World · South & Central Asia · 4 hrs ago
Bohol promotes bamboo for tourism and local livelihoods
Bohol is promoting bamboo as a way to grow nature-based tourism and support local livelihoods in the central Philippines.
A bamboo park in Bilar, which opened in October 2023, has walkways, a restaurant and crafts, and is home to 45,000 bamboo plants of 40 varieties.
The province became the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark in 2023, recognized for its geological heritage and known for attractions such as the Chocolate Hills.
Officials are providing training on bamboo uses and distributing seedlings, while a public-private council is also promoting the industry.
A bamboo church is being built in Tagbilaran, with work beginning in January to show how treated bamboo can be used in construction.
Plans are also underway for a bamboo development center focused on construction materials and other uses.
Bohol is promoting bamboo to support sustainable tourism and improve local livelihoods.
Kinaiyahan Forest Park in Bilar offers visitors bamboo structures, food and displays of local craftwork.
The privately run park contains 45,000 bamboo plants representing 40 varieties.
Bohol is providing training and bamboo seedlings, while a bamboo church project in Tagbilaran is intended to demonstrate bamboo’s use in construction.
The province is the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark and has around 50 bamboo species, according to United Bohol Bamboo Advocates, Inc.
- Who
- Bohol’s provincial government, tourism officials and local businesses are promoting bamboo. The Kinaiyahan Forest Park is privately run.
- What
- The province is promoting bamboo for tourism, local livelihoods and environmentally friendly construction.
- When
- The bamboo park opened in October 2023. Work on the church project began in January; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Bohol, in the central Philippines, including Bilar and the provincial capital, Tagbilaran.
- Why
- Officials say bamboo can support local livelihoods and sustainable tourism, and help combat climate change.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Arnold Labunog and his family bought a 17-hectare property where bamboo was already growing.
Bohol was designated the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark.
Kinaiyahan Forest Park opened as a bamboo-themed attraction.
Work began on a bamboo church project in Tagbilaran; the year is not stated.
- Park location
- Bilar, Bohol
- Park opening
- October 2023
- Bamboo plants at park
- 45,000, comprising 40 varieties
- Property size
- 17 hectares
- Bohol’s bamboo species
- Around 50, according to United Bohol Bamboo Advocates, Inc.
- Church project location
- Tagbilaran
What people are saying
When guests come here, they appreciate the food. In terms of the property, they get amazed because of the bamboo structure and the architectural design. And they feel it's cooler here, because we are surrounded by bamboo.
Our tourism is all nature-based. We don't have much of, like, theme parks, casinos, entertainment parks...So we focus on community-based, nature-based activities,
After the earthquake (that hit Bohol in 2013), I studied bamboo, bamboo architecture. The first project that we did was on Pamilacan Island. It is a resort type made of bamboo, like, 80 percent of the resort is made of bamboo,