Mexico to build world's 4th largest bamboo center

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 4 (Chinese media) -- The Mexican government and the United Nations have signed an agreement to boost bamboo planting in the country, its National Forest Commission (Conafor) said Sunday.

Some 715,000 U.S. dollars will be used to establish the Center of Bamboo Technology Development in the east state of Veracruz in part of the country's productive reforestation strategy, Conafor said.

The Center will be the fourth largest in the world, after China, India and Cuba, it said. Bamboo produced in Veracruz will be sent to the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia through the Panama Canal.

The project will improve the livelihood of the peasants in the mountainous area of the Huatusco municipality in Veracruz and help them recover the lost forest land.