April 19, Thimphu: The Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Mr. Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - US launched WWF-Bhutan’s Strategic Plan 2025 – 2029 in Thimphu today.
Aimed at delivering 30 million USD conservation and sustainable development impact over the next five years, this Strategic Plan 2025 - 2029 marks a significant shift and sets a new conservation pathway for WWF-Bhutan, aligned with the vision of a "Sustainable and just Bhutan for nature and people."
Recognizing nature's crucial role in development, WWF-Bhutan is embarking on a strategic direction focused on sustaining a resilient natural ecosystem, preserving biodiversity, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting a nature-based economy for human well-being and economic growth.
This ambitious commitment addresses pressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development.
At its core, the plan emphasizes conservation for ‘people, prosperity, and progress’, aiming for harmonious co-existence of nature and communities. Understanding the complex drivers of environmental degradation, the plan adopts a people-centered, integrated approach delivered through diverse conservation financing mechanisms.
Through integrated program approach, WWF-Bhutan hopes to support national priorities by enabling opportunities for collaboration with Royal Government of Bhutan and diverse range of partners enabling innovative projects and solutions.
By engaging communities and promoting nature-based solutions, the plan aims to enhance societal, economic, environmental, and biodiversity benefits, aligning with Bhutan's development goals. Furthermore, WWF-Bhutan, in collaboration with other WWF offices in the region, will work to secure interconnected landscapes across the Eastern Himalayas to safeguard the rich biodiversity and foster resilient ecosystems and economy.
Fostering ownership and responsibility towards nature for long-term biodiversity conservation will constitute a critical approach taken by WWF-Bhutan to deliver its new plan.
The strategic plan spans a five-year period, from FY 2025 to FY 2029, with implementation commencing in July 2024.
Officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministers, officials from WWF International, and conservation partners were present at the event.
Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay:
“I am delighted to see the transition from nature to people for prosperity benefiting more than 130,000 people in the next four years through your partnership in Bhutan, which we needed in our rural community. The launch of this plan gives me faith to continue to conserve what we treasure, while at the same time guaranteeing the prosperity of the people.”
Mr. Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – US:
“I would be partnering with the government of Bhutan in financing conservation of nature which is the fundamental foundation. We can celebrate the plans like we do tonight but it's far richer and sweeter tp celebrate successes. I look forward to celebrating the successes. I look forward to being the partner of the Governemnt of Bhutan in crafting new finacial solutions that close the gap, help financial growth and help finance the conservation of nature. It's a fundamental foundation. I look forward to working with you on defining the next generation of eco-tourism that benefit people."
About WWF-Bhutan:
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is Bhutan’s oldest conservation partner. Beginning in 1977 by supporting capacity development of local conservation staff, the support gradually evolved into a full country program with several collaborative conservation projects. WWF Bhutan has been supporting the royal government and people of Bhutan in a number of conservation efforts to protect and conserve Bhutan’s natural capital and the immense biological diversity.
Aimed at delivering 30 million USD conservation and sustainable development impact over the next five years, this Strategic Plan 2025 - 2029 marks a significant shift and sets a new conservation pathway for WWF-Bhutan, aligned with the vision of a "Sustainable and just Bhutan for nature and people."
Recognizing nature's crucial role in development, WWF-Bhutan is embarking on a strategic direction focused on sustaining a resilient natural ecosystem, preserving biodiversity, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting a nature-based economy for human well-being and economic growth.
This ambitious commitment addresses pressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development.
At its core, the plan emphasizes conservation for ‘people, prosperity, and progress’, aiming for harmonious co-existence of nature and communities. Understanding the complex drivers of environmental degradation, the plan adopts a people-centered, integrated approach delivered through diverse conservation financing mechanisms.
Through integrated program approach, WWF-Bhutan hopes to support national priorities by enabling opportunities for collaboration with Royal Government of Bhutan and diverse range of partners enabling innovative projects and solutions.
By engaging communities and promoting nature-based solutions, the plan aims to enhance societal, economic, environmental, and biodiversity benefits, aligning with Bhutan's development goals. Furthermore, WWF-Bhutan, in collaboration with other WWF offices in the region, will work to secure interconnected landscapes across the Eastern Himalayas to safeguard the rich biodiversity and foster resilient ecosystems and economy.
Fostering ownership and responsibility towards nature for long-term biodiversity conservation will constitute a critical approach taken by WWF-Bhutan to deliver its new plan.
The strategic plan spans a five-year period, from FY 2025 to FY 2029, with implementation commencing in July 2024.
Officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministers, officials from WWF International, and conservation partners were present at the event.
Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay:
“I am delighted to see the transition from nature to people for prosperity benefiting more than 130,000 people in the next four years through your partnership in Bhutan, which we needed in our rural community. The launch of this plan gives me faith to continue to conserve what we treasure, while at the same time guaranteeing the prosperity of the people.”
Mr. Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – US:
“I would be partnering with the government of Bhutan in financing conservation of nature which is the fundamental foundation. We can celebrate the plans like we do tonight but it's far richer and sweeter tp celebrate successes. I look forward to celebrating the successes. I look forward to being the partner of the Governemnt of Bhutan in crafting new finacial solutions that close the gap, help financial growth and help finance the conservation of nature. It's a fundamental foundation. I look forward to working with you on defining the next generation of eco-tourism that benefit people."
About WWF-Bhutan:
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is Bhutan’s oldest conservation partner. Beginning in 1977 by supporting capacity development of local conservation staff, the support gradually evolved into a full country program with several collaborative conservation projects. WWF Bhutan has been supporting the royal government and people of Bhutan in a number of conservation efforts to protect and conserve Bhutan’s natural capital and the immense biological diversity.
