 | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1952 |
| Preceding Department |
|
| Type | Government Department |
| Jurisdiction | Royal Government of Bhutan |
| Headquarters | Tashichodzong, Thimphu, Bhutan |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Department executive |
|
| Parent Department | Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources |
| Child agencies |
|
| Website | www.dofps.gov.bt |
The Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan which was founded in 1952 is responsible to protect, conserve, utilize and manage the forestry resources of Bhutan. It was one of the oldest government departments in Bhutan. During the inception of the Department back in the 1950s, the department has been manned by the foresters from India. This was due to the lack of trained personnel from Bhutan at that time. As of now, the Department is fully manned by the nationals. [2]
The Department of Forests and Park Services was established in 1952 under the name "Department of Forests" which was before the starting of the FYPs in the country. In 1961 the Department was under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Forests. [3]
In the early 1980s, the Department was put under the Ministry of Agriculture during a reorganisation exercise by RCSC based on cadre system.
Bhutanese have always been endowed with rich renewable resources. Majority of the people in Bhutan reside in the rural areas of the country. These section of the country rely heavily on the forest resources for their livelihood. Until the 1960s the people in Bhutan made use of the forest resources in their vicinity without much interferences from the Government. [4]
"Sustaining Bhutan’s forest resources & biodiversity for the happiness of present and future generations"
"To conserve and manage Bhutan’s forest resources & biodiversity to ensure social, economic and environmental well-being, and to maintain a minimum of 60% of the land under forest cover for all times to come"
The Department of Forests and Park Services is composed of six functional divisions.
The Forest Protection and Enforcement Division, the then Forest Protection & Land Use Section (FPLUS) was formed sometime in 1991 as one of the oldest Functional Divisions under the Department. [5] It was renamed to FPUD in 2000.
The objective of this division is to ensure forest protection, sustainable management & utilization of land & forest resources.
Sections or programmes under this functional division are as follows:
Functions the under Forest Protection section are;
This is the main section under the functional division which ensures to maintain uniform allocation of Natural Resources sustainably throughout the country.
This section oversees the appropriate use and allocation of the state reserved forest lands properly in line with the existing Acts, Rules and regulations.
This section oversees the various activities pertaining to the prevention and minimizing of forest fire in the country.
The forests resource management division under the DoFPS ensures the sustainable management of forestry resources of Bhutan. Scientific management of Forest is done through the establishment of Forest Management Units. The division was renamed to FRMD in 2000 from Forest Resource Development Division. [6]
The Nature Conservation Division under the Department was established in 1992 to plan and implement conservation programs in the country. [7] This division is the sole technical support provider to the protected areas.
The Social Forestry and Extension Division under the Department was established in 1989 under the name "Afforestation Division". [8]
This Division was created on 25 May 2009 after the proposal for its creation in January 2009. [9] The primary mandate of this division is to implement the watershed management program.
The forests which are outside the jurisdiction of the protected areas are being managed through the 14 territorial forest divisions located at various places in the country. Prior to 2016, there were only 12 territorial forest divisions.
Bumthang Forest Division was established in April 1983 at Lamigoenpa in Lamai Goenpa Dzong which currently houses the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment [11]
Prior to the establishment of this territorial forest division, in the 1970s forestry activities in the Bumthang Dzongkhag were carried out by a forestry beat office which was housed in a private house at Joak near Jakar Lhakhang with the headquarter at Sarbang Forest Division. The beat office was under the Trongsa Range then.
Before the creation of Mongar forest division in 1985, this territorial forest division has been looking after Zhemgang, Mongar, Lhuntse, Trongsa and Bumthang Dzongkhags. With the creation of Zhemgang Division on July 28, 2003, this division handed over the Trongsa and Zhemgang Dzongkhags to the Zhemgang Forest Division.
Besides being one of the busiest territorial forest divisions in the country, the territorial forest division is also a home to some of the very important species of wild flora and fauna.
For instance, the national animal Bhutan Takin, Raven, Blue Poppy and the Cypress are found in the areas which fall under the jurisdiction of Bumthang Forest Division.
This territorial forest division spans over an area of less than 67,0652 acres.
2600m to more than 4000m above sea level
The Divisional Headquarters is located at Badthpalathang, about 500 meters away from Chamkhar town.
66.7%
In the year 1985, Sub-Divisional Forest Office was opened at Gedu in the old site office of Bhutan Logging Corporation (BLC) and later new Divisional office was constructed and Gedu Territorial Divisional Forest Office was established in the year 1988.
Gedu Territorial Forest Division covers entire Chukha Dzongkhag (11 Gewogs) and have total area of 1,991 km2 (769 sq mi). Gedu Territorial Forest Division is gateway for import and export of Forestry products and is also the commercial and financial hub of Bhutan.
There are three Range offices (Gedu, Tshimasham and Phuntsholing) and Five beat Offices (Chapcha, Wangkha, Darla, Kungkha and Pasakha Beat Office) under Gedu Territorial Forest Division.
| Sl. No | Name of Range | Location of Range Office | Gewogs covered | Beat offices under the Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gedu Range | Gedu near Gedu Divisional Forest Office | Bongo, Darla, Getana, Gelling, Metakha, Dungna and upper parts of Phuntsholing Gewogs | Darla and Kungkha Beat |
| 2 | Tshimasham Range | Tshimasham | Chapcha and Bjabcho Gewogs | Chapcha and Wangkha Beat office |
| 3 | Phuntsholing Range | Phuntsholing Main Town | Samphelling Gewog, Phuntsholing Gewog, Phuntsholing Thromde and Lokchina Gewog | Pasakha Beat Office |
The Paro Forest Division is the forest division which caters to the various forestry services to the people of Paro and Haa Dzongkhags.
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samtse Range | Tading, Samtse, Phuntshopelri | Samtse |
| 2 | Tashicholing | Tashicholing, Pemaling, Namgaycholing, Tendruk | Samtse |
| 3 | Norbugang Range | Sangacholing, Norbugang, Ugyentse, Yoseltse | Samtse |
| 4 | Dophuchen Range | Denchukha, Dophuchen, Dumtoed | Samtse |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samdrup Jongkhar Range | Deothang, Gomdhar, Wangphu, Orong | Samdrup Jongkhar |
| 2 | Jomotsangkha Range | Lauri, Serthi, Langchenphu | Samdrup Jongkhar |
| 3 | Samdrupcholing Range | Martshalla, Samrang, Phuntshothang, Pemathang | Samdrup Jomgkhar |
| 4 | Nganglam Range | Chokorling, Decheling, Norbugang | Samdrup Jongkhar |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radhi Range | Radhi, Phongmey, Bidung, Shongphu | Trashigang |
| 2 | Tashigang Range | Samkhar, Yangneer, Kanglung, Udzorong, Bartsham | Trashigang |
| 3 | Wamrong Range | Lumang, Thrimshing, Khaling, Kangpara | Trashigang |
| 4 | Tashiyangtse Range | Yangtse, Khamdang, Toetse | Tashiyangtse |
| 5 | Doksum Range | Ramjar, Jamkhar, Tongzhang, Yalang | Tashiyangtse |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarpang Range | Sarpangtar, Singye, Dekiling, Shompangkha, Hilley, Doban | Sarpnag |
| 2 | Gelephu Range | Gelephu, Jigmecholing, Sershong, Bhur, Chuzagang, Umling | Sarpang |
| 3 | Lhamoizingkha Range | Lhamoizingkha, Nichula, Deorali | Sarpang |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhemgang Range | Trong, Nangkor | Zhemgang |
| 2 | Panbang Range | Goshing, Bjoka, Nangla | Zhemgang |
| 3 | Khomshar Range | Bardho, Shingkhar | Zhemgang |
Mongar Forest Division is one of the 14 Territorial Forest Divisions situated in the eastern part of Bhutan. The Division was formally established in 1985.
In the initial phase Trashigang was also under Mongar Division. After establishment of separate Division for Trashigang and Trashiyangtse region, Mongar Division is entrusted with forest management responsibility of 17 geogs in Mongar Dzongkhag and 7 geogs in Lhuntse Dzongkhag and spans over an area of 2,323,54 sq.km.
Mongar Forest division covers an area of 2,323,54 sq.km.
Latitude= 26°50’ and 28° 10’ N Longitude= 90° 46’ and 91°10’E
400 to 4000 meters above sea level.
The Wangdue Forest Division was established in 1990 at Lobesa. It is one of the largest divisions in Bhutan at 5030.00 sq km. [12] The Wangdue territorial forest Division is divided into various forest management units.
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punakha Range | Tewong, Limbu, Talo, Chubu, Kabjai, Shengnana, Dzomi, Guma | Punakha |
| 2 | Lobesa Range | Barp and Toeb | Punakha |
| 3 | Wangdue Range | Phangyul, Kazhi, Bjena, Thedtsho, Nahi, Daga, Gase Tshowom, Gase Tshogom, Athang | Wangdue Phodrang |
| 4 | Nobding Range | Phobji, Gangtey, Dangchu and Sephu | Wangdue Phodrang |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thimphu Range | Kawang, Chang | Thimphu |
| 2 | Khasadrapchu Range | Gene, Mewang, Dagala | Thimphu |
| Sl.No | Name of Range office | Gewogs Covered | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsirang Range | Kilkhorthang, Dunglagang, Gosarling, Tsholingkhar, Tsirangtoe, Phuentenchu, Sergithang, Semjong, Rangthangling, Mendrelgang, Patshaling, Barshong | Tsirang |
With its head office at Dagapela, the Dagana Forest Division was established formally on 8 November 2016. [13]
This Forest Division with its two administrative range offices and two beat offices will cater to the services of the people.
Pema Gatshel Forest Division was established with its office inaugurated on 17 November 2016. [14]
Two Range Offices, Pemagatshel and Nganglam along with three Beat Offices, one each at Dungmaed, Yurung and Nanong, and two Checkposts at Kherogompa and Nganglam will cater to the services of the people.
The IUCN defines a protected area as "an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means." [15]
The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995 defines a protected area as an area, which has been declared to be a national park, conservation area, wildlife sanctuary, wildlife reserve, nature reserve, strict nature reserve, research forest, critical watershed or other protected areas. [16]
Over the generations, Bhutanese have managed the forest resources in a sustainable manner. A network of protected areas have been designated by the government to further conserve the environment. Protected areas in Bhutan are in the form of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, conservation area and Biological corridors. Five national Parks, four wildlife sanctuaries and a strict nature reserve spreads over various places in Bhutan.
The area and coverage percentage of the protected areas according to the Forestry Facts and Figures, 2013 is shown in the table below.
| Protected Area & Biological Corridors | Area in (km2) [17] | Percentage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Total Area Biological Corridors | 3,307.14 | 8.61 |
| Protected Area Network | 16,396.43 | 42.71 |
| Royal Botanical Park, Lampelri | 47 | 0.12 |
| Total PAs & BCs (including RBP) | 19,750.7 | 51.44 |
| Sl. No | Name of the Protected Area | Area(km2) | Existing Management Plan | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wangchuck Centennial National Park | 4914 | 2012-2017 | Bumthang, Gasa, Lhuntse, Trongsa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts |
| 2 | Royal Manas National Park | 1057 | 2009-2014 | Pemagatshel, Sarpang, and Zhemgang Districts |
| 3 | Jigme Dorji National Park | 4316 | 2012-2017 | Gasa, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts |
| 4 | Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park | 1730 | 2014-2018 | Sarpang, Tsirang, Trongsa, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Districts |
| 5 | Phrumsengla National Park | 905.5 | 2013-2018 | Bumthang, Lhuntse, Mongar, and Zhemgang Districts |
| Sl. No | Name of the Protected Area | Area(km2) [17] | Existing Management Plan | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary | 1520.61 | being revised | Lhuntse, Mongar, and Trashiyangtse Districts; contains the former Kulong Chu Wildlife Sanctuary |
| 2 | Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary | 334.73 | non operational | Samdrup Jongkhar District |
| 3 | Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary | 268.93 | 2012-2017 | Dagana and Sarpang Districts |
| 4 | Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary | 740.6 | 2007-2012 | Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts |
| Sl. No | Name of the Protected Area | Area(km2) [17] | Existing Management Plan | Dzongkhags covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve | 609.51 | 2012-2017 | Haa and border with Samtse District |
Bhutanese established biological corridors in 1999. During the establishment of the biological corridors in the country, there were 12 corridors covering a total area of 3,660 km2. [18] The biological corridors in Bhutan was declared as a "Gift to the Earth from the people of Bhutan" by Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. [19]
Currently, the total area covered by the eight biological corridors is 3,307.14 km2. The corridors have been numbered from 1 to 8 in order to manage them effectively.
The Biodiversity Action Plan, 2002 named a number of areas outside the protected areas system that are of great conservation value and require some special regulations and management interventions to ensure protection from potentially intrusive activities. These areas are multiple use areas which does not need to be under the management of the Wildlife Conservation Division. [21]
The Phobjikha Valley which lies towards the western side of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park is one of the largest high-altitude wetlands of Bhutan. It is one of the most important wintering habitats for the vulnerable Black-necked Cranes. [22]
The developmental activities in Bhutan has been increasing year by year. Developmental works increased and the demand for timber resources equally increased. In order to cater to the ever-increasing commercial demand for timber resources and for the rural purposes, the Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan has identified forest areas from where timber are harvested scientifically according to their management plans. The management plans were prepared by the department inline with the Forest Management Code of Bhutan, 2004. Bhutan currently has 23 areas identified as production forests. Currently there are 17 functional Forest Management Units and 6 working schemes. [17]
The majority of the Bhutanese population live in the rural areas where they rely heavily on the forest resources for their basic needs. Forests provide them with products and services in the form of firewood, timber, fodder, foods, medicine, leaf litter, water for drinking and irrigation and some forests are highly revered as home of local deities. These local forest users can be resource managers.
His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1979 said that "The participation of the local community is the key to conservation and utilisation of forest resources". [23] This led to the starting of community forestry in Bhutan as government supported programme. In 1995, Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Chodon Wangchuck stated that "Community Forestry builds on existing local knowledge and traditional forest, management systems and develops means to devolve management responsibility for forest areas to the people that actually depend on the forest for their sustenance. [23] "
The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan(1995) and the revised Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan(2003) provides legal basis for community forestry in Bhutan. Chapter IV of the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan (2006)deals with the Community Forestry. [24] Dozam Community Forest was the first Community Forest established by the Department and as of 2013, there were 529 community Forests in Bhutan. [17]
| Dzongkhag | Number of CFs | Area(Ha) | Number of CFMG (Households) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumthang | 16 | 1879.89 | 529 |
| Chukha | 33 | 2455.7 | 1196 |
| Dagana | 14 | 1178.04 | 522 |
| Gasa | 7 | 452.46 | 168 |
| Haa | 15 | 1448.85 | 458 |
| Lhuntse | 21 | 1372.43 | 645 |
| Mongar | 25 | 5295.4 | 1622 |
| Paro | 25 | 4090.28 | 1463 |
| Pemagatshel | 32 | 2396.03 | 1548 |
| Punakha | 37 | 3258.22 | 1258 |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | 33 | 4612.32 | 1831 |
| Samtse | 33 | 2382.99 | 1307 |
| Sarpang | 26 | 2189.93 | 979 |
| Thimphu | 21 | 2749.63 | 837 |
| Trashigang | 43 | 7936.42 | 2388 |
| Tashiyangtse | 17 | 1780.46 | 814 |
| Trongsa | 22 | 2587.48 | 788 |
| Tsirang | 33 | 5093.95 | 2142 |
| Wangdue Phodrang | 52 | 3907.96 | 1554 |
| Zhemgang | 24 | 2595.23 | 1007 |
| Grand Total | 529 | 59663.67 | 23106 |
The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research is a government based research training institute under the Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan. [25] Currently the institute is housed in the Lamai Gonpa Dzong which was built in 1887 by the first King of Bhutan, His Majesty Ugyen Wangchuck when he was 25 years old.
Wangdue Phodrang District is a Thromde and dzongkhag (district) of central Bhutan. This is also the name of the dzong which dominates the district. The name is said to have been given by the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. The word "wangdue" means unification of Country, and "Phodrang" means Palace in Dzongkha.
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It contains numerous temples and Buddhist sacred sites. The district is divided into four gewogs, each corresponding to a major glacial valley: Choekor, Tang, Ura, and Chhume. The latter valley is also called Bumthang, lending its name to the whole district.
PemagatshelDistrict is one of the 20 Dzongkhags (districts) in Bhutan.
Zhemgang District, is one of the 20 dzongkhags (districts) comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Sarpang, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar and Pemagatshel Districts, and borders Assam in India to the south. The administrative center of the district is Zhemgang.
A gewog, in the past also spelled as geog, is a group of villages in Bhutan. The head of a gewog is called a gup. Gewogs form a geographic administrative unit below dzongkhag districts, and above Dzongkhag Thromde class B and Yenlag Thromde municipalities. Dzongkhag Thromde class A municipalities have their own independent local government body.
Trongsa District is one of the districts of Bhutan. It is the most central district of Bhutan and the geographic centre of Bhutan is located within it at Trongsa Dzong.
Zhemgang is a town in Zhemgang District, Bhutan. It is the capital of the district, and is located in Trong Gewog.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN) is Bhutan's first and only non-governmental organization nonprofit organization with nationwide operations.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bhutan:
Agriculture in Bhutan has a dominant role in the Bhutan's economy. In 2000, agriculture accounted for 35.9% of GDP of the nation. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP declined from approximately 55% in 1985 to 33% in 2003. Despite this, agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for the majority of the population. Pastoralism and farming are naturally complementary modes of subsistence in Bhutan.
The Bhutan takin is a subspecies of Takin native to Bhutan but also found in North Eastern India, Western part of China, and Tibet. Locally known as drong gimtse, it holds the honor of being Bhutan's national animal.
Ura Gewog is a gewog of Bumthang District, Bhutan. Ura Gewog consists of ten major villages- Tangsibi, Shingnyeer, Shingkhar, Pangkhar, Somthrang, Beteng, Trabi, Tarshong, Toepa and Chari with total household of 301 and population of 2288, covering an area of around 265 sq. kilometer with some 82% of forest coverage. The Gewog is located in the southeastern part of Bumthang District, 48 km distance from Dzongkhag Offices. It is bordered by Chhokhor and Chhumig gewog to the west, Tang gewog to the north, Zhemgang and Mongar District to the south and Lhuentse District to the east. The altitude of the gewog is around 3100 meters above sea level.
Trong Gewog is a gewog of Zhemgang District, Bhutan. It has a total area of 358 km2 and a total population of 3371. In 2003, The Dzongkhag administration declared Trong a “heritage village,” whereby house-owners were restricted from changing the appearance of their houses and surroundings. This was done to encourage the preservation of traditional Bhutanese architecture and increase culture-based tourism in the region. As of 2023, there were 380 households in this gewog, and 39 empty houses. The broader district of Zhemgang is known for its rich biodiversity, particularly of bird species, and Trong Gewog is a popular destination for bird-watching.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park covers an area of 1,730 square kilometres (670 sq mi) in central Bhutan. It protects a large area of the Black Mountains, a sub−range of the Himalayan Range System.
The Torsa Strict Nature Reserve (officially Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve) in Bhutan covers 609.51 square kilometres in Haa District, occupying most of its area. Founded along with other national parks in 1993 by decision of the royal government, It borders Sikkim and Tibet to the west and is connected to Jigme Dorji National Park via a "biological corridor." Torsa SNR contains the westernmost temperate forests of Bhutan, from broadleaf forests to alpine meadows and the small lakes of Sinchulungpa, at altitudes ranging from 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) to 4,800 metres (15,700 ft). Like Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Torsa SNR has no resident human population.
Wangchuck Centennial National Park in northern Bhutan is the kingdom's largest national park, spanning 4,914 square kilometres (1,897 sq mi) over five districts, occupying significant portions of northern Bumthang, Lhuntse, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts. It borders Tibet to the north and is bound by tributaries of the Wong Chhu (Raidāk) basin to the west. Wangchuck Centennial directly abuts Jigme Dorji National Park, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, and Phrumsengla National Park in northern Bhutan, and is further connected to Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in central Bhutan via biological corridors. Thus, most of northern Bhutan is part of these protected areas.
The Kingdom of Bumthang was one of several small kingdoms within the territory of modern Bhutan before the first consolidation under Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1616. After initial consolidation, the Bumthang Kingdom became Bumthang Province, one of the nine Provinces of Bhutan. The region was roughly analogous to modern-day Bumthang District. It was again consolidated into the modern Kingdom of Bhutan in 1907.
Among Bhutan's most pressing environmental issues are traditional firewood collection, crop and flock protection, and waste disposal, as well as modern concerns such as industrial pollution, wildlife conservation, and climate change that threaten Bhutan's population and biodiversity. Land and water use have also become matters of environmental concern in both rural and urban settings. In addition to these general issues, others such as landfill availability and air and noise pollution are particularly prevalent in relatively urbanized and industrialized areas of Bhutan. In many cases, the least financially and politically empowered find themselves the most affected by environmental issues.
Bhutan Biodiversity Portal(འབྲུག་སྐྱེ་ལྡན་རིགས་སྣ་འཆར་སྒོ།) is a consortium based citizen science website comprising key biodiversity data generating agencies and can be used by anyone. The portal is an official online repository of data on Bhutanese biodiversity.
