DEFINING GROWTH AND QUALITY OF GUADUA BAMBOO CULMS: A CASE STUDY OF GUADUA BAMBOO FORESTS, COLOMBIA

Guadua (Guadua angustifolia) is a bamboo species distributed in northwestern South America. In Colombia, it is utilised in construction, handicrafts and flooring. Guadua stands also represent remnants of forest and habitat for animals. Therefore, these forests may provide economical benefits and ecological functions. Attributes of guadua culms were considered as a criterion for managing and harvesting and ultimately for selecting proper raw material. In this study, information on dendrometrics variables as well as physical and mechanical properties of culms was collected from an inventory. Multivariate analyses were performed in order to elucidate factors which properly described the attributes of culms and stands. These factors are useful because they may depict different variables and permit qualifying culms and stands throughout one value. As a result, for guadua culms, two factors were defined which represented growth and quality. For guadua stands, three factors which characterised growth stock, dynamics and quality were determined. These factors eased the process of qualifying culms and stands. Therefore, it might be significant to improve the planning of guadua stands and allow for making decisions on managing these forests in Colombia.