The Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC) signed three grant agreements worth over Nu 17 M today in Thimphu. The grant is a part of the organisation’s 2023-2024 funding window. The three projects are to address waste management issues and environmental conservation.
The two Large Grant projects include the infrastructure development of Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Gelephu, and the development of laboratories to assess automobile waste.
The project worth almost Nu 4 M for the Department of Forest and Park Services plans to revitalise the infrastructure and improve the services at Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary.
“Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary lies within the Gelephu Mindfulness City project right now and also Phibsoo outpost especially requires integration of sustainable infrastructure within the park so that it blends very well in the park, while at the same time enhancing the livelihood of the rangers in the field. And also to enhance the experiences for the visitors to the park,” said Phuntsho Namgyal, officiating director of the Department of Forest and Park Services, MoENR.
Meanwhile, the project of almost Nu 2 M for the College of Science and Technology will build laboratories and install equipment to study the pollution caused by automobile waste.
“So when it comes to automobile waste, I would like to assert that unlike solid waste and medical waste, in Bhutan we do not have the standardisation for automobile waste. So, CST aims to discretise and characterise the different types of automobile waste, including wheels, grease, and spare parts into different categories. And based on that, we plan to recycle those waste if possible. If not, we try to quantify the level of pollution and the toxicity that it costs to nature,” said Nimesh Chhetri, a lecturer at the College of Science and Technology.
Additionally, the Project Related Investment worth Nu 12 M was granted to the Youth Development Fund, which will construct a factory and install equipment for recycling paper waste into egg trays.
“We are hopeful that we will not only substitute the import of egg trays from other countries, but at the same time this project also aims to create employment and engagement for young people and women in the place where the project will be initiated,” said Kinley Tenzin, director at Youth Development Fund.
He added that the egg tray factory will be constructed in Wangdue Phodrang and the revenue generated from the project will go towards funding youth start-ups.
To ensure that each project is being successfully implemented, BTFEC will conduct periodic assessments.
“The long-term sustainability of the project, unlike having short-term projects, comes in the limelight when it’s happening and then it dies off. Definitely with the trust fund, we are very conscious about the long-term project, so we have a very good monitoring evaluation in place. When we say monitor, it’s not unlike in school where you are trying to be strict. Monitoring is to assist how you can better implement the project, so we go with that mindset,” said Karma Tshering, the managing director of BTFEC.
Two Large Grant projects are expected to be completed within the next five years, and the PRI is a ten-year project.
Singye Dema
Edited by Kipchu
