Living Root Bridge: A potential no cost eco-technology for mitigating rural communication problems

Abstract

The prop roots of Ficus elastica Roxb. (rubber plant) are trained over 15-20 years to form the natural living bridge to cross rivers and streams found in Cherrapunjee areas of Meghalaya, the wettest place in the world due to highest rainfall. These bridges grow to approximately 50 to 100 feet long and have strong and deep interwoven prop roots providing a boat shaped stable foothold. Key advantages of the living root bridges include exceptional structural robustness and resilience, progressive increase in load bearing capacity with time and use, development of eco-friendly and sustainable infrastructure, remedial impact on surrounding soil, water and air, and grass root community involvement in this ethno-bioengineering process.