This Report of the Standing Committee on Water Resources (2021-22) deals with the action taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations contained in their Twelfth Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on ‘Flood Management in the Country including International Water Treaties in the field of Water Resource Management with particular Reference to …
A new soil conservation programme in Bhutan is in the pipeline after a recent assessment revealed that there is no proper scheme to regenerate degraded forests in this mountain kingdom. The project will aim to protect the fragile eco-system, check erosion in critical areas and improve the soil condition, said …
the mountain kingdom of Bhutan plans to have its first biodiversity action plan by mid-June. This will provide a framework for its nature conservation section (ncs), informed an official recently. The plan is expected to fill "the gaps in biodiversity'. "At present, we don't know what is missing but with …
If you are in Bhutan and get caught carrying a pheasant feather, you can be fined Nu 500 by the nature conservation section (ncs) of the country's forestry service division. Fines for killing protected animals range from Nu 1,000 (for a piece of otter skin) to Nu 50,000 (for a …
Bhutan could help absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and curb global warming as greenhouse gas emissions by the country is reportedly insignificant. Results of a study on climate change conducted by two Danish consultants showed that in a completely forested area the per capita CO2 emission was 19.6 tonne, in a …
Bhutan has set out on a tiger conservation project and has initiated a survey to check out the exact number of tigers in the country. According to Karma Tshering, programme coordinator of the Bhutan. Tiger Conservation Project of the ministry of agriculture, "The project was initiated because we wanted to …
Bhutanese forest officials recently undertook a special workshop in Thimphu, on newer aspects of forest management. Thirty-three plans, which cover an area of 381,475 ha, have so far been prepared with the aim to bring all the national forest reserves under the management plans. Said a forest official, "Earlier the …
The Bhutanese government has set up a new system of rules to improve water and sanitation systems to further the cause of urban development. The idea behind the scheme was to "ensure accountability, equitable access to safe and reliable water supply, and a clean and healthy living environment which is …
The new policy of the National Foot and Mouth Disease control programme in Bhutan lays down that migrating animals will now need to be compulsarily vaccinated and will be provided movement permits. The disease affects a number of livestock and reduces animal productivity to a large extent. According to J …
The Bhutanese government has laid down that import of second-hand and re-conditioned cars will be banned henceforth. The ban will ensure that the old cars, which cause more pollution, will be off the roads. Import duty on new vehicles has also been reduced concomitantly to encourage buyers to go in …
A detailed survey of Bhutan's ecological diversity will soon be undertaken to facilitate a better understanding of the country's wealth. Presenting a framework for assessing the biodiversity, Deki Yonten, an officer with the nature conservation section of the forestry services division of the government said that the "population of many …
An environmental survey by the national environment secretariat, the division of power and the forestry division of Bhutan, found that nearly 3,737 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 13.2 kg of methane and 143 tonnes of carbon monoxide are released into the atmosphere by the areas of Kilung, Tongling and the village …
Hypertension and anaemia are the new buzzwords in health circles in Bhutan. For the first time, under the health systems research programme, the two ailments which primarily affects pregnant women, will be the focus of thorough research after they were identified to be the most common prevalent illnesses in the …
Researchers at the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Bhutan, have discovered a plant substitute for musk, originally obtained from the musk deer. Known as Delphinium brunonianumor, traditionally, Bya-rgodspos, the plant is an erect hairy species groWing upto a height of 20 cm. Its chemical contents match that of musk, an …
With limits set on tree felling, residents in Thimpu, Bhutan, are facing a chilling winter. The forestry services division has specified the tree species to be cut so that indiscriminate tree felling can be curbed. "The aim is to discourage the use of hardwood for long term sustainability of the …
The Bhutan government is conducting study tours for farmers. Twenty farmers from Parop village were recently taken on a 5-day trip to forestry plantations and nurseries in Wangduephodrang, Punakha and Thimphu to launch the "Farmers-Foresters Familiarisation" tour organised by the government's social forestry and extension section. The aim of the …
The Indian Gypsy Moth is slowly but surely munching its way through Bhutan's treasure of oaks. A study conducted by the Forestry Research Institute, based in Taba, reveals that the swarm has since April devoured the leaves of oak trees spread over 300 acres in the forests of Tashiyangtsi. Villagers …
The government of the Netherlands has pledged to churn out the funds for producing solar energy in Bhutan. The deal is a part of the bilateral sustainable development agreement signed between the two countries in March 1994, which envisages cooperation in biodiversity, energy, culture and human resources. So far US …
WILD BOARS have sparked a discussion on basic Buddhist values among Bhutan's planners and decision makers. The animal is a voracious eater and prolific breeder and has emerged as the most notorious of pests because it manages to dodge traps. However, Buddhism does not permit the killing of wildlife. Wildlife …
A BHUTANESE princess, Deiky Wang-chuck, was arrested in Taiwan for trying to smuggle 22 Asian rhinoceros horns into the country, in the largest ever seizure of such horns (New Scientist, October 16, 1993). Taiwanese authorities say Wang-chuck admitted she expected to sell the horn -- weighing 14 kgs -- for …
The World Energy and Environment Technology (WEENTECH) is happy to announce the International Seminar on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development, 2015 (RESD2015). The conference is jointly organised with College of Science and Technology, Royal University of Bhutan and WEENTECH. Conference will provide platform for researchers and specialists across the globe …
