Guadua Bamboo
Plantations Program

Pioneer in Nicaraguan Bamboo Reforestation!

Jan Van Bilsen & Nicaraguan farmers

Ever since Jan Van Bilsen (co-owner of Guadua Bamboo S.A.) started to work full time on bamboo matters in Nicaragua, the idea for reforestation with bamboo has always been his main priority and focus. As an award wining Belgian filmmaker, Jan witnessed first hand the destruction of tropical rain forests and the impact of civil wars in Central America. During his career as a filmmaker Jan established true friendships and excellent relationships with local communities, which he is now helping to improve their future by teaching them about the advantages of cultivating and working with bamboo. Jan Van Bilsen and Guadua Bamboo are known for their down to earth and realistic approach, which results in mutual respect between the farmer communities and our company Guadua Bamboo.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

This page handles frequently asked questions about our Guadua Bamboo Investment Plan. To learn more about pricing please return to Growing Bamboo in Nicaragua.

1. As an investor, do I start from scratch?

No you don't. We have selected a large area where patches of bamboo groves already exist. First of all to make sure bamboo actually grows well in the area and secondly to give the investor the opportunity to use his bamboo immediately, to build his own house or to experiment with the material.

To local farmers, these bamboo groves are still considered as "weeds" because their lack of knowledge. Land is much more profitable for the average farmer to grow corn, beans, raise cattle, etc. This results in rapid deforestation.

Example of a Guadua Bamboo Plantation Property

To turn this deforestation around we encourage investors to plant more bamboo (which is included in the bamboo plantations package price when you buy a piece of property true Guadua Bamboo).

2. Can I see the properties before I buy?

Of course you can, in fact we strongly encourage to come and visit us prior to purchasing your bamboo plantation. That way we can show you first hand where we are located and touch the bamboos! People are often suspicious or at least careful when they read a "sales pitch" online, we rather not spend hours a day sending emails back and forth trying to convince investors! That's why: Come and see for yourself, you are most welcome!

3. What documents come with the purchase of the bamboo plantation?

When buying land in Nicaragua, you must obtain following documents (Guadua Bamboo takes care of this):

(* You do not have to be a Nicaraguan resident to buy property in Nicaragua.)

1. “Escritura de propiedad” and “Certificado Registral”, registered in the Registro Publico de las Propiedads. On this document, your piece of real property is described and has a specific number. It is also most important to obtain an "Escritura Publico" (domain title), instead of an Escritura Positorio, which means you're only the occupier of the land, not the owner.

2. “Plano”, registered in the Catastro office, is a document that graphically depicts the site information. Guadua Bamboo also hires a topographer (or surveyor) to make a plano of the property (properties in rural areas seldom come with such a plano).

3. “Libertad de Gravamen”, registered at the Registro Publico office: a document that ensures there are no liens, debts or back taxes owned against the property. (This is from special importance due to the fact that a lot of property was confiscated by the government in the 80's and that on some property titles are still claims running from the rightful owners.)

4. After the transaction, your property must be registered in the Registro Publico de la Propiedad. There you receive the property title and original copy of the deed (which may take a couple weeks) and from then on you can consider yourself as the legal owner of the piece of land you bought.

4. What if I want to buy land and cannot come to Nicaragua to sign?

By law, all involved parties have to be physically present to sign the documents in front of a lawyer/notary in Nicaragua. However, there is an option to buy property in Nicaragua true a power of attorney:

1. You will need to give a power of attorney to a Nicaraguan national so he/she can represent you and buy property in your name. If you don’t know anybody, we can recommend people who have been working with us.

2. This power of attorney has to be written by a state approved notary where you live.

3. Send this document to the State Department (in case of US buyers, others send this document to a nearby Nicaraguan Consulate), so they can check on your notary’s legal status and competence for writing up this power of attorney.

4. Once approved , the document is send to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Managua, Nicaragua for a legal check-up and final approval.

5. What about property taxes in Nicaragua?

Farmland of up to 30 manzanas (42.6 hectares) is exempted from real estate taxes.

6. As an investor, am I bound to Guadua Bamboo?

No, you are completely free to do whatever you want with or on your bamboo plantation. From the moment your buy and sign your documents the property is yours. You can, at any point in time, decide to sell your bamboo plantations, harvest your own bamboo, etc. No risk, no obligations.

7. What kind of investors do you target?

Theoretically, every investor is more then welcome to invest in our bamboo plantations program, but we prefer:

• Investors with a passion for bamboo, who would love to contribute and share ideas to improve traditional bamboo building techniques (which can than results in a commercial cooperation of individual businesses promoted on our website).
• Investors who want to create a passive income by selling their crop to Guadua Bamboo, which we harvest, cure, dry and store for export to our client base.
• Investors who truly believe in bamboo reforestation and our vision. Brokers or investors with the intention of re-selling these properties in volume for other reasons then our program, we kindly ask to look for other, and better suited opportunities.

We rather create an innovative cooperation and a strong base of bamboo growers for the future, than spending time selling "real estate" (which is not the focus of our company).

8. How many private investors do you allow?

At this point in time, we have not set any limitations, the sky is the limit. Since our company is growing fast, we will need more and more bamboo to supply the demand.

9. Is there a bulk discount?

There is no bulk discount, since the package price is calculated on a very low to non-profit base. However, if investors decide to buy more then 5 manzana's we reimburse the investor for his flight ticket when he comes to Nicaragua to sign all document and exchange property titles (max. reimbursed value of 500$).

10. What about carbon credits and carbon trading?

Guadua bamboo is not a big fan of carbon trading activities. The fact that developing countries have to leave their forest untouched while developed countries can just continue to pollute (as long as they pay) doesn't really fit our overall vision on green solutions to stop global warming. Bamboo's rapid growth and the fact that we can harvest on a yearly basis without re-planting or eliminating an entire grove, only stimulate our believes that by teaching communities how to work with the material is far better then just selling "air".

However, investors are free to use their bamboo plantations the way they think is best, we just don't provide that extra service of "carbon trading".

11. How are your payout's done?

Investors receive annual payment (by wire transfer) when we harvest crop from their bamboo plantation. We monitor all properties and notify the investor when the time is right to harvest.

12. Is my yearly return guaranteed?

Yes and no. No, because we do not bind any investor with a contract to Guadua Bamboo. So if the investor decides to utilize his own crop, there is obviously no pay out. You will, however, have a guaranteed passive income if we are able to harvest your crop on a yearly basis. We pay for every bamboo "tree" we harvest from your bamboo plantations. The more bamboo we can harvest, the more money you will make.

 * The USA last year imported US$ 2.6 BILLION in bamboo products.                   

13. Are plots easy accessible by vehicle?

Yes, we selected areas where roads are fairly good. This is important to ensure smooth transportation of container loads towards the main ports at the Atlantic and Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

Example of the road access near the plantations in Nicaragua

14. Is Guadua Bamboo S.A. a Nicaraguan company?

Yes Guadua Bamboo S.A. is a Nicaragua based and registered company. Owners are Jan Van Bilsen and Stéphane Schröder, who live and work full time in Central America for respectively 28 and 5 years.

15. Do you work with the Nicaraguan government?

Yes we do. We have very good and close relationships with the following Government Ministries in Nicaragua:

• INAFOR (Instituto Nacional Forestal)
• MAGFOR (Ministerio Agropecuario y Forestal)
• MARENA (Ministerio del Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales)

16. How socially responsible is Guadua Bamboo?

All earnings from our the Guadua Bamboo Plantations Program flow back to the local community. Guadua Bamboo itself does not make profits by selling these bamboo plantations. Although Guadua Bamboo is a real company, our profits are generated by producing and selling bamboo products, such as bamboo poles, matting boards, furniture, artisan work, etc.

Jan Van Bilsen is showing Ruben and his family the latest bamboo video we made on the plantations.

Since the nurseries, maintenance and harvesting is all done by our network of farmers in the area (paid by, and under supervision of Guadua Bamboo), all funds from the property package is used to pay local farmers an above average salary. This to motivate local farmers NOT to fall back into cultivating traditional agricultural crops and deforestation.

17. Is it safe to travel in Nicaragua?

In recent years Nicaragua is considered a safer travel destination then Costa Rica, here is a great article that discusses this in dept: Is Nicaragua's Negative Image Justified?

 

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Contact us if you also want to be a part of the Guadua Bamboo Plantations Program in Nicaragua.