Has bamboo been greenwashed? Nevertheless, bamboo's reputation as an eco-friendly resource has been called into question. Dr. Jim Bowyer, professor of Bio-Based Products at the University of Minnesota and chairman of the Tropical Forest Foundation, published a study in 2005 about the environmental impact of the bamboo industry that called for a "re-evaluation" of the "green status accorded to bamboo products." His study highlights several negative consequences of bamboo production, including the destruction of "protected" native bamboo forests by commercial harvesters, the clear-cutting of wood forests to make way for bamboo farms and the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which in theory are unnecessary, but in practice are often applied to obtain those incredible yields that are so oft-cited by environmentalists -- including myself in an above paragraph. The problem is only exacerbated by bamboo's growing worldwide popularity, which is putting a strain on suppliers to keep up with demand. Dr. Bower calls for an independent certification system for bamboo suppliers, to serve as a guarantee that their product is harvested sustainably.