Forests and Freshwater Program

 

WWF Bhutan’s Forest Program is its largest program, both in terms of scope and investment. It is also the most important program as the health of the forest is also related to WWF’s other programs such as Species and Sustainable Livelihoods. Bhutan has, legally, over 64 percent of its total geographical area under forest cover. Forests in Bhutan are not only vital for promoting prey-predator relationships but also for providing a host of other ecological benefits. For the Bhutanese people, forests are an unlimited source of benefits. They provide numerous food items to supplement and cushion limited farm produces, particularly during the lean season. The thickly forested areas form the main catchments for all drinking water and irrigation. Almost all the sources of rivers originate within Bhutan and their courses are forested allowing for a clean and regular flow for the country’s power plants – the backbone of the country’s economy. Construction of buildings, bridges, etc. depends on resources derived from the forests. Unarguably, healthy and extensive forest cover is pivotal for most Bhutanese people.
WWF Bhutan’s Forest Program is designed to protect, restore and promote the forest in Bhutan through policy advocacy, as well as partnering with government implementing agencies and local communities in identifying, developing and implementing conservation actions at the local level. At the same time, WWF Bhutan’s Forest Program also aligns the government’s forest priority programs with regional and global priorities.
The overall aim of the Forest and Freshwater Program is to conserve and manage conifer and broadleaf forest, and alpine shrub and meadow ecosystems so as to maintain wildlife habitats in B2C2 landscape.
The strategies adopted by WWF Bhutan towards achieving this goal are :

1. Forest cover management
2. Forest resources management
 

 

With over 70% of Bhutan still under forest cover, and over 35% of the country desingated as protected areas, it might appear that forest and freshwater ecosystems are sufficiently protected. However, development threats are only just beginning to arise as tensions between socio-economic aspirations and conservation objectives start to show.
 

contact person : ktenzin@wwfbhutan.org.bt

 


Government documents recognize the need for far greater collaboration and co-operation between different departments and agencies with sometimes conflicting priorities and objectives. Far-sighteded conservation policies may lack effective implementation or may overlook potential conflicts with those of other sectors concerned with increased food self-sufficiency or the development of industry for example. Above all there is a need to increase the scope and depth of knowledge regarding Bhutan's biodiversity, to establish a baseline against which to plan and measure all future conservation interventions and to inform important decisions concerning the nation's socio-economic development.

In many areas of government there is still a need to build the capacity of staff to better understand the interdependence of conservation of natural resources and opportunities for social and economic development. The Royal Government may benefit from WWF's experiences elsewhere in the world, where the consequences of policy development and implementation have been studied and lessons learned. Systems for monitoring and evaluating development and/or conservation programs and plicies need to be introduced or improved to demonstrate real impacts.

 

Program targets:

  1. 1. Establish a comprehensive Biodiversity Inventory of Bhutan.

  2. 2. Establish an independently verifiable system of monitoring and evaluating biodiversity conservation in Bhutan.

  3. 3. Initiate a Natural History Museum and "Virtual Zoo" as a public and professional educational resource.

  4. 4. Develop precautionary policies for conservation of freshwater catchment areas.

  5. 6. Research and monitor population health of key species to inform conservation action.

On going projects: