The forest protection and surveillance team in the Department of Forest and Park Services received the third Jigme Singye Wangchuck Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck presented the award.
The award is for those who have dedicated their lives to protect and conserve the environment.
The Jigme Singye Wangchuck outstanding environment stewardship award is presented by the Bhutan Ecological Society.
Her Royal Highness said the team has been instrumental in controlling illegal timbering, poaching and discovering new species.
The team is also recognised for documenting wild animals, educating local community on conservation of forest, forest mapping and fire-fighting.
Forest Expo
Meanwhile, Her Royal Highness also opened a forest expo at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment today. The expo showcases varieties of plant and animal species.
Eighty different plant species and 20 butterfly species and a few bird species are on display. These species were collected by the Institute since March this year. The species were collected from across the country for research. It is also to educate and help identify the plants and butterfly species in the country.
The officials from the Institute said the expo would remain open for the tourists. Meanwhile, coinciding with the Social Forestry Day today, Her Royal Highness also planted saplings. About 500 saplings were planted at the Institute.
