A proposal to declare a biological corridor connecting the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary was put in the National Assembly on Friday. A biological corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated from human activities and structures. Presenting the proposal to the House, the agriculture and livestock minister said despite the two wildlife sanctuaries being in proximity, having similar climate and habitat composition, and biodiversity, there is no designated biological corridor.
According to the minister, declaring a biological corridor between Bumdeling and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuaries will have benefits at the national and international levels.
He added that communities falling within the corridor will get additional budgets apart from annual developmental grants.
“Firstly, declaring the biological corridor between the two parks will help develop and diversification of animal and plant species in the areas. Secondly, once declared international agencies and conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity will support Bhutan through the International agreement,” said Yeshey Penjor, agriculture and livestock minister.
Despite the majority of the members of the House agreeing to deliberate on the proposal, a few MPs shared their concerns.
“While communities falling within the corridor are supportive of the declaration, they are also sceptical about human-wildlife conflicts. However, I have convinced my constituents about the promotion of ecotourism in the area,” said Karma Gyeltshen, Khamdhang-Ramjar MP, Trashi Yangtse.
“Most parks and biological corridors fall in remote areas, where there is no road connectivity and fewer households or in the areas with more empty households. The minister said communities falling within the corridor would benefit more through national and international donors and supporters. But my worry is will farmers not face difficulty in transporting their agriculture and livestock products to the nearest market when communities or gewogs lack basic amenities such as roads?” questioned Karma Lhamo, Monggar MP.
The Speaker of the National Assembly has forwarded the proposal to the Environment and Climate Change Committee for further review. The house will deliberate on the declaration on Wednesday after the committee’s review report.
If the biological corridor is declared, Bhutan’s total protected area coverage will increase by about one per cent to 52 per cent.
According to the chief forest officer of the Nature Conservation Division, the establishment of the biological corridor will provide ecological connectivity and facilitate effective species movement.
“The main reason we are building the biological corridor in the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is to facilitate the movement of species and animals freely in these two landscapes,” said Sonam Wangdi, chief forest officer.
The proposed area for the new biological corridor covers Toedtsho, Yalang, Khamdang, Bumdeling, and Yangtse Gewogs in Trashi Yangtse and part of Phongmey Gewog in Trashigang.
Sonam Yuden & Pema Tshewang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
