Bamboo Species of Argentina
In Argentina, bamboo does not play a dominant role in forestry. As in the majority of South American countries, bamboo exploitation is generally confined to the local use of native species in areas close to the source of supply.
Bamboo Species of Belize
This small flat country is the only one in Central America without any Chusquea species. Belize, however, is well known for the Guadua longifolia populations along the Belize river and its tributaries on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Bamboo Species of Bolivia
In Bolivia, bamboo has been used by Andean communities in traditional production of musical instruments and baskets, and as cattle forage. An estimate of the area of bamboo forest in the highlands or lowland regions of this country does not yet exist.
Bamboo Species of Brazil
Brazil is the country with the greatest bamboo diversity and the highest percentage of endemic woody bamboos in Latin America -- 137 species (32% of Latin American bamboo species) and 17 genera (85% of Latin American bamboo genera).
Bamboo Species of the Caribbean
The native bamboo species in the Caribbean and West Indies are confined to small-sized bamboos less than 1 cm in diameter. Because of this, they do not have any economic value.
Bamboo Species of Chile
In Chile, bamboo is rarely used as an economic plant, but has some influence on the dynamics and composition of the Chilean Andes forest.
Bamboo Species of Colombia
Colombia has the second highest woody bamboo diversity in Latin America. At present, 9 genera and 70 species are reported, with 24 species being endemic and at least 12 species remaining to be described.
Bamboo Species of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the country with the largest woody bamboo diversity in Central America. At present, 8 genera and 39 species of woody bamboos are reported.
Bamboo Species of Ecuador
Ecuador, for its size, possesses an impressive diversity of woody bamboos. Up to the present, 6 genera and 42 species have been identified (11 endemics ones), with about 15 species remaining to be described.
Bamboo Species of El Salvador
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, and it has the highest deforestation and overpopulation. Some of the 11 bamboo species reported in the country might not exist anymore.
Bamboo Species of Guatemala
Guatemala is a country with many species of native woody bamboos, the majority of them belonging to the genus Chusquea and the rest to the genera Arthrostylidium, Guadua, Otatea and Rhipidocladum.
Bamboo Species of Guyana
Bamboo resources in Guyana (French Guyana, Guyana and Surinam) are unimportant to the local economy. Some ethnobotanical uses -- such as for making lances, bows, arrowheads, arrow shafts, knives and fishing harpoons -- have been reported by the indigenous people.
Bamboo Species of Honduras
From the 11 native woody bamboo species occurring in Honduras, only 4, besides several Asiatic ones, have economic potential. Otatea fimbriata, Guadua amplexifolia, Guadua aculeata and Guadua paniculata are the native bamboos that can be promoted as useful in environmental protection and in economic activities.
Bamboo Species of Mexico
Mexico is the second most diverse country in America in terms of woody bamboos. At present, 8 genera and 37 species are reported with one genus, Olmeca, and 14 species being endemic.
Bamboo Species of Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a country with relatively few species of native bamboos but with widespread Guadua species covering the eastern alluvial plains. The genus Guadua includes four species: Guadua amplexifolia, Guadua aculeata, Guadua macclurei and Guadua paniculata.
Bamboo Species of Panama
In Panama, bamboo is scarcely used as an economic plant. However, Panama is the third richest country in woody bamboo diversity in Central America: 43% of its species belong to the genus Chusquea, and the rest belong to the genera Arthrostylidium, Aulonemia, Elytrostachys, Guadua, Neurolepis and Rhipidocladum.
Bamboo Species of Paraguay
Bamboo is scarcely used in Paraguay for economic activities and does not form a large resource. There are 3 Guadua species present in Paraguay with potential uses: Guadua chacoensis (tacuar), Guadua paniculata and Guadua paraguayana (picanilla).
Bamboo Species of Peru
Bamboo resources in Peru are abundant and could represent a large potential supply. Some efforts have been made by the government to develop bamboo resources, especially in the Amazon region.
Bamboo Species of Uruguay
Bamboo resources in Uruguay are scarce. There is only one useful bamboo species, Guadua trinii, which is sometimes found growing along the forest banks of River Uruguay and its tributaries, in the department of Rio Negro.
Bamboo Species of Venezuela
Venezuela has the third highest woody bamboo diversity in Latin America. At present 10 genera and 60 species, 18 of them endemics, are reported with several species remaining to be described.