More than 80 foresters deployed on Cordyceps patrolling are on their way to Bumthang and Wangdue Phodrang’s Cordyceps collection sites starting yesterday.
The Forests and Park Services Department mobilised additional foresters from various forestry offices in Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa and Zhemgang to ensure higher surveillance along the northern border amid the COVID-19 scare. In the past, only about 30 foresters were deployed at the collection sites during the period.
With reports of some Bhutanese collectors engaging in illegal cross-border trade during the Cordyceps collection period, the government recently told media that surveillance across the northern border would be scaled up this year so that collectors don’t import COVID-19 from foreign land.
Meanwhile, Desuups and policemen will also start manning the various checkpoints recently installed in both Bumthang and Wangdue Phodrang to monitor the collectors and conduct flu screenings. Three checkpoints, one each at Zangtherpo, Dhur Zomlingthang and Yungsum of Chhoekhor Gewog and another at Tang Gewog in Bumthang have been installed. Another two at Dangchhu and Saephu Gewogs of Wangdue Phodrang are also under operation. Foresters, police and locals will also be deployed at Zhurey village under Chhumig Gewog soon.
Likewise, sensitisation programmes on dos and don’ts of Cordyceps harvesting and COVID-19 preventive measures are ongoing in various Gewogs of Bumthang these days. Collectors will have to produce a Certificate of Participation obtained at the sensitisation programmes, their Collection ID and Cordyceps Harvesting Permit on reaching the checkpoints.
Kipchu
