Bamboo Sheets? Clothing?

[kalisis]

This might be a silly question, but are we stealing food from the pandas to produce bamboo items? I have't done any research, but if I remember correctly, they are endangered partly b/c their habitat keeps disappearing?

I don't know - I'm just asking - does anyone have any information either way on this?

TIA.

[Cheshire]

Good question. I think the issue with their habitat shrinking is a population, human's moving in kind of thing.

Bamboo grows like crazy and can be easily sustained so I don't think they are taking the panda's food.

I'm interested in any real info besides just my gut feeling.

[melissa17s]

I agree with Cheshire. Bamboo is a grass that does not need to be replanted after it is cut, and it can grow over a foot a day.

Deforestation, human sprawl and industrialization are what I understood as being problematic for panda habitats.

[jenoline]

I agree with the PPs, although a friend told me about an article he read (in Green Guide, or similar place) about bamboo not being as environmentally friendly as it's being touted. Something about it being over-planted and deforestation to make room for bamboo. Wish I had a link.

(nak)