In an effort to reduce the cutting of trees for roofing, officials from the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park handed over CGI sheets to the villages in the park area in Trongsa. Over 23 households in Korphu Gewog in Trongsa received the CGI Sheets. The park officials distributed nearly 900 CGI sheets to the locals recently.
More houses in Nabji, Korphu and Nyimshong villages in Trongsa will now replace wooden shingles with CGI sheets.
“Some did not have any income to buy CGI sheets; they were either using wooden shingles or tarpaulin. We used to cut large number of trees for wooden shingles and it was not only difficult but also had damaging effect on the environment,” said Pema Phuntsho of Korphu Gewog.
“We had to place utensils under the roof to protect ourselves from the rain water,” remembers Rinzin, another beneficiary. “I tried getting old CGI sheets from lhakhang, but it didn’t work. But now I am happy, for getting CGI Sheets for free.”
The park manager, Kelzang Wangchuk, said locals here have been cutting trees every three years to replace the old and worn-out wooden shingles. “When they go for collection they always look for big trees that are over 100 years old. It was also difficult for them as they had to spend weeks in the forest,” the park manager added.
He said that the villagers would continue to get the subsidised rural timber. “We are actually preserving the trees.”
The CGI sheets worth about Nu. 1 million were purchased with financial support from the World Wildlife Fund. Other villages which are under the park area will also receive the CGI sheets.
