The rustle of bamboo leaves adds to the mystical atmosphere of a road lined with lush bamboo trees at Penglipuran village in Bangli regency, Bali, where bamboo forests have been maintained for generations.

Penglipuran’s communal chief, Wayan Supat, said that of the village’s 112 hectares of land area, 45 ha constituted bamboo forestland, spreading over its northern, northeastern and southern parts.

“Bamboo is ecologically vital to the traditional community here, such as for building shingle-roofed houses,” he said.

Bamboo farmer Wayan Jepang said that bamboo is part of the history, culture and life of Bali’s Hindu community.

“The Balinese use bamboo from the process of birth, for cutting the umbilical cord, to wedding celebrations, to the funeral ritual of ngaben,” Wayan said.