Reflecting on the past year, it was a journey of resilience and adaptability for our office. As we traversed the post-pandemic landscape, our nation embarked on a journey towards monumental economic growth. Amidst this transition, the role of WWF became imperative in highlighting and ensuring the recognition of the nature protection as the cornerstone of sustainable economic progress.
 

This juncture also posed a fundamental question for us—a challenge tinged with opportunity: How do we forge a new conservation pathway amidst the shifting currents of changing national priorities?

It really came down to this fundamental recognition: placing people at the heart of our work! Our responsibility extended beyond traditional conservation pursuits. It demanded an intricate dance between emphasizing nature's indispensable role in underpinning this economic transformation and aligning our strategies with evolving national agendas.
 

And within this shifting landscape, our ongoing efforts toward inclusive conservation, and growing focus over the past few years to landscapes beyond protected areas were already paving new pathway for conservation in Bhutan.

In the past year, our conservation efforts have positively impacted over 65,000 individuals across 12 districts in Bhutan. At the heart of our people-centered tiger conservation initiative lies the endeavor to understand the sentiments of communities residing in the tiger landscape and human-tiger conflict hotspot to develop meaningful intervention towards coexistence.
 

Aligned with our commitment to translating national sustainability goals into tangible actions, we've directed our focus toward addressing the barriers obstructing green growth. Our efforts encompass knowledge dissemination, capacity building, technology transfer, and leveraging financing to propel this agenda forward. Take, for instance, our pilot project— a 1 TPD biogas plant in Samdrup Jongkhar municipality.
 

This initiative diverts wet waste from over 10,000 residents away from landfills while generating biogas for Jigme Namgyal Engineering College, embodying our commitment to sustainable waste management.

Another tangible manifestation of commitment is evident in our solar training program. These initiatives underscore our commitment to bolstering domestic capacity, a critical aspect currently lacking in the country's solar service sector.
 

This annual report demonstrates our commitment to recalibrating our conservation approach, embracing inclusivity, and recognizing the interdependence of people and nature in forging a sustainable future. These endeavors also mark our resolute steps towards empowering local communities and building sustainable, self-sufficient practices in Bhutan.
 

In the operational front, significant changes were implemented, that include strengthening of critical functions, program alignment, and process improvement. These changes are in line with the Country Office’s goal to double the conservation impacts in the upcoming strategic plan cycle while upholding the principles of inclusive conservation objectives.
 

This past year was also a year for celebration. It marked the significant increase in the tiger and snow leopard population, a testament to the sustained collective efforts of the conservation champions, partners and donors under the firm leadership of the Royal Government of Bhutan and unwavering efforts of the Department of Forests and Park Services. To me, it underscored the invaluable role of partnership across diverse sectors.
 

The achievements highlighted in this report owe their credit to the unwavering support and collaboration of the Royal Government of Bhutan, partners, and donors.
 

Thank you for placing your trust in us.