Abstract :
In the poorest countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia the majority of households depend upon organic materials (timber, bamboo and other biomass) for the provision of shelter. This paper presents a review of recent literature on the use of organic materials in building. Evidence is presented from a number of countries indicating increasing scarcity. The paper argues that the availability of an adequate supply of organic materials of the right quality for building is a problem for a significant and growing number of households. The problem is most severe in arid areas and in the vicinity of cities. Household and community responses to diminishing supplies of organic materials include the breakdown of sustainable management practices, which leads to further environmental degradation, as well as more positive responses such as tree planting.
