco-bricks, it will help reduce these plastic bags and empty mineral from going to the landfills or drain and clogged the drain, rivers and oceans.
We have trained more than 5,000 students and members of the society on how to make eco-bricks to date. This is an on-going project in collaboration with Ipoh City Council.
This project fulfils UN SDG Goal #3 – Good Health and
Well-being, Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal #13 - Climate Action
and Goal #14 – Life below water.
Our NGO has participated in the Ipoh Car Free Day since its start in August 2015 organised by the Ipoh City Council. LCPSS is one of the NGOs that have been invited by the Ipoh City Council without fail. Between 3,000 to 5,000 people frequented the Car Free Day. Our NGO will display our recycling bins, demonstrate on how to make eco-bricks as well as decorative bags from trashed plastics. We also hold talks on impact of Climate Change and get members of the public to sign and pledge for recycling.
This project fulfils UN SDG Goal #3 - Good Health and
Well-being, Goal #4 – Quality Education, Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation,
Goal #13 - Climate Action and Goal #14 – Life below water.
After winning the JCIM SDA Award in 2018 with “Best in Climate Action” award and overall “Best of the Best Award” for KOHIJAU, Dr. Richard Ng who was the then President of KOHIJAU then left to assist LCPSS as the President of the club from 2020 to present. He brings along with him years of experience in climate change projects.
Thus, many organisations such as Rukun Tetangga, Institut Koperasi Malaysia, KL Kepong Berhad, Finisar Berhas, Instut Teknologi Perak, the Perak State Government, Ipoh Rotary Club, Open University Malaysia and a few universities in India have invited him to give a talk on Social Entrepreneurship focusing on Climate Action.
Thousands of students and members of the public have benefited from such talk.
This project fulfils UN SDG Goal #3 - Good Health and
Well-being, Goal #4 – Quality Education, Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation,
Goal #13 - Climate Action, Goal #14 – Life below water and Goal #15 – Life on
land.
Community garden projects not only help foster good relations among the residents of all races but also help the government to contribute towards increasing food security and safety. Food planted by the residents will be shared under the “sharing is caring” basis. Our NGO helps to apply for license and grant from the Ipoh City Council. We have so far established tow community garden; one at Housing Trust Ipoh (involving 1,000 residents) and another one at Desa Tambun Indah (involving 1,000 residents). The community were shown were allocated land to cultivate their vegetables planting.
At Housing Trust, a bamboo arch was erected by the Ipoh City Council. Our NGO helps to planted creepers and passion fruit trees. The project has started a year ago and now the fruit trees started to flower. It may take another 6 months to see the results of our effort.
At Desa Tambun Indah, the community garden was launched by By YB Abdul Yunus Bin Jamhari, Perak State Exco on 31 March 2022. Residents now can start planting their day to day needs such as serai, curry leaf, pandan, bayam, kangkong, bitter gourd, cilli, pineapple and other vegetables.
These two projects also act as a therapy for the senior citizens here. It also allows women to grow their own vegetables on government land which will otherwise become over grown grass which will then infested with mosquitoes and snakes. Our club donated garden chairs for the elderly to come together and relax.
This project fulfils UN SDG Goal #1 – No Poverty, Goal #2 –
Zero Hunger, Goal #3 - Good Health and Well-being, Goal #4 – Quality Education,
Goal # 5 – Gender Equality, Goal #13 - Climate Action, Goal #14 – Life below
water and Goal #15 – Life on land.
g. Organise Cleanliness Campaign
Pasir Pinji Zone was selected in our Cleanliness Campaign since 1 June 2022. There were 24 illegal garbage dumpsites within this region. Since 1 April 2022 the Ipoh City Council was facing problem of lack of workers and many dumpsters broke down resulting in collection of garbage from house to house was disrupted. Instead of collecting three times a week, the City Council only managed to collect once a week. Residents chose to throw their garbage at the illegal dumpsites.
Our NGO together with some 25 volunteers from KRT Pasir Pinji, KRT Boon Bak, and Bomba Volunteers in collaboration with Ipoh City Council carry out this campaign where funding came from the Ipoh City Council. A total of RM1,500 was spent to purchase garbage bags, spades, hand gloves, rake and sanitizers.
Garbage thrown indiscriminately at the illegal dumpsites were collected and put into the garbage bags. Photos were taken before and after the process. A total of 5,000 kg of garbage was collected from 8 illegal dumpsites in Pasir Pinji New Village, Housing Trust and Chateau Garden.
Reporters were engaged to help publicise the matter with message telling the residents to stop throwing the garbage. The Ipoh City Council has also agreed to contribute 500 garbage bins to the residents.
It is still too early to gauge the impact but if this project is successful, then it can be emulated at other locations as well. Our NGO helps the Ipoh City Council to educate the public on the importance of keeping their environment clean and keep dengue at bay.
This project fulfils UN SDG Goal #3 - Good Health and Well-being, Goal #13 - Climate Action and Goal #15 – Life on land.
As mentioned above, our tree planting projects carried out since 9 August 2020 during covid-19 pandemic until 22 April 2022 in collaboration with Ipoh City Council involve the planting of 120 trees. The trees were all contributed by Ipoh City Council and Bond Suites Holding Berhad.
Lions Club of Perak Silver State received special mentioned during Ipoh City Councils meeting. Ipoh City Council has also invited Dr. Richard Ng as one of the speakers for their forum on environment as well as Community Garden Projects.
Trees planted are carefully selected depending on the soil and sequestration rate. Generally, a 10 years old tree weighs about 2,000 kg can absorb an average of 7,000 kg CO2 and produce about 100 kg O2 per year. Whereas a human requires about 740 kg per year. Thus, 120 trees will absorb about 8,400 tonnes of CO2 per year and release 120,000 of O2 per year enough for 162 people. Hence, more trees need to be planted to enable human to have a healthy living environment
Besides that, trees can also help to reduce earth surface temperature and reduce the impact of global warming. More trees will be required to protect the population of Ipoh which has reached about 850,000 by end of 2021 according to the Statistic Department of Malaysia.
Lions Club of Perak Silver State is proud in taking lead in Ipoh in tree planting in collaboration with Ipoh City Council. It is promoting tree planting, recycling and upcycling in most schools in the Kinta District especially after the pandemic covid-19.
Among the schools that have achieved positive results from our efforts include SMK Raja Perempuan School which has emerged as champion in the Toyota Eco Challenge. Other schools participating in environment projects competition coached by our NGO include SK Convent Ipoh, SK Tanjong Rambutan and Botany International Schools.
The Eco-bricks Project is also being promoted in schools through a collaboration with Ipoh City Council. Each eco-brick produced can helped save a 1-liter mineral plastic bottle and 2kg of single use plastics from ending up in the landfill or drain and even river and ocean. Plastics is the main cause of climate change as it takes more than 500 years to decompose. Methane gas produced from the melting down of plastics caused twice the temperature compared to CO2.
Each participating school student will be asked to produce 1 eco-brick per week r 4 eco-bricks per month. There are more than 100 primary schools in the Kinta Districts with average 500 students, then a total 100 x 500 x 4 or 200,000 eco-bricks will be produced per month. Each eco-brick weight about 1.5 kg. This means that 300,000 kg plastics per month or 3,600 tonnes of plastics per year will be stopped from going to the landfill.
Our NGO in collaboration with Ipoh City Council will buy up this eco-brick at 40 sen per kg to be used as part of the Ipoh City landscape project. The schools will get returns for their efforts which contributes towards their environment projects.
Our NGO will continue with our workshop to train women especially single mother from the B40 group to learn how to convert trashed plastic rice bags or detergent bags into decorative bags which can be sold to the environmentally conscious publics. It can also be turned into souvenir items or handicrafts. This helps the women to become independent social entrepreneurs. Each bag produced will salvaged about 10 trash plastic bags. To date 100 women have been trained using the RM10,000 fund provided by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.
Overall, our environmental projects fulfil the following SDG goals:
Goal #1 – No Poverty, Goal #2 – Zero Hunger, Goal #3 - Good Health and Well-being, Goal #4 – Quality Education, Goal # 5 – Gender Equality, Goal #13 - Climate Action, Goal #14 – Life below water and Goal #15 – Life on land.
22 April 2022: Green Our Earth Save Our Future Generations @ Kinta River Walk
This is part of LCPSS Environment Project to help protect our planet Earth and to reduce the impact of Climate Change. It is also part of MBI's mission to reduce carbon emission and achieve a Low Carbon City status by 2030. Thanks to Mr. Ong Teng Boon, CEO of Bond Holdings and MBI for sponsoring these Tecoma trees.
The five Tecoma trees will be planted by 5 VVIPs. It carries a serial number from LCPSS 106/04/2022 to LCPSS 110/04/2022 which signifies that 110 trees have been planted by LCPSS since July 1 2020 under President Lion Clr. Dr. Richard Ng.
World Earth Day falls on 22 April each year and celebrated by over 1 billion people around the globe. For LCPSS, this will be the 106th to 108th trees planted since July 2020. These trees are given a QR code tag so that passers by can scan and get info about the trees planted.
The trees will be planted by five prominent people: YB Encik Mohd Akmal Bin Kamarudin, Perak State Exco in charge of environment, Ipoh City Mayor, Dato' Hj Rumaizi Bin Baharin, Lions Club Multiple District Vice Council Chairperson, Lion Dato' Yeoh Moh Chai, Kinta District Officer, Encik Meor Hezbullah Bin Meor Abd Malik and LCPSS President cum Ipoh City Councillor, Lion Dr. Richard Ng.
After the tree planting, the LCPSS legacy board will be signed by dignitaries to mark an important milestone of LCPSS.
The public will also be invited to sign their pledge to embrace Recycling Culture. The signing board will be placed at Kinta River Walk for 1 month.
This is a very significant project by Lions Clubs and in Ipoh it is spearheaded by Lions Club of Perak Silver State in our effort to green our Earth to save our planet and our future generations.
ABOUT THE TECOMA TREES PLANTED:
Tecoma is a genus of 14 species of shrubs or small trees in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae originated from South America. It is also known as Trumpetbush and always being compared with Sakura trees in Japan. It blooms normally between February and April each year.
The tecoma trees will grow to maximum height of 25m with carbon sequestration of approximately 7,000 kg.
Four interesting facts about 'Sakura Look-alike' Tecoma Trees that we see in Malaysia (See the following link):
The five tecoma trees planted will be commemorated with QR Code and Serial Numbers from LCPSS/106/04/2022 to LCPSS/110/04/2022 as follows:
Tree Number: LCPSS/109/04/22
Name of Tree: Tecoma or Trumpetbush Trees
Date Planted: 22 April 2022
Planted by: YB Encik Mohd Akmal Bin Kamarudin, Perak State Exco in charge of Environment
Tree Number: LCPSS/110/04/22
Name of Tree: Tecoma or Trumpetbush Trees
Date Planted: 22 April 2022
Planted by: YBhg Tuan Meor Hezbullah Bin Meor Abd Malik, Kinta District Officer
Tree Number: LCPSS/106/04/22
Name of Tree: Tecoma or Trumpetbush Trees
Date Planted: 22 April 2022
Planted by: YBhg Dato' Hj. Rumaizi Bin Baharin, the Mayor of Ipoh City
Tree Number: LCPSS/107/04/22
Name of Tree: Tecoma or Trumpetbush Trees
Date Planted: 22 April 2022
Planted by: YBhg Lion Dato' Yeoh Moh Chai, Multiple District Vice Council Chairperson
Tree Number: LCPSS/108/04/22
Name of Tree: Tecoma or Trumpetbush Trees
Date Planted: 22 April 2022
Planted by: YBhg Lion Clr. Dr. Richard Ng, Ipoh City Councillor cum President of Lions Club of Perak Silver State (2021 - 2022)
Feb 26, 2022
Dato Bandar, Dato’ Hj Rumaizi Bin Baharin was recently
awarded the Meritorious Award by Lions Club of Perak State during the club’s 16th
Charter Anniversary Celebration and 17th Installation of President,
Dr. Richard Ng and his Board Members.
Rumaizi was awarded for his Excellent Leadership in Transforming
Ipoh City into a Low Carbon Walkable City and his Initiative in introducing the
MBI Caring Scheme.
According to Club President Dr Richard Ng, Dato’
Rumaizi was one of the four recipients chosen this year for their exemplary
services to the society in line with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. His
philosophy has been to assist the people especially during covid-19 pandemic by
focusing on achieving Zero Poverty and Zero Hunger. His administration has
always been guided by 3Ps – People, Planet and Prosperity.
The other recipients of the award are Datuk Normah
Hanum Binti Dato’ Ibrahim, for her excellent leadership in providing education
for the needy. Activist Mdm Pathma Devi was awarded for her role in promoting
awareness in Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse. The fourth recipient was
Dato’ Ooi Chao Shyuan was awarded for his excellent leadership in promoting
Lionism and Volunteerism throughout Malaysia.
The awards were presented by Guest of Honour, Perak
State Committee Chairman for Housing, Local Government and Tourism, Dato Nolee
Ashilin Binti Dato’ Mohamad Radzi. Also present during the ceremony include
308B2 District Governor Michel Yee Yoke Cheng. During her speech, Dato’ Nolee
welcome all participants from far and near despite the rise in new covid cases
reported. We should start to take it as endemic and not cause anxiety to the
public as this has an adverse effect on the business community, tourism
industry and the people. She also welcome Lions Club to hold a Multiple Sub
Convention in Ipoh planned on 22 April 2022 with an estimated number of 500
participants from all over Malaysia.
Lions Club of Perak Silver State under the leadership
of Dr. Richard Ng has won 35 awards including Club Excellent award. He was also
awarded the International President Certificate for his excellent contributions
during the fiscal year 2021 – 2022.
During the anniversary celebration, the club receives
contribution from PCCCI President, Dato’ Liew Chee Meng and Ngan Yin Food
Industries Sdn. Bhd. Chairman, Dato’ Gan Tack Kong. The contributions were
given to assist the club in helping the needy especially during the covid
pandemic.
On 25 November 2021, Ipoh City Watch will welcome the Ambassador of Germany to Malaysia, HE Dr. Peter Blomeyer who is making a week long visit to Ipoh.
During his visit to Kinta Heights, we will invite HE Dr. Peter to plant a tree there to commemorate his visit. The tree selected is a bamboo tree.
Earlier this year, 4 trees have been planted here at Kinta Heights which include 2 Brazilian Iron Trees and 2 Tecoma Trees.
The visit by HE Dr. Peter Blomeyer is to meet the President of Ipoh City Watch to discuss about environmental and low carbon emission efforts undertaken by Ipoh City Watch. During His Excellency visit to Ipoh City Watch at Kinta Heights, we will showcase some of our works done over the past 6 years.
Welcome. Selamat Datang. Willkomen HE Dr. Peter Blomeyer.
About Bamboo Tree:
Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the Dutch or Portuguese language, which originally borrowed it from Malay or Kannada.
In bamboo, as in other grasses, the internodal regions of the stem are usually hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross-section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, including the palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering.
Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants in the world, due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. Certain species of bamboo can grow 910 mm (36 in) within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 40 mm (1+1⁄2 in) an hour (equivalent to 1 mm every 90 seconds). This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.