There are at least 1.250 bamboo species in the world, while Indonesia is having at least 160 bamboo species or equivalent to 10% of the world?s bamboo diversity. Out of 88 species is endemic that are spread in all islands of Indonesia (Widjaja et al, 2004)

Bamboo have many function in our life. In Social aspect, we know that bamboo usually use for food, households equipment, music instrument, child play, ritual ceremony . In economy, Bamboo important for people livelihood (village  and cities) as an alternatife. In Ecology, bamboo have the function as soil erosion control, water conservation, land rehabilitation, and carbon sequestration, bamboo grow in the forest, open disturbed forest or riparian forest. Moreover, bamboo are also use as housing, mining, plantation, etc.

Bamboo is used in almost all aspects of live, but it is very homogenous which make the utilization of bamboo is not well developed in Indonesia. As the development, Bamboo become worthless due to lack of knowledge about the role and benefits of bamboo plants both in terms of ecological, economic, social. Lack of innovation in the utilization of bamboo is also one of the main factors that cause a decline in the value of bamboo in the public.

So, Bamboo Conservation is needed. Why? Because it is Protecting species loss due to land cover changes, Preventing the species loss by ex situ conservation, Protecting decreasing on bamboo population due to overharvesting, and Stock purposes in the future when breeding, multiplication, selection  are planned.

In Village Festival 2012, I met with the NGO which concern in Bamboo issue. They are Indonesian Bamboo Foundation which tried to conserve bamboo in West Java, especially in Muara Beres Village. Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation develop project entitled ?Conserving Indonesian Endemic Bamboo Species  to Save Water Catchment Area  in West Java, Indonesia? ,supported by Alstom Foundation (France). Indonesian Bamboo Foundation become their partner to conserve Bamboo in Ciliwung watershed area.

Besides Conservation programs, the project also try to increasing the awareness of people with bamboo. One of the method by introducing Bamboo music instrument. At Village Festival, my friends in Teens Go Green got a chance to play bamboo music instrument. I think bamboo has a unique sounds, and I love it very much.

Reference: Kehati Foundation, Teens Go Green