The government is all set to make economically viable use of bamboo with focus on charcoal made from it a key component of the action plan to combat desertification and to create livelihoods for tribals.

• Bamboonomics refers to a movement to combat desertification and climate change which will involve the tribal community of India since they have the expertise in this field.
• The movement will ensure that tribals can earn a livelihood without causing environmental harm.
• It was launched at the COP 14 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
• Tribals live in areas where more than 10.2 million tonnes of bamboo stock exist. The high availability of bamboo charcoal would be used for rehabilitation of degraded lands.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation (TRIFED) will be integrating its Van Dhan Scheme for value addition to forest produce with the global intervention. There are plans to start by setting up 100 Van Dhan centres in tribal-dominated belts focussed on bamboo products and charcoal.