edit: bamboo apparently takes only 5~7 years to reach full maturity, which is a lot shorter than most trees. Plus, bamboo forests are rather densely populated, and it has an outstandingly fast growth rate.
Firstly: True this. You can see bamboo
grow (I mean, not exactly 'IT GROWS BEFORE MY EYES' but more on 'check it in the morning...check it at night; minute difference, but there it is, depending on specie').
Also I believe bamboo is a
grass and not a tree. :3
HOWEVER
Since when did bamboo have an ever-shrinking supply? o.o
edit: bamboo apparently takes only 5~7 years to reach full maturity, which is a lot shorter than most trees. Plus, bamboo forests are rather densely populated, and it has an outstandingly fast growth rate.
None of which means the supply couldn't be shrinking, though I couldn't personally say whether it is or isn't... couldn't find any numbers on proliferation. It grows fast and pretty plentifully, but that wouldn't stop it from being reduced in overall coverage due to the standard human stuff. Urbanization and general deforestation being what they are, bamboo coverage (especially anything that's not being protected by commercial or preservation interests) probably is shrinking. I'm honestly not too aware of any larger (not weeds, kudzu-like stuff, etc.) plants that are increasing in population (so to speak) these days, especially in the proverbial wild -- though, being fair, they're probably out there and I just don't know of 'em. It'd be interesting to see a global time-lapse map or somethin' for plant species coverage and density...
We're an extinction event for pretty much everything, not just animals, really...
This is also true. Just because bamboo is awesome at growing capabilities...doesn't mean that it is shrinking as a generality. Like most forests, lots of land is being...changed, for man's needs. But what I've heard is that bamboo, in general, is losing ground to the other flora of the environment.
It's vague because I haven't done research recently on it.