The nine districts of southern and western Bhutan can look forward to receiving biodiversity conservation services next year. The project, “Living Landscapes-Securing Ecological Connectivity of Conservation Value areas” will focus on protecting some areas outside the protected area system. As part of the project preparatory, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Bhutan and Germany, and the International Climate Initiative presented the project appraisal to relevant national stakeholders in Thimphu on May 17.
While the project concept has been already approved, the WWF Bhutan will submit its final details towards the end of August this year.
The identified districts are Haa, Thimphu, Paro, Chhukha and Samtse in the west and Dagana, Tsirang, Sarpang and Zhemgang in the south.
The WWF Bhutan will carry out research in these districts to establish or locate high conservation value areas. The project will focus on protecting not just the key biodiversity areas but also important cultural sites and economic areas, and critical watersheds.
“We realised that forest or areas outside protected areas need to be conserved as well. At the same time we also understand that unlike the protected areas, forests or areas outside the protected areas are also home not just to the biodiversity but also to people, there is a lot of economic activities happening and there is competing demand for the resources in these areas,” Tashi Jamtsho, the Program Director of WWF Bhutan, said.
The project aims to understand the concept of high conservation values as a decision-making process and integrate it into the country’s national land use planning processes. It will also help in developing climate-smart management plans for the divisional forest officers.
“This project is a very good example of how we process with our middle path to devolvement because this project looks at conservation of environment, critical environmental or forest areas. It could be watersheds, areas importance to providing ecosystem services but at the same time this project will also have a component on sustainable livelihoods especially to those rural communities who are hugely depended on our natural resources,” Tashi Jamtsho added.
For the project, the WWF Bhutan will work on strengthening the capabilities of forestry officers and provide community-based business activities to the remote villages identified.
The International Climate Initiative of Germany’s Environment ministry has indicated to donate 9 M Euros and the WWF Germany will provide an additional 1 M Euros for the project. The WWF Bhutan, along with the Tarayana Foundation will implement the project.
