Living Root Bridges: State of knowledge, fundamental research and future application

Abstract

<p>Living root bridges are<i>Ficus elastica</i><i>1</i><i></i>based suspension bridges within dense tropical rainforests of Meghalaya in the North Eastern Indian Himalayas (25° 30' N and 91° 00' E). Ranging in span from 15 feet to 250 feet, these bridges are grown by Khasi2 tribes over a time period of 15 to 30 years, and last for several centuries. With 1) exceptional robustness3 under extreme climatic conditions,</p><p>2) minimal material and maintenance cost, 3) no environmental damage, 4) progressive increase in load-bearing capacity, 5) carbon sequestration, 6) remedial properties on surrounding soil, water and air, 7) collective grass root involvement based on human-plant interaction across multiple generations, 8) support to other plant and animal systems, and 9) keystone4 role of<i>Ficus</i>plant species in local ecology, living root bridges offer an extraordinary model for long-term socio- ecological resilience5 and sustainable infrastructure solutions, and warrant further scientific study.</p>