You may have seen past blog posts about the use of Guadua bamboo (Guadua sp.) a type of so-called giant bamboo that is perfect for construction.  Unlike some other types of large bamboo species that grow in the Americas, Guadua is a thick walled species and has incredible tensile strength, more than steel, and much more than milled lumber.  When cured properly, which is absolutely necessary and rarely done in local construction, it can last more than 25 years.