Bongo and Balsa: Examples in Sustainability

By Edalix Marín

When I first started interning with Pro Eco Azuero, two trees quickly caught my attention as I learned more about them: the balsa tree and the bongo tree. You might imagine that standing underneath the coverage of these two trees, already matured and having complex systems of branches and leaves that towered over me and enveloped my view is what introduced me and drew me to them. Or perhaps you imagine that seeing the young versions of these trees in the nursery and thinking about their potential is what drew me to them. The truth, however, is that my introduction to these trees was found in something much simpler and smaller than that. It started with their seeds. 

The seeds of the balso tree (scientific name Ochroma pyramidale) and of the bongo (scientific name Ceiba pentandra) can each be found in a wool like fiber. Processing the seeds for these two trees requires separating the seeds themselves from this “wool” that is frequently referred to as kapok, particularly in reference to the fiber of the bongo tree. The seeds of the balsa tree are quite small and dispersed throughout the kapok, meaning that a seed screen must be used to separate the small seeds from the wool. The bongo seeds, on the other hand, are larger and come densely packed within the pod of kapok that surround it, meaning that a screen is not necessary to separate the seeds. Instead, the pods can be opened up and the seeds completely separated from the kapok by hand. For both types of trees, the tougher pieces of the seed pod within which seeds rest must be picked out and discarded. This is the only portion of the seed pods that is directly discarded at Pro Eco Azuero, however. Not only are the seeds used to grow new trees, but the kapok is also put to good use. Rather than being thrown away, the “wool” of these two trees is conserved and collected in large bags, this fluffy fiber ready to be used by local artisans. 

The kapok taken from balsa and bongo trees can be used to make various fiber projects and the range of things created by different groups of people speaks to its versatility. The kapok of the bongo tree, for example, has been used by Amazonian tribes in blow darts, acting as a seal that allows them to work effectively. Additionally, the wool has been used as stuffing for various items ranging from furniture to stuffed animals. Pro Eco Azuero works with local artisans who use the kapok to fill many of the projects they make, which is just one way Pro Eco participates in the cycle of repurposing materials that might otherwise go to waste. This is an incredible example of how all the products of a plant can be used in inventive and sustainable ways. 

Although the wool of the balsa and bongo is one of the key products that comes from these two trees, it is not the only way in which the trees are used. In fact, the balsa tree is better known for its timber seeing as its low density but very strong wood makes it a great hardwood for a range of building and woodworking projects. This is actually the primary reason why balsa is a highly sought after tree. The bongo tree, however, is more commonly characterized by its kapok than its wood, with it being frequently referred to as the kapok tree. Beside the wool, however, bongo tree seeds can also be used to produce a seed oil that can serve various functions from being a source of fuel to being an ingredient in paint. 

As attempts to find ways of reducing waste grow more common, the many uses of the bongo and balsa trees provide a good reminder of how elements that could be thrown away can instead be repurposed and utilized in new and innovative ways. It is also a great example of how the ingenuity and knowledge of artisans, forestry experts, and people passionate about sustainability can come together to present one way of tackling a problem. Therefore, while Pro Eco Azuero might be best known for its reforestation efforts, it is projects like these that encompass other aspects of sustainability that really show how far their restorative efforts reach. 

Sources:

Balsa Tree. iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62810-Ochroma-pyramidale. 

Kapok Tree. iNaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62809-Ceiba-pentandra