Wood-bamboo as appropriate technology

The use of forest materials e.g. timber and bamboo as water convayance system in the past was known to be as an ancient pr­actice. However modern knowledge of sci­ences and technology available at higher and lower institutions has proved that fo­rest products, when technically handled, can be developed to a technology of high­er standard and become substitute to many modern costly materials used in hydraulic engineering practice e.g. water pipes/tanks for water supply, water filters, irr­igation systems, sewage disposal, drainage, road culverts and food storage silos. For the past fourteen years, Tanzania has developed this technology very well in building up systems of water supply, irrigation, road culverts and food storage in many parts of the country. Some s­chemes has given constant service to the public for the period of more than twelve years without failure. The cost of the materials, construction and skill applie­d is very low and justifies the suitabi­lity as appropriate technology. Africa has plentful of these types of resources e.g. timber and bamboo forests. By taken into consideration the successfullness of this type of techniques in Ta­nzania, could turn to be important develo­pment for African Community as a whole. Many International Technical Conferences, including those organised by WEDC (Culcata India 1986) have accepted this technology as viable. This paper explains briefly about the technology in general and its achievemen­ts in Tanzania with possibility of exten­ding the technology to other countries.