Retired Forest Officer Rajendrasinh Chauhan is involved in the establishment of the only Bambusetum in Gujarat

Retired Forest Officer Rajendrasinh Chauhan is involved in the establishment of the only Bambusetum in Gujarat. "Bambusetum" means a garden having a collection of bamboo plants.

The only Bambusetum of Gujarat has been raised by Rajpipla Research Department in Singalkhanch village of Songadh taluka in Tapi district. On the occasion of World Bamboo Day on 18th September, it is important to know that at the time of establishment of Bamboo Species Research Center in the year 2006, Rajendrasinh Chauhan, a retired Forest Officer currently residing in Vadodara, was involved and has made a significant contribution in conservation and rearing of bamboo species. In that way he can be considered the bamboo man of Gujarat.

Informing that such Bambusetum have been planted in Dehradun and Trichy of Kerala in the country, Chauhan said that this initiative was taken under the guidance of Dr. H. S. Singh, a very knowledgeable forest officer of Gujarat and this has been successful.

He informed that it was started from the cultivation of 34 species of bamboo found in different regions of the country, and at present 28 species of bamboo are and its cultivation in the environment of Gujarat is being studied. It is managed by the Ukai Research Wing.

Under the guidance of Deputy Forest Conservator Punit Nair, Surat Forest Department has set up a bamboo making and training center at Visdalia village in Mandvi taluka, where training is given along with the manufacture of various products including furniture. This is a plan that encourages bamboo based employment.

He said an interesting thing is that the ancestors have told us not to rest at night in the bamboo forest. This is because bamboo rhizomes shoot up to nine to 14 feet at a time, so people close by are sometimes more likely to be injured.

One more thing is worth mentioning here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure in Gujarat gave a new and comprehensive form to the Kite Festival. One species of bamboo from Assam is very flexible in making these kites. That is why he ordered the species from there and inspired to raise it here.