A three-day National Inception Workshop on Integrating Pay for Environmental Service and REDD+ is underway. It is being organised by the Watershed Management Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and the SNV Bhutan.
The Pay for Environmental Service pilot project was started in Yakpugang Community Forestry Management in Monggar in 2010. The project limits grazing and timber extraction in Yakpugang Community Forest to conserve the drinking water source of Monggar town.
In return for its watershed conservation efforts, the Yakpugang Community Forestry Management is paid Nu. 52,000 annually by the Monggar Municipality Authority.
The project is supported by the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation and Blue Moon Fund with technical assistance from the SNV.