The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

COMMUNITY VOICES IN CONSERVATION

Posted on 31 October 2025

Climate Crowd, the grassroots initiative empowers communities to develop nature-based solutions that are both sustainable and practical. From alternative income sources to innovative land-use practices, the project is helping Bhutanese communities adapt while continuing to protect the wildlife they live alongside. The project’s true strength lies in the people who call it home and consultations are where the real groundwork happens.

“Maymay rumay na…” the villagers tell us. Soaking up the slow-to-depart last remnants of summer as autumn began to make its presence felt, we were in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary (JWS), the smallest in Bhutan, last September.

Bhutan’s landscapes are diverse- from towering mountain ranges to verdant tropical forests, each leaving a lasting impression. Among these is JWS tucked away in the southern foothills. Home to endangered species like the Bengal tiger and Asian elephant, over 1,750 people share the land with these iconic species. Beyond its ecological significance, Jomotsangkha stands as a living tapestry of culture, resilience, and deep-rooted connection to nature.

Boots on the ground and spirits high, the WWF-Bhutan team set out across Jomotsangkha, gathering data and collecting stories for the next chapter of the Climate Crowd project. During our waking hours, we traveled through rugged landscapes, meeting local communities, exchanging ideas, and exploring practical solutions that could be shaped and carried forward by the hands of the people themselves.

Whether it was beekeeping, bamboo and soft broom grass plantation, or the revival of sacred lakes, every conversation circled back to a single, reverberating phrase in Tshangla: “Maymay rumay na”—a stern caution that translates to, “You will meet the elephants.” It’s a phrase that stays with you, a quiet reminder of the giant’s enduring presence and power.

Rescued elephant calf, Karma Raygyel, at Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary ©Kelzang Lhamo / WWF-Bhutan

Living with the elephants

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), magnificent mammals in both stature and persona, roam Bhutan’s southern wilderness. Elephants hold a special place in the people’s hearts and when people speak of them, they speak with reverence. “They are keystone modifiers. Their presence profoundly shapes the ecosystems they inhabit,” explains Krishna Prasad Dhimal, a forestry officer at JWS.

Krishna became a vital link between our team and the community of Jomotsangkha. He walked with us through every consultation and field visit, offering deep knowledge of both the land and the local traditions. His perspective helped us better understand the challenges and opportunities ahead, grounding our work in the lived realities of the communities.

Like all other wildlife, elephants play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting the delicate balance of ecosystems. For the communities who share their land with these mammals, the relationship runs deep. These people have been central to elephant conservation efforts but it hasn’t come without challenges. Conservation, while essential, can also disrupt livelihoods. At an integrated organic farm in Namchazor, Langchenphu or Haati Tar (flatlands of the elephants), a farmer is piloting agave as a natural fence to keep elephants at bay while staying eco-friendly.

Agave fencing at Namchazor integrated organic farm ©Kelzang Lhamo / WWF-Bhutan

Climate Crowd in action: Community voices in conservation

That’s where Climate Crowd comes in. Spearheaded by WWF-Bhutan, this grassroots initiative empowers communities to develop nature-based solutions that are both sustainable and practical. From alternative income sources to innovative land-use practices, the project is helping Bhutanese communities adapt while continuing to protect the wildlife they live alongside. The project’s true strength lies in the people who call it home and consultations are where the real groundwork happens.

I was reminded of the time His Majesty the Fourth King traversed the country listening to the people, consulting communities as the first Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan was being drafted. Born from the wisdom of His Majesty The Fourth King and shaped through extensive community consultations, Article 5 enshrines environmental stewardship as a sacred duty of every Bhutanese.

It calls upon us to protect our pristine landscapes and rich biodiversity for the benefit of not our generation, but of generations yet to come too. With a constitutional mandate to maintain at least sixty percent forest cover for all time, Bhutan stands as a global beacon of ecological responsibility and intergenerational equity.

Inspired and fueled by the spirit of community, our team travelled to Jomotsangkha not just to gather data, but to listen, connect and honor the voices that guide our work. We set out with a clear goal: revisit the interventions introduced during the first phase of the Climate Crowd project and, through direct conversations with the communities, explore new ideas that could lead to meaningful, real-world impact in the next phase. These consultations are at the very heart of the project.

At WWF-Bhutan, community engagement isn’t a checkbox, it is the foundation. Whether in remote villages or bustling towns, our interventions are co-designed with the people who live closest to the land. This bottom-up approach ensures that conservation efforts are not only environmentally sound but socially just.

Take, for another example, the Conflict to Coexistence (C2C) strategy. It’s more than just another framework; it’s a guiding approach we are committed to advancing. By embedding environmental and social safeguards into every step, we ensure that interventions respect local customs, spiritual sites, and traditional ways of life. After all, conservation must coexist with culture, not compete with it. This mindset needs to become the default for all conservation efforts.

Community members with Karma Raygyel ©WWF-Bhutan

Resilience in the face of change

Jomotsangkha’s communities, despite facing challenges like rural-urban migration among the productive working-age population, remain remarkably resilient. Sitting with them, hearing their stories, and gathering data reaffirmed our role as stewards of the land. The community’s insights are now helping shape the next phase of Climate Crowd, which focuses on climate adaptation and effective nature-based solutions.

Climate Crowd interventions aren’t a one-size-fits-all model. Climate change affects communities differently, and our responses must reflect that. Through key informant interviews, we’ve captured how shifting weather patterns are impacting livelihoods, and how people are adapting.

In Langchenphu village, Ghana Shyam Kharka, 71, a progressive beekeeper shares his concern, "the bees which typically arrive in October and stay until June, are now migrating out earlier due to rising summer temperatures. Their shortened stay is affecting honey production".

For nearly nine months each year, the bees make their home on Ghana Shyam’s farm and their presence is essential. Bees play a critical role in pollinating crops, and the honey they produce provides farmers like Ghana Shyam with a source of income.

These conversations are a form of outreach and through Climate Crowd, WWF Bhutan and the Department of Forest and Park Services are redefining conservation by putting people at the center. Past efforts like “Coexisting with Tigers under a Changing Climate” and “Building Resilience in Snow Leopard Landscapes” in Jigme Dorji National Park were grounded in local knowledge and leadership.

Climate Crowd’s impact

The Climate Crowd project is helping communities thrive across Bhutan. In Langchenphu, once-fallow paddy fields are now green, owing to Nu 2.9 million invested in water infrastructure upgrades. Taps and irrigation canals in Langchenphu and Samrang are now flowing - bringing water to homes and fields alike.

In Daagchukha village, nestled within Jigme Dorji National Park, 6.1 km of chain-link fencing was installed to protect over 70 acres of farmland from wildlife. Erythrina trees, used as live fence posts, also help prevent soil erosion.

Meanwhile, in Soe and Yaksa, communities have established an incense processing unit, adding an alternative income to their livelihoods.

By placing communities at the heart of the consevation, we-re not only safeguarding biodiversity, but we are also uplifting those who live in harmony with it. The future of conservation lies in collaboration, respect, and listening. And in places like Jomotsangkha, the message is clear: it's clarion call.

The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

COMMUNITY VOICES IN CONSERVATION

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