GEF MEDIUM-SIZED PROJECT BRIEF
LINKING AND ENHANCING PROTECTED AREAS IN
THE TEMPERATE BROADLEAF FOREST ECOREGION OF BHUTAN (LINKPA)
1.
PROJECT SUMMARY
PROJECT IDENTIFIERS
1. Project name:
2. GEF Implementing Agency:
Linking and Enhancing Protected Areas in
UNDP, Thimphu, Bhutan
the Temperate Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion
of Bhutan (LINKPA)
3. Country or countries in which the
4. Country eligibility:
Convention on Biological Diversity and
project is being implemented:
Bhutan
United Nations Framework on Climate
Change ratified August 1995
6.
Operational program/Short-term
5. GEF focal area(s):
Biodiversity
measure: OP 3 & 4 Forest and Mountain
Ecosystems.
1. Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programs:
The Royal Government of Bhutan has placed sustainable development, which is locally called the
“middle path approach”, as its central government policy and vision for long-term development.
As a kingdom so deeply rooted on Buddhist belief, Bhutan has taken proactive measures to
balance nature and culture conservation with development. The approach is highlighted and
reflected in all government policy and planning, including the Bhutan 2020 and the National
Environmental Strategy for Bhutan.
To conserve its rich and relatively intact environment, the Royal Government of Bhutan has made
a strong commitment and placed high priority to conserve its forests and adopted a network of
protected area system, which now accounts for more than 26 % of its territory. In 1995, the
government committed to conserve at least 60 % of its land under forest at all time. Currently,
with this strong commitment, forest coverage in Bhutan has reached over 72%. Through the
National Biodiversity Action Plan (1998), the government has also committed for integrated
biodiversity conservation at a landscape level rather than a single isolated protection working in
circle blocks. Based on this approach, with WWF’s support, the biological corridors was
established in 1999 as a “Gift to the Earth’ by the people of Bhutan, to link the nine existing
protected areas to conserve wild species outside of the reserves and allow free geneflow across the
entire country. This brought additional 9% of forestland to be protected by the government and
local community of Bhutan.
Building up on this strong commitment of the Royal Government of Bhutan for biodiversity
conservation, the focus of this project is to develop policy framework for biological corridor
management and start implementing the integrated conservation initiatives at the landscape level.
Strengthen management of the protected area network and the biological corridors are critical to
ensure long-term protection of the globally significant forest and mountain ecosystems and the
flagship species it supports.
2. GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement:
 Aum Yangki T Wangchuk, Director General, Department of Debt and Aid Management,
Ministry of Finance, Thimphu.
 Endorsed on 20th April 1999 by Department of Aid and Debt Management, Ministry of
Finance.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
9 Project rationale and objectives:
Rationale: Since 1977, the Government of
Bhutan has engaged in developing a protected
area network to conserve its rich biological
resources. An assessment conducted in 1993,
with support from WWF, recognized that the
conservation of the important broadleaf forest
ecosystem in Bhutan was not fully represented in
the established protected area network. Thus in
1999 the Thrumshingla National Park was newly
established. Moreover, the same year, the
government together with WWF established the
innovative biological corridors to link these
protected areas and maintain its ecological
integrity. Strengthening conservation activities
in these newly established protected area and the
biological corridors in the Broadleaf Forest
Ecoregion is recognized as a major gap to
conserve the representative ecosystem and
globally significant biodiversity resources in
Bhutan.
Project site: The project site is at the Broadleaf
Forest Ecoregion of Bhutan, which is located in
the southern area of central Bhutan contains the
richest biodiversity in Bhutan, with many
endangered and endemic species. The project
focuses its initiatives, particularly at the newly
established Thrumshingla National Park as a
linch pin of the biological corridors that connects
with other protected areas in the Broadleaf Forest
Ecoregion, namely the Royal Manas National
Park and the Black Mountain National Park. The
landscape scale biodiversity conservation
initiatives through protected areas and biological
corridor management in the Broadleaf Forest
Ecoregion is expected to be an innovative model
in Bhutan and to be replicated in other parts of
the corridors in the future.
Success indicators for project objectives:
 Increased total hectares of broadleaf
Project Goal: Ensure long term conservation of
forest under effective protection measures
forest and mountain ecosystems and viable  Increased or stable population of globally
population of species of global biodiversity
endangered flagship species, including
significance in Bhutan through maintaining a
tiger
network of protected areas and linking corridors
 Clear guideline and regulatory policies
are in place for effective management of
Project Objective: To strengthen management
protected areas and the biological
of biological corridors and protected area
corridors
network in the broadleaf forest ecoregion based
on a landscape scale conservation approach.
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2
Success indicators for project outcomes:
10. Project outcomes:
Component 1:
 Guideline and policy document for the
Developed conservation and management
biological corridor management is
guideline, regulatory framework, and capacity for
developed
biological corridor management
 Long and medium term financial plans are
developed to finance the biological
Component 2:
corridor initiatives
Developed model initiatives for effective  Model for biological corridor management
biological corridor management and conservation
is developed through the pilot initiatives in
by the local authorities and communities in the
the Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion for future
selected sites.
replication at a national scale
 Decreased cases of forest encroachment by
Component 3
grazing and agriculture in the Broadleaf
Strengthened conservation and sustainable use of
Forest Ecoregion
biological resources in the ThrumshingLa  Decreased cases of illegal hunting after 2
National Park as a ‘linch pin’ of the biological
years of project implementation in the
corridors.
Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion
 Local community and key stakeholders
(particularly women and vulnerable
communities) have increased knowledge
on the importance, values, and benefits of
protected areas and biological corridors in
the broadleaf forest ecoregion
 Increased understanding on the biological
and socio-economic condition of the
broadleaf forest ecoregion.
 Increased number of professionally
skilled government and NGO staff to
effectively manage the biological
corridors
11. Project activities to achieve outcomes:
Indicators:
Component 1: Biological Corridor Policy and Component 1:
Guideline Development
 Regulatory framework and guideline for
1) Develop guidelines and/or regulatory
the management of biological corridor are
framework for the management of
developed
in
cooperation
with
biological corridor through series of
government
institutions,
local
workshops and consultations among central
communities and other stakeholders
and local government staff, decision  Government staff and local people are
makers, local communities, and other key
trained and increased capacity to manage
stakeholders
biological corridors and on natural
2) Organize annual workshop/meeting among
resources management
the central and local government staff to
discuss, share experiences, and plan on Component 2:
effective biological corridor management
 Increased cooperation and participation of
3) Develop management capacity through
local communities and government for
training and exchange learning with other
integrated conservation and development
regional countries that are initiating
initiatives in the biological corridors of
biological corridor management, such as
the Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion
Nepal and Vietnam.
 Comprehensive database and monitoring
4) Develop a financial plan (long and medium
system, including GIS assisted maps are
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3
term) for sustainable management of the
biological corridors
developed to assist informed management
of biological corridors
Component 2: Pilot Initiatives on Integrated
Corridor Management
1) Develop a conservation management plan in
two selected biological corridors by the local
government and communities
2) Implement pilot integrated conservation and
development initiatives in the selected sites
of the biological corridors
3) Establish effective biological database and
monitoring system of the biological corridor
and protected area network.
Component 3:
 Clear management zones are identified in
the park for effective resource use and
conservation
 Park staff are adequately appointed,
equipped and trained
 Decreased number of livestock in and
around the park
 Decreased poaching and retaliation killing
of wild animals in and around the park
 Alternative resources are identified
(hydropower electricity, CGI roofs, etc) to
decrease natural resource pressure in and
around the park
 Number of farmer’s associations are
established and functional to conduct
ICDP activities
 Pilot eco-tourism activities are conducted
in the park
 Monitoring and database system is
developed to effectively monitor the
biological and socio-economic situation in
and around the park
Component 3: Conservation and Management of
‘linch pin’ Protected Area
1) Enhance management structure and
framework of the Thrumshingla National
Park
2) Strengthen law enforcement in and around
the park
3) Improve natural resources use in the park
and surrounding area
4) Develop alternative livelihood initiatives in
and around the park
5) Conduct information, communication, and
education programs to support planning and
awareness raising in and around the park
12. Estimated budget (in US$):
PDF (GEF):
GEF:
Co-financing:
Royal Government of Bhutan
WWF
$
0
$ 792,000
$ 420,000
$ 643,000
TOTAL: $ 1,855,000
INFORMATION ON INSTITUTION SUBMITTING PROJECT BRIEF
13. Information on project proposer:
Name: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Bhutan Program Office
Contact person: Kinzang Namgay, Country Representative, knamgay@wwfbhutan.org.bt
WWF’s involvement in Bhutan’s conservation started since 1977 in the form of small but critical
support for training of Bhutanese park and wildlife personnel, and provision of equipment for
wildlife management. The office was established in Thimphu in 1992, mainly to coordinate
delivery of technical and financial assistance to various conservation projects in the country.
Today, WWF Bhutan Program supports 18 projects, large and small, ranging from protected area
management and species conservation to environmental education and community-based
conservation. A Country Representative leads the Program Office with 11 full-time staff. Over the
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4
years, WWF has nurtured integrated conservation and development initiatives to reduce conflicts
between local community development needs and nature conservation objectives. WWF has built
close links with its conservation partners, both government and non-governmental organizations,
and with the local communities whose support is critical to the long-term success of conservation
efforts. In relation to this project, WWF Bhutan has financially and technically supported the
government to: 1) assess the protected area network, 2) establish the Trumshing La National Park,
3) develop the officially approved Trumshing La Management Plan through comprehensive series
of wildlife, vegetation, and socio-economic assessments; and 4) identify and map the biological
corridor to link the protected areas of Bhutan.
14. Information on proposed executing agencies (if different from project proposer):
WWF Bhutan will execute the project to support the Government of Bhutan. WWF will
coordinate the several implementing agencies: the Forest Services Division of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Dzongkhag (District) Administrations (Buntang, Mongar, Zhemgang, and Lhuntse),
Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (the only local conservation NGO currently under
operation in Bhutan), and local community organizations.
15. Date of initial submission of project concept:
March 1999; March 2001
INFORMATION TO BE COMPLETED BY IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:
16. Project identification number:
BHU/2001/A01
17. Implementing Agency contact person:
 Mr. Tim Boyle, Regional Coordinator, UNDP/GEF, One UN Plaza, DC1-2364, New York
NY 10044. Tel: 212-906-6511; fax: 212-906-5825; email: tim.boyle@undp.org
 Ms Seeta Giri, UNDP, Thimphu, Bhutan
18. Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s):
Biodiversity and environmental conservation is a key focus under the UNDP Bhutan’s Country
Cooperation Framework along with the good governance for sustainable development, which is
under implementation with strong cooperation and commitment by the Government of Bhutan.
UNDP supported the development of the National Environment Strategy called “The Middle
Path” and Biodiversity Action Plan, which specifically recommended, “integrated biodiversity
conservation at landscape and stand levels” rather than “single isolated protection working circle
blocks.” (Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan, 1998, p87). Currently, UNDP is supporting the
implementation of the conservation management plan, prepared with support from WWF, in
Jigme Dorji National Park ($2.093 million USD), which this proposed project could learn
substantial lessons and experience from its implementation.
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2.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Project Rationale and Objectives
A strong pro-conservation government, stable, far-sighted leadership, small population size,
reverence for nature instilled by Buddhism, delayed modernization, and rugged topography have
all made Bhutan one of the environmentally richest country in today’s world. With 72.5% of its
territory under forest and 26% of its land under protected areas, species diversity in Bhutan is
amongst the highest in the world. Though the territory is small, it provides home to some 114
species of mammals, over 700 bird species and at least 5,000 species of vascular plants. Although
the number of endemic plant genera in the eastern Himalaya is few, endemism is prevalent at the
species and subspecies level. Situated in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan extends through both the
Indomalayan (Oriental) and the Palearctic biogeographic realms. The Eastern Himalaya and its
Temperate Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion in Bhutan is recognized as one of the globally significant
200 Ecoregions around the world through a comprehensive scientific analysis undertaken by
WWF (Annex 1- map of template broadleaf forest ecoregion).
Between 1983 and 1991, several reviews on the protected area network of Bhutan indicated that
alpine-tundra and subtropical forests were well represented, however, biologically rich temperate
broadleaf forests, which are expansive in the central Bhutan, were less protected. The ecosystem
of central Bhutan is considered important because it constitutes a major portion of the inner
Himalayas, north-south altitude variation, the east-west rainfall gradients and their evolutionary
roles in speciation and species dispersal. In 1992, the Department of Forestry Services (DFS) in
cooperation with WWF proposed a revised protected area network, which resulted in establishing
the Thrumshingla National Park in 1998. The park is the most newly gazetted national park in
Bhutan with great importance for conserving the contiguous tracks of the largest and richest
temperate broadleaf forest in the Eastern Himalayas. The park is also strategically located as a
center of the habitat distribution of the endangered tiger population – the indicator species, which
counts to approximate 115 - 150 population in Bhutan (Annex 2 – map of protected areas and
corridors of Bhutan). .
The same year, the Royal Government of Bhutan, with support from WWF, also established an
innovative network of forest biological corridor to connect all the protected areas in Bhutan. It
was established to allow continued flow of genes between otherwise isolated populations of
plants and animals due to ecosystem fragmentation. Unlike many other countries in Asia, Bhutan
had the luxury of creating such conservation landscapes with the protected areas still connected
by natural habitats and forest that lies in relatively intact landscape. The biological corridors have
important conservation benefits, including: 1) continued survival and evolution of unique
biological resources; 2) a well-connected protected areas system resilient to changes in climatic
conditions; and 3) maintenance of forests for economic mainstays.
Having the Thrumshingla National Park at the center, 12 corridors were identified to link the 9
protected areas, which brought additional 9 percent of the country under conservation mandate
and secure protection of forest and mountain ecosystems of critical global importance. In
November 1999, His Majesty the King officially designated these biological corridors as a gift
from the Bhutanese people to the world.
Since then, WWF has provided financial and technical support to the government to manage
these newly established protected area and the biological corridors in the broadleaf forest
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ecoregion. The Thrumshingla National Park Management Plan1 has been prepared and officially
approved by the government in August 2001, after a series of comprehensive assessment on
wildlife, vegetation, and socio-economic status. The assessments and management plan
development were all initiated in an intensive participatory manner by the park staff, local
government, and local communities. For example, the socio-economic assessment was initiated
in all 51 villages that are in and around the protected area using a Participatory Rural Appraisal
(PRA) methods and approaches.2 Biological assessment surveys have also been conducted at few
selected sites in the biological corridor connecting Thrumshingla NP and Bumdeling WS in
collaboration with the government, WWF, and the Chicago Field Museum
Due to lack of technical and financial capacity of the government, implementation of
conservation activities in the biological corridors as well as the newly established protected areas
has been limited. The initiative in the globally significant temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion
could lead to develop a model for biological corridors management nation-wide. This proposal is
designed to effectively initiate integrated conservation and development activities in the
biological corridor and protected area management under the partnership of Government of
Bhutan, GEF/UNDP and WWF.
In 1999, a GEF MSP project proposal titled “Linking and enhancing protected areas (LINKPA)”
was prepared by WWF Bhutan in partnership with the Nature Conservation Division of the
government and UNDP/GEF, which aimed to initiate conservation action in the biological
corridor at a national scale. Since then, considering the government priority and capacity as well
as comments provided by GEF Secretariat and UNDP/GEF, the project has been revised to have a
geographical focus in the temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion. The ecoregion was identified as a
major conservation gap in Bhutan, which requires urgent conservation initiatives to protect the
critical global significant forest and mountain ecosystems.
The goal of the project is to ensure long-term conservation of the forest and mountain ecosystems
and viable population of species of global biodiversity significance in Bhutan through
maintaining a network of protected areas and linking corridors. To achieve this goal, the project
objective is to strengthen effective landscape management of protected area network and
biological corridors in the broadleaf forest ecoregion through the following suggested outcomes:
:
 Developed conservation and management guideline, regulatory framework, and capacity for
biological corridor management
 Developed model initiatives for biological corridor management and conservation by the
local authorities and communities in selected critical sites.
 Strengthened conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the Thrumshingla
National Park as a ‘linch pin’ of the biological corridors.
2.2 Project Site
The Temperate Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion covers the central and southern Bhutan. The core
biologically important areas of the ecoregion are the Thrumshingla, Black Mountain, and Royal
Manas National Parks with the connecting biological corridors. The project will focus its
1
ThrumshingLa National Park Conservation Management Plan (2002-2006), Royal Government of
Bhutan, 2001
2
All the PRA exercises and results are complied in “Report of the Socio-Economic Study in Thrumshingla
National Park” January 2001. In addition, comprehensive reports are available on “Status of Wildlife
Conservation in Thrumshingla National Park, June 2000,” and “Thrumshingla National Park Vegetation
Survey Report, Oct 2000”
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initiatives particularly at the Thrumshingla National Park (768 km2), its buffer zone, and the two
biological corridors that connect between the Trumshingla National Park and the Royal Manas
National Park and the Black Mountain National Park. The two corridors cover a total of 385 km2,
with each of them having approx. 40 km in length and average 5 km in width. The project will
closely coordinate its activities with the Black Mountain National Park (supported by the
Netherlands) and Royal Manas National Parks (supported by WWF), mainly as baseline activities.
However, both parks are ready to reorient their programmes to coordinate conservation initiatives
in the biological corridors. .
The project area covers four Dzongkhags (districts) of Bumthang, Mongar, Lhuentse, and
Zhemgang. There are approximately 5000 people living in and around the Thrumshingla
National Park, which is the focal area of both protected areas and biological corridor management
under the project. Almost all the population in these Dzongkhags subsists on crop farming and
livestock herding. These communities are highly dependent on forest resources, including yearround cattle grazing, timber for construction materials, and firewood as the principle source of
energy.
The landscape scale biodiversity conservation through the protected areas and biological corridor
management in the Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion is expected to be an innovative model in Bhutan
as well as globally, and to be replicated in other parts of Bhutan in the future.
2.3 Global Significance of the Biodiversity
The project area contains the largest and the richest temperate forests in the entire eastern
Himalayas. The area is with spectacular mountain landscapes and rich cultural and biological
diversity. It particularly forms as the center for the contiguous distribution of the Bengal tiger
population, which is identified as indicator species of the overall health of the ecoregion. To date,
the biological surveys have been undertaken in and around the established protected areas and
only limited information is available in the biological corridor.
The center of the ecoregion, the Thrumshingla National Park, represents all the different
vegetation zones of Bhutan: sub-tropical, chir pine, warm broadleaf, cool broadleaf, conifer, and
alpine forest zones, though broadleaf forest covers substantial part of territory. To date, total of
622 species of plants belonging to 140 families are found in the park, which also includes 152
species with medicinal values. A recent vegetation study in the park suggested that there are 21
species that are endemic to Bhutan. Lobelia nubigena is also an endemic species found only in
this park. The globally threatened Rhododendron dalhousiae Hook. f. rhabtotum is also recorded
in the park.
The area is home for many rare and endangered species, including 68 mammals that are
recognized in the Thrumshingla National Park. Of the larger predators, tiger (Panthera tigris)
occurs in the northern section in and beyond the park between the altitudes of 2840-4110m - the
highest altitude for tiger habitat in the world. Other rare mammals such as the leopard cat (Felis
bengalensis), red panda (Ailurus fulgens), musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) giant squirrel
(Ratufa bicolor), variable squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysoni) are also frequently found in and
around the park. During the recent survey, some cervids were found, which were in the truest
form of a sambar deer (Cervus unicolor). The surveys conducted for the identification of
biological corridors revealed that tiger, musk deer, and red panda are the key species, among
others, whose habitat is fragmented within the broadleaf forest ecoregion and strongly requires
habitat connectivity with the biological corridors.
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In addition, a total of 341 bird species are recognized in the park and the surrounding areas,
which many of them are globally threatened, restricted ranges and rare. Of those, 269 species are
particularly found in the warm and cool broadleaf forest areas, which recognize the significant
value of the broadleaf forest. Moreover, eight out of eleven bird species recorded in Bhutan,
which are identified as having restricted world breeding ranges, occur in and around the park,
including the chestnut-breasted partridge (Arborophila mandellii) and Ward’s trogon (Harpactes
wardi). Other rare species such as the blue-napped pitta (Pitta nipalensis), brown wood owl
(Strix leptogrammica), and booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) are also found in the area. A
brief butterfly survey has also resulted in finding 39 species in the broadleaf and chir pine forests
in the park. Among them, 6 were rare and 4 were uncommon species.
2.4 Threats to Biodiversity
For decades, Bhutan has been able to conserve its relatively intact biological resources with its
strong ethical, cultural, and economical consideration towards environment. The country was
closed to the rest of the world until mid 1960s and its remoteness with Rough Mountain terrain
has saved its natural and cultural heritage in an intact manner. However, within the past decade,
development initiatives with internal and external supports have had drastic impact to its
environment and culture, though the government has taken a very cautious and careful
development policy. With the stable and strong commitment from the government and local
communities for conservation, it is critical to take urgent conservation actions before it is too late.
The temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion has also been relatively intact without too many human
disturbances until the last few years. However, the population in the central and southern Bhutan
is increasing, particularly in the broadleaf forest ecoregion, where soils are richer and suitable for
economic activities such as farming, grazing, and trading. Threats to the ecoregion are gradually
increasing, particularly associated with the grazing pressure due to increased livestock numbers.
Moreover, forest and habitat degradation are increasing due to extensive agriculture practices,
timber and firewood use, road and hydropower plant construction as well as increased poaching
and illegal trading of wild animals. Each of these threats is discussed below together with their
immediate and underlying root causes.
1) Overgrazing
Cattle grazing is identified as the most serious threat to biodiversity in both protected areas and
biological corridors in the temperate broadleaf ecoregion, as they reduce undergrowth and bring
significant change in tree structure and species composition as seedling of all palatable species
are eaten or damaged. Based on recent PRA study, conducted in cooperation with the
government and WWF, it is estimated that there are 341 households with 3610 cattle that are
herding within the Thrumshingla National Park. The survey also identified that as much as 80 %
of the forest in the park could potentially be traditionally registered grazing areas. Although the
summer grazing areas are scattered in several different areas in and around the park, the winter
grazing areas are concentrated in fewer areas, causing overgrazing in the broadleaf forest. As a
sign of overgrazing, it is evident that some of the areas, particularly the winter grazing areas, have
increased weeds with unpalatable tree species coverage. Baseline research also revealed that all
broadleaf and conifer forests accessible to cattle were extensively grazed.
For many generations in Bhutan, cattle and yaks have been managed under traditional herding
rights called Tsamdrog. This traditional grazing rights, which involves seasonal moving from
one grazing areas to another based on an agreed grazing schedule, are important household
possession that have been passed over from one generation to another. With the increase in both
human and cattle population, many of these Tsamdrogs are overgrazed with sapling and trees
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heavily removed for fodder and forage. It is also recognized that grazing are occurring illegally
in areas beyond the agreed Tsamdrogs, causing greater forest areas under pressure.
There are a few causes for the increased number of herds. One reason is the general interest of
the herders, who consider number of herds as status of wealth, regardless of the productivity.
One of the underlying causes of this situation is due to the limited education and awareness
among the people in rural Bhutan. Another reason is the religious and cultural belief that
generates strong hesitation among the herders to cull unproductive and sick livestock. In addition,
the high interest for livestock manure for farming is also considered as a factor for keeping large
number of herds. The remoteness and mountainous terrain of rural Bhutan have also limited
alternative economic activities besides herding; thus creating increased reliance on livestock
herding.
2) Poaching, hunting, and illegal trading of species
For many years, the Buddhist teaching has played a strong role to prevent wildlife hunting among
the Bhutanese. However, recently, poaching of wildlife species is becoming more evident for
both meat and monetary gains. For example, poaching of musk deer is increasing in the northern
area of the Thrumshingla National Park, where several traps are regularly found. The musks are
being traded to the neighboring countries (both India and China) with increased value. An illegal
trading system has been developed in rural Bhutan, where middleman visits regularly from the
bordering towns to buy animal parts. It is suspected that most of these illegal hunting are
conducted by outsiders, mostly people from the bordering towns or road contractors, and the local
inhabitants are very supportive to protect their resources from the outsiders. If uncontrolled,
these illegal activities may rise in numbers and could lead to poaching of other endangered
animals such as tiger.
There are also increasing cases of persecution by the herders whose livestock have been killed by
large mammals, including tiger, wild dog, and leopards. Although wild dogs and leopards are not
necessary edge-dwellers, they are adoptive to human related disturbance and their predation to
cattle and horses are becoming a serious problem. Very recently, local herders poisoned a tiger in
the Thrumshingla National Park due to loss of four cattle. One reason for the increased cases of
predation of livestock could be the increased herd size, which requires more grazing areas into the
wildlife habitats. It has also decreased the prey population, such as deer, which led to increased
attacks to domestic livestock. Another major reason for retaliation by the herders is the
considerable crop damage, particularly by wild boars and ungulates. Many herders are now
required to take turn to check the farms in the night to ward off wild ungulates.
3) Negative impact of agriculture practices
Traditional agriculture practice in Bhutan, associated with the shifting cultivation has allowed
increased forest encroachment in forest areas. Traditionally, there are two different ways of
shifting cultivation method used in Bhutan: the Tseri and Pangshing. Tseri is a shifting
cultivation method used in the low land, where burning and other physical methods remove all
plants. Similarly, the Pangshing is a method used in the higher altitudes, where similar methods
are adopted but remains the mature trees. Based on recent research, it was revealed that maximum
potential agriculture land in the Thrumshingla National Park has been converted to tseri, which is
reducing healthy forest areas. Due to increased population pressure, fallow period are also
shortened, which has reduced soil fertility of the Tseri and pangzhing.
4) Deforestation: fuelwood and timber extraction
Fuelwood accounts for more than 80 percent of Bhutan’s energy consumption and it is the main
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source of energy for both cooking and heating in rural areas. As the recent study revealed, 3
consumption of firewood by Bhutanese is one of the highest in the world, at an annual rate of 2.79
m3 per person. It was Bhutan’s low population that spared the forest in the past. With the current
population growth rate of 3.1 % per annum, amongst the highest in the world, population is
expected to double in the next twenty years, causing serious threats through increased demand to
almost all natural resources.
Although government has imposed a ban on timber export, there is increased domestic demand
for timber, particularly for construction needs. The houses in Bhutan are mainly made by wood,
with roof covered with wooden shingles. The wooden roof needs to be replaced nearly every 3
years in the warmer regions of Bhutan, which creates substantial pressure to the forest resources.
Along with increased population and economic activities, demand for new houses, infrastructures,
service centers such as school and health center are increasing in rural Bhutan.
Forest fire is still not a serious threat in Bhutan and also in the project site, however, low
humidity and occasional gust of strong wind have increased and exacerbated the upsurge of
devastating forest fire in the country. The fires are mainly caused by accidental escape of
agriculture fire for herding and crop farming.
5) Infrastructure development: road and hydro power plant construction
Development initiatives, such as hydropower development, road construction and other rural
infrastructure are growing threats to the temperate broadleaf ecoregion, particularly causing
ecosystem and habitat fragmentation.
The existing roads already disturb few areas of the biological corridors. In addition, few by-pass
roads of the existing highway have been proposed in the upper reaches of the Thrumshingla
National Park. The by-pass will be passing through the core zone of the park, which is an
important habitat for the red panda and roosting sites of the tragopan. Such infrastructure
development plan could bring serious impact to the vegetation, indicator species habitat, and
environmental hazards through landslide and extensive soil erosion.
In addition, several large and small hydropower electricity plant developments are underway by
the government with external support. The initiative could substantially reduce firewood
consumption, however, unless planned under careful environmental consideration, there could be
a serious adverse impact to the biodiversity.
6) Inadequate human capacity and regulatory framework
“Bhutan is currently handicapped by a shortage of well-trained environmental practitioners, both
at the institutional and implementation levels” (National Environmental Strategy 1998, p 87). The
government recognizes that limited management skills and institutional capacity of both
government and NGOs as critical bottleneck for effective conservation management in Bhutan.
By being self-isolated from rest of the world until 1960s, modern scientific conservation
management skills and planning are still very new to Bhutan. Among the nine protected areas,
only four are operationalized to date. Although staffs are highly motivated and dedicated, central
and local government staffs lack basic education and training, besides the park manager and the
sector heads at Dzongkhags (district administration). Some of these staff are ex-army personnel
who have been recruited as forest guards with minimum or almost no official training.
3
A local consultant, Pema Norbu, studied the fuelwood consumption and its alternatives in 2001 funded by
BTFEC.
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Further, under the centralized governing system, local community and people have been dependent
on services provided by the government: thus developed very limited capacity to self-manage their
resources. As the success of integrated conservation and development programs will largely
depend on the quality of the field staff and communities, lack of capacity and experiences are
considered as a major threat and risk to conduct conservation initiatives in Bhutan. .
Limited knowledge by the rural government and communities on the new laws and regulations
related to environment are also major threats to conservation. In addition, lack of enforceable
regulations for the protection of biological corridors is also hampering its effective management.
In addition, responsible agencies as well as management structure are not been clarified for the
conservation of the biological corridors.
3. CURRENT SITUATION (BASELINE COURSE OF ACTION)
3.1 Related Policies
The Royal Government of Bhutan is retaining a strong commitment to further conserve the
globally significant biodiversity and unique ecosystems in the country. This policy is strongly
reflected in all government policies, naming the few: the Bhutan 2020 (the main long term
development vision document), 8th Five year Development Plan (1997-2002), draft 9th Five year
Development Plan (2003-2008), National Biodiversity Action Plan, and National Environmental
Strategy Plan. The “Gross National Happiness (GNH),” a development goal and measurement
that is used in Bhutan, instead of the conventional measurement of gross national products (GNP)
reflects a strong sign of Bhutan’s commitment for a balanced development.
The Bhutanese National Assembly ratifying both CBD and UNFCCC during its 73rd Session in
1995 aptly reflects the will and strong commitment of leadership and the people of Bhutan
towards protecting our environment. To translate the ideas of these Conventions into actions,
such as establishing the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment Conservation, the Royal
Government prepared and implemented the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). BAP provides a
framework for conservation actions to be planned and implemented more coherently and
productively to ensure conservation efforts are sustainable in a long run.
Most policies and legislation in Bhutan concern conservation of forests and wildlife and wildlife
habitat. Among the most prominent of these are the Forest Act of Bhutan 1969 and the Forest
and Nature Conservation Act of 1995. The 1969 Forest Act focused largely on traditional forest
protection and introduced a system of forest user permits. The revised law in 1995 specified
different management tenures such as conservation areas, watershed protection forests, and
production forests. The policy also recognized local communities for a multi-purpose forest
management regime to promote efficient domestic use and develop a viable forest industry. It
also recognized creation of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as a long-term strategy to
protect the flora and fauna. In 1995, the 73rd session of the National Assembly passed a resolution
that Bhutan must maintain not less than 60% of the country under forest cover at all times. The
recent Forest Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan 2000 has provided an appropriate legal
framework for implementing the management plan with a significant degree of decentralization
and land-use planning. To implement these Rules in an effective manner, the government has
conducted a series of workshops for the local government authorities and in turn reflects their
concerns and needs to the Rules.
The National Environmental Strategy for Bhutan (1998) also recognizes that the national level
legal framework should be aided by a well-established system of local level regulations. As
developed overtime with specific reference to the local condition, traditional rules, such as
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grazing rights and communal use of forest resources, local regulations have ensured an equitable
and sustainable use of natural resources. Bhutan is undergoing challenges to strengthen its
legislation by integrating the traditional rules as well as responding to the trends of modern
international environment conventions and treaties.
3.2. Concerned Institutions
The Department of Forest Services of the Ministry of Agriculture is the government institution in
Bhutan that is responsible for the implementation of environmental policy, laws, regulation of
utilization and protection of natural resources and its restoration. The department consists of five
divisions, namely the Nature Conservation Division, Forest Territorial Division, Forest Resources
Development Division, Forest Protection and Utilization Division, and Forest Extension Division.
The Nature Conservation Division (NCD) is directly responsible for the management of the
protected areas and for the establishment of new protected areas at the national level. Currently
four national parks, one strict nature reserve, and four wildlife sanctuaries are under their
conservation mandate, which accounts for 26 percent of the total land. Average of 40 staff is
assigned to each of the national parks for the development and implementation of management
plan. On the other hand, the Forest Territorial Division (FTD) is responsible for the management
and monitoring of the forest areas outside of the protected areas by providing technical support to
the Dzongkhag (district) forest officers. In addition, the Forest Protection and Utilization
Division manages the forest management units, which are designated forest areas under the
government owned timber corporation.
The responsible government body for the management of the biological corridor is yet to be
clarified. During the initial discussions in 1998 when the biological corridors were established, it
was recommended that the survey of the flora and fauna of the corridor could be carried out by
the NCD as part of their biodiversity assessment programme, while development of the
management plan could be done in collaboration with the FTD. Further, it was also
recommended that the FTD could be responsible for the implementation of the management plan
and enforcement in the corridors together with other relevant agencies.
3.2 On-going Projects and Initiatives
There has been a few conservation initiatives conducted to date and planned by the government
with support from external donors in the temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion:
Thrumshingla National Park (889km2)
In 1998, the government, with support from WWF, gazetted the Thrumshingla National Park and
the management of the Park began immediately with placement of government staff. As of now,
the park manager with total of 18 staff is engaged in park management. With financial and
technical support from WWF for the past 3 years (total budget of USD 268,050), the park has
prepared a comprehensive Park Management Plan based on comprehensive assessments on both
biological and socio-economic resources. Baseline data on vegetation, mammals, birds, and
socio-economic status of the resident communities in and around the park has been complied by
joint collaboration between the park staff and local communities. The WWF Bhutan office is
committed to further support the government for the implementation of the management plan by
providing USD 643,000 for the next 5 years as a co-finance for this proposed GEF project.
Black Mountain National Park (1400km2)
The Government of the Netherlands has been providing technical and financial support to initiate
integrated conservation and development activities in the park for the past 5 years, with a total
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budget of approx. US$ 2.8 million. A Park Management Plan has been recently prepared through
the project. To implement the approved management plan, currently, a second phase of the
project (expected to be in a similar scale) is under preparation. The park has introduced and
strengthened participatory conservation approaches in its park and the staff at the Thrumshingla
National Park has also been trained with the methods and tools from the experiences and lesson
learned from the Black Mountain National Park.
The park constituted with a large and rich temperate broadleaf species, conifer and alpine
pastures. It is home for tiger, Himalayan black bear, red panda, and other animals that move
along the biological corridors to and from Black Mountain National Park and beyond. The
Phobjikha valley, wintering areas of the black-necked crane is part of the park and has been
attracting many tourists to the country. The initiatives at the Black Mountain National Park
would be considered as baseline activities of this proposed project. However, the park is ready to
reorient their activities to coordinate conservation initiatives at the linking biological corridors
between the Thrumshingla National Park.
Royal Manas National Park (1023km2)
The park is situated in the southern border of Bhutan, which represents the tropical and subtropical ecosystem of Bhutan. This is a transborder-protected area, having the Manas Tiger
Reserve at the Indian side of the border. A remarkable 92 % of the total area is under forest and
the country’s largest river, the Manas flows through the park, which presents a highly important
watershed area. WWF has been providing financial and technical support for the management of
the park for the past 6 years (total budget of US$ 872,000). WWF will continue its support for the
next five years, primarily for patrolling along the porous border. WWF has also provided
financial and technical support to a local NGO, the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature
(RSPN), to implement the environmental education component in the park. The Park
Management Plan was developed and its implementation is on going, however, the park is
currently facing serious difficulties with the political disputes at the Indian border. The
conservation initiatives in the Royal Manas would be largely considered as a baseline course of
action though the park is ready to reorient and cooperate activities in the biological corridor
between the Thrumshingla National Park.
The Biological Corridor
The biological corridor was established in 1998 to link the existing protected area system to allow
continued flow of genes between the otherwise isolated population of plants and animals, thereby
ensuring the continued survival and evolution of Bhutan’s unique biological resources. The
corridors are identified in a range of 1 to 5 km in width. The corridors were identified using
various criteria, including good canopy and ground cover, little human disturbance, moderately
steep terrain, and signs of the movement of key wildlife species.
The government (with financial and technical support from WWF - approx. US$ 30000) has
identified and officially declared the biological corridors, after examining the remaining forest
corridors and areas that are threatened by development and human expansion by using the
satellite imagery, land use atlas, and GIS technology. Further, local rangers were trained to
conduct a rapid assessment to examine the initially identified corridors and its bottlenecks.
Through this process, 12 biological corridors were identified, together with 21 “critical bottleneck
areas” within them. The critical bottleneck areas are places that are less than 2km in width and
where human development, such as roads and farms threaten to cut off the corridor and requires
targeted conservation intervention. Though the biological corridors were identified and officially
given full recognition for protection, a management regulation is yet to be developed. With the
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current human capacity of the government, management of the biological corridor cannot be
initiated without external support.
Decentralization Support Projects
For the past few years, the government has started to promote decentralized governing system,
with support from UNDP and other external support. Under this program, decentralized
development planning process has been promoted by ensuring community participation and
decision making processes. The approach was introduced with the preparation of the 9 th 5-year
development plan, which took a bottom up planning approach at the village and district levels.
Through the program, government will continue to strengthen capacity of the local decisionmakers and leaders for decentralized management skills and increase their capability to plan and
manage development initiatives at the local level.
Other GEF projects
There are three GEF biodiversity projects on-going in Bhutan: the Bhutan Environmental Trust
Fund, the Jigme Dorji National Park Conservation Project, and the Small Grant Programme. The
Bhutan Environmental Trust Fund, one of the first Trust Funds of its kind, has mobilized over US
$ 30 million (including US$ 10 million from GEF) to its endowment fund since its establishment
in 1991. The Trust Fund was established as an innovative financial mechanism that will help to
continue long-term conservation activities in Bhutan. WWF was instrumental in developing the
fund by supporting the government with technical and financial support from the initial stage.
The Trust Fund has supported to revise and expand the protected area network, develop
management plan, increase staff for the Nature Conservation Division, provide long and shortterm training for capacity building. The Trust Fund, which was established before the
establishment of the biological corridors and newly established protected areas, does not have the
mandate as well as financial capacity to initiate activities in these areas. The Trust Fund is
mainly focused its support on the capacity building and recurrent cost of government personnel as
well as on small scale research and initiatives, but do not have the capacity and mandate to
initiate a large scale conservation initiatives in the newly established conservation areas. This
proposed project will develop a long and medium term financial plan in coordination with the
Trust Fund during its project period. The recurrent costs of the proposed project is planned to be
captured in the next cycle of the Trust Fund strategy and supported after the termination of the
project. .
The Jigme Dorji National Park Conservation Project is the first large-scale protected area
management project in Bhutan. The project has provided a model for integrated conservation and
development projects in the country, which much of the experience and lesson learned is reflected
in the LINKPA project development. In Jigme Dorji, the park staff, local government, and
communities have successfully worked in partnership to form local grazing and farming groups
as well as on tourism promotion, which have helped to develop local institutions to improve
conservation and development situation in and around the park. The Jigme Dorji Project is at its
final stage and it is closing in summer 2002.
The GEF Small Grant Program has supported number of small projects, including the integrated
conservation and development activities and the establishment of education/community center in
Phobjikha initiated by the RSPN, a local conservation NGO. The Center is located in the buffer
zone of the Black Mountain National Park. The LINKPA project will coordinate with RSPN for
the education component of the project by utilizing their experience working with rural school
and communities in the area of environmental education. Moreover, the process for planning and
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selecting the small grant programs in the country could be used and coordinated for the
identification and implementation of the ICDP projects of this proposed LINKPA project.
4. EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMES (ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION)
With the current and increasing threats to the biological resources, the above mentioned baseline
activities are not sufficient to conserve the globally significant resources in the temperate
broadleaf forest ecoregion of Bhutan.
To address these threats, the proposed GEF alternative suggests taking a landscape level initiative
by conserving the biological corridors and the protected area network, and address existing policy
and institutional gaps. The goal of the proposed LINKPA project is to ensure long-term
conservation of globally significant biological resources in the forest and mountain ecosystems of
Bhutan. The project aims to strengthen management of the biological corridors and the protected
area network in the broadleaf forest ecoregion.
To achieve these goals and objectives, the project suggests producing the following three
components/outcomes:



Developed conservation and management guideline, regulatory framework, and capacity for
biological corridor management
Developed model pilot initiatives for biological corridor conservation by the local authorities
and communities in selected critical sites.
Strengthened conservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the Thrumshingla
National Park as a ‘linch pin’ of the biological corridors.
The first outcome will focus on the development of policy framework for biological corridor
management, while the later two outcomes will focus on its implementation. Outcome 2 will
focus its activities within the connecting corridors, which is a pilot initiative to provide a model
and to be replicated in other areas. Outcome 3 will be focused in the newly established
Thrumshingla National Park, which is an essential component of the biological corridor and
serves as a “nerve center” for all the corridors connecting the Royal Manas, Black Mountain,
Jigme Dorje and other national parks.
The project is expected to run for a period of five years, considering the capacity of the stakeholders
to initiate new initiatives in the biological corridor, and gradually develop capacity to achieve
successful project outcomes.
5. ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL INPUTS
In order to implement the three outputs that are mentioned above, the following activities will be
initiated:
Component 1: Biological Corridor Policy and Guideline Development (Gov’t 10000, GEF
154000, WWF 3000)
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1-1. Develop guidelines and/or regulatory framework for the management of biological
corridor through series of workshops and consultations among central and local
government staff, decision makers, local communities, and other key stakeholders (Gov’t
10000 and GEF 39000)
The biological corridor is mapped and officially declared, however, the boundaries,
conservation status, and management framework is yet to be clarified. It is important that
the key stakeholders, including the central and local authorities, scientific institutions,
NGOs, as well as the local communities to get together and have common understanding,
identify roles and responsibility of the institutions involved, and framework for biological
corridor management. Such workshops could be held at both central and local levels to
ensure a participatory planning process. Based on the results of the workshops, the
project will develop a guideline and regulatory framework to govern the conservation and
development interventions necessary to conserve the multiple use biological corridors.
In order to take a lead on this important activity, a multi-focal task force will be established
among key government agencies and NGOs (including both environment and development
concerned institutions) to share different views and opinions on effective management of the
biological corridors and clarify institutional mechanism and conservation actions to manage the
corridors.
1-2. Organize annual workshop/meeting among the central and local government staff to
discuss, share experiences, and plan on effective biological corridor management (GEF 22000)
To effectively manage the biological corridors and to share experiences and replicate initiatives in
other parts of the country, the project will organise an annual workshop among the forestry staff
and other related institutions. Such forum could be combined with the annual park warden
meetings to exchange views, experiences, and plan landscape scale conservation initiatives.
1-3. Develop management capacity through training and exchange learning with other
regional countries that are engaged in biological corridor management (GEF 83000. WWF
3000 )
There are few other countries in the region that are engaged in biological corridor management.
Since it is a new initiative for Bhutan, and also for the regional countries, the project will coordinate
closely and organize exchange visits and training with these countries to share experiences and
lesson learned to strengthen and advance biological corridor management. WWF is working with
the GEF projects in other Asian countries on biological corridor development and management
projects in Nepal and Vietnam’s Lower Mekong ecoregions and these may serve useful lessons.
The project will build up on the existing network established by WWF to exchange and network
among the different projects
In addition, the government’s senior and junior staff will be provided with opportunities to obtain
skills relevant to biological corridor management through short-term training programs, including
natural resources management, community based conservation initiatives, and others.
1-4. Develop a sustainable financial plan (long and medium term) for managing the biological
corridors (GEF 10000)
The biological corridors includes core protected areas, forest and wetland habitats outside of
protected areas, agricultural lands and settlements. As an integral component of the proposed
project, a long-term financial plan will be developed based on the review of current and future
costs of managing the corridors by gathering information from government, community, and
private investments. .
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This project will work closely with the Bhutan Environmental Trust Fund to develop the strategy
and promote integration of the biological corridor management in the Trust Fund’s strategy plan
in their next phase. The financial plan, however, will not rely sorely on the Trust Fund, but will
include long term reorientation of the public spending, local mechanism for capturing financial
benefits of biodiversity (e.g. user fees, payment for environmental services) and other tools.
Component 2: Pilot Initiatives on Integrated Corridor Management (Gov’t 110000, GEF
280000 and WWF 270000)
2.1. Develop a management action plan in two selected biological corridors by the
local government and communities (Gov’t 10000 and GEF 40000)
Based on the agreed regulatory framework, the project will implement pilot initiatives in the two
biological corridors in the broadleaf forest ecoregion between the: 1) Thrumshingla and Black
Mountain national parks; and 2) Thrumshingla and Royal Manas national parks. The project will
further analyze the biological corridors through existing and additional biological and socioeconomic assessments in the broadleaf forest ecoregion to inform adaptive management
recommendations. This activity will build up on the data and information collected through a
former study initiated by the government and WWF. The activity will also rely on the biological
inventory research conducted by the Chicago Field Museum in collaboration with the Bhutan
government and WWF.
Under the planning process, the biological corridors will be demarcated and mapped into different
categories of protection and conservation action needs to focus on the critical bottleneck areas
within the corridors. These areas should be given priority in protection with control and
minimize human disturbances to the forest area. In addition, some critical areas in the corridors,
such as catchment areas, are suggested to have full legal protection as recreational areas or places
for worship, if appropriate, which prohibits economic activities such as logging, herding and
infrastructure development.
The critical bottleneck areas will be identified with particular attention to the migratory patterns
of globally important indicator species between the Thrumshingla National Park and the Black
Mountain National Park and the Royal Manas National Park. To ensure conservation and
sustainable use of biological resources in these two biological corridors, the local staleholders
will draw up a practical management action plan. The management action plan will typically
contain the following elements:
1) assessment of threats and opportunities for the conservation and sustainable sue of
biodiversity in the corridors;
2) determine long and short term targets to mitigate the threats;
3) determine conservation and sustainable use activities on a matching fund basis with the
GEF and government fund;
4) identify government supported development activities to be reoriented to meet the
conservation target; and
5) Institutional and financial mechanism to implement these activities.
2-2. Implement integrated conservation and development initiatives in the two critical
bottleneck sites of the biological corridors (Gov’t 100000, GEF 170000 and WWF
220000)
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Based on the developed management action plan, integrated conservation and development (ICD)
initiative will be undertaken in the two selected bottleneck communities in the corridor linking
the Thrumshingla and Black Mountain and Royal Manas National Parks. The exact sites and
communities will be determined through activity 2.1, though two potential sites have been
identified under the initial survey (Annex 1: map of the critical bottlenecks). The ICD initiative
will ensure to reduce pressure to the biological resources as well as to increase awareness and
cooperation among the local community for conservation. The ICDs have shown great success in
other parks of the country (including the GEF supported project in Jigme Dorji National Park)
and would be replicated to this project.
The activity will be implemented in a fully integrated manner under the Dzongkhag (district) and
Geog (sub-district) medium term (5 years) and annual development plans (detail institutional
mechanism for the implementation is mentioned later in section 10). Based on the developed
corridor management plan, the Dzongkhag and Geog annual plans will be reviewed and planned
to comply and reorient their activities. GEF finance will be incremental to government’s
development funding which would be re-oriented in biodiversity compatible directions as a result
of project interventions.
Relevant ICD activity will be initiated based on the prepared management action plan to mitigate
the threats in the critical bottleneck areas. The activities could include, but not limited to the
following, which were identified through the initial PRA study with the local communities:
- Ecotourism initiative as incentive to conserve the biodiversity resources in the corridor as
well as to provide alternative income generation opportunities for potential communities.
- Alternative energy initiative to reduce pressure to the forest resources through firewood use
and cost effective method to meet the energy needs of the communities in the corridors
- Promotion of small-scale economic activity to provide communities with diverse economic
opportunities and reduce reliance on natural resources extraction in an unsustainable manner.
- Improved access to social services (health, education, safe water, etc) to increase
opportunities to learn about conservation needs, market opportunities, and livelihood
improvement.
2-3. Establish effective biological database and monitoring system of the biological corridor
and protected area networks (GEF 60000, WWF 50000)
A comprehensive database will be developed, based on the existing and new data on biological,
ecological, socio-economical, and institutional information collected in the biological corridors
and protected area network. A monitoring and evaluation protocol will be developed and
implemented by the park staff and local government, with active involvement by the local
communities. Implementation of the protocol will entail the establishment of baselines for the
project indicators. The project will identify gaps on the existing data and the project will finance
the necessary generation of baseline information.
The activity will be coordinated with the current government’s initiative to develop a Bhutan
Integrated Biodiversity Information System (BIBIS) together with the National Biodiversity
Center (NBC), which is supported by WWF. This is a timely initiative since Bhutan’s
information system is still at a development stage and a standardized information database could
still be established to enable compatible information sharing and updating.
Several central and regional government staff will be trained on database development and
management by learning from the regional experiences and lesson learned. In addition, both
central and regional key stakeholders will be trained on the management and use of data for
informed management planning and decision-making.
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Component 3: Conservation and Management of a ‘linch pin’ Protected Area (Gov’t 300000,
GEF 355000 and WWF 370000)
The Thrumsingla national park, due to its central location, serves as a “nerve center” for all the
corridors connecting the Royal Manas, Black Mountain, Jigme Dorje and other national parks.
The Thrumshingla National Park is also a key habitat of the flagship species that move across the
biological corridors. The area is very unique, where tiger and snow leopard overlaps their habitats
in high Altitude Mountains. Strong conservation management of the Thrumshingla National Park
is critical to ensure successful function of the biological corridor.
3-1. Enhance management framework and capacity of the Thrumshingla National Park
(Gov’t 100000, GEF 80000. WWF100000)
Under the newly developed Park Management Plan, the government has committed to increase
the park staff to a total of 44 staff members to conserve the globally significant biological
resources in the park. With the increased staff, WWF will support the government to develop
additional infrastructure such as guard post, staff quarters at strategical locations for effective
implementation and monitoring of conservation and development initiatives.
Moreover, Bhutan suffers from serious lack of skilled staff on conservation initiatives. Basic
equipment and training will be provided to the staff, particularly to junior staff and rangers on
communication, ICDP, wildlife management and others will be provided.
In addition, the park boundary will be clearly demarcated into management zones, namely the
core zone, multiple use zone, and buffer zone. Demarcation is essential to clarify land use
management within and around the park to effectively protect the wildlife and their critical
habitats.
3-2. Strengthen law enforcement in and around the park (GEF 100000, WWF 40000)
The project will further strengthen the patrol network among the rangers in and around the park.
Routine patrolling schedule will be developed among the different teams under the wardens.
Patrolling trails will be also identified and developed in necessary areas. The rangers will be
adequately equipped, including radio communication system and self-guard equipment.
Further more, an anti-poaching unit will be formed where several village informants will be
mobilized in identified hotspots and gather information on poaching activities year around. The
project will also try to revive the traditional village forest guard (Resoop) system, as informants
as well as to prevent violation in and around the park. Learning from the national and regional
experience, the project will also establish a sustainable reward system to the informants
3-2. Improve sustainable use of biological resources in and around the park (GEF 50000,
WWF 100000)
Based on regulation, local people continue to live and use the natural resources in the park in
Bhutan. Sustainable use and management of natural resources in and around the park is key to
ensure healthy wildlife habitat and ecosystem conservation. The following activities have been
identified as key initiatives by the park staff, local government and communities to mitigate the
threats and ensure long-term use of natural resources that local people depend on for their
livelihood. These initiatives could result in a “win-win” situation, which not only ensure
conservation of globally significant biological resources, but also increase productivity of farming
and herding practices. By participating and benefiting from such initiatives, the communities will
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make a clear commitment (in a form of contract or other means) to the park to comply with the
park regulation and cooperate for conservation initiatives in and around the park.
Grazing: Almost the entire park area is registered as traditional grazing areas (tsamdrog). To
effectively protect the critical wildlife habitat and forest with the local communities, the park staff,
in cooperation with the local herders and authorities, will map and maintain a registry of herders,
form herders groups, and encourage intensification of available rangeland to offset pressure from
free grazing in the forest. Methods to mobilize local community for grazing management in
Bhutan are tested in the GEF supported Jigme Dorji National Park as well as in other protected
areas and this project will learn and adopt from them. In return, the lesson learned from this
project will also be shared with other park managers as outlined in component one under sharing
of lessons. The grazing intensification process will involve: 1) cooperation with the livestock
extension agents to introduce improved breeds thus reducing the numbers of unproductive herds;
2) improve the grassland condition and productivity with the technical support from the livestock
extension agents; 3) develop other incentive programs to decrease the number of herds.
.
Crop farming: Similar to grazing management, the shifting cultivation area (Tseri) is not clearly
identified and mapped to allow effective management between the park authority and the local
farmers. To optimize land utilization and ensure critical forest and habitat protection, the project
together with the local farmers will collect necessary data, develop maps to overlay farming and
critical biological hotspots within the park and surrounding areas. Further, this map will be used
for further analysis and provide management solution to the crop depredation by wildlife in and
around the park. Villages meetings and training will be held to discuss about potential swapping
of farmlands and appropriate traditional and innovative farm management methods.
Timber needs/Logging: Major timber and shingle needs of the local communities derive
from replacing the wood shingles for roofing every few years. In order to reduce
negative impact to the forest resources, the project will develop a community
management system to effectively collect shingles from nearby forests. In addition,
government is also planning a subsidy scheme for the CGI sheets (metal sheet) for roofing
in critical areas where pressure to the forest is particularly high.
Ecotourism initiatives: The area is with rich natural and cultural beauty. The Bumthang valley,
villages of Ura and Shenkor are becoming a tourist destination after Thimphu (the capital city)
and Paro. Utilizing these natural and cultural resources in and around the park, such as trekking,
catch and release fishing, and cultural monuments, the project will explore possibility for
ecotourism development. Currently, WWF is supporting the government to finalize its
ecotourism development strategy of Bhutan. Based on its recommendations and findings, further
tourism development assessment will be made in the selected communities in and around the park.
Basic facility such as camping ground, trail maintenance, home stay, and information center
development could be managed by the local communities, which will promote sustainable use of
biological resources and generate additional income for the communities.
3-4. Develop alternative livelihood options in and around the park (Gov’t 200000, GEF 50000,
WWF 100000)
The project will provide support to identify alternative economic livelihood options, including
alternative income generation activities, based on both traditional and innovative practices to
reduce pressure on livestock grazing activities, farming, forest resource use, and further replace
inappropriate exploitation of natural resources. Project support could include, demonstration of
successful ecological friendly alternative income generation activities as well as to develop
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sustainable self-help institutions and its capacity building. A micro-credit programme could also
be a useful tool to enhance cooperation among the community, initiate alternative livelihood
activities, and other socio-economic development activities. GEF funding will be provided
incrementally to remove barriers to alternative livelihoods, where current resource-use practices
pose a direct threat to globally significant biodiversity.
The activity, along with others, will be implemented in a fully integrated manner under the
Dzongkhag (district) and Geog (sub-district) development plans (detail institutional mechanism
for the implementation is mentioned later in section 10). It will be planned and integrated in the
development plans annually with a matching fund from the local communities. The communities
are also ready to reorient their other development activities to be environmentally sound and
comply with the project initiatives. Based on the socio-economic assessment conducted through
participatory rural appraisals (PRA), the following ICDP activities have been initially identified
by the local communities and the park staff:
Income generation activities: Options for off-farm activities are limited in rural Bhutan,
particularly due to its remoteness and subsistence economy. Thus, the project will assess and
explore new opportunities for off farm economic activities. Such activities would help to reduce
pressure on the natural resources within the project area. Through the socio-economic study,
some activities considered are: formation of groups of yathra weavers, and different uses of nontimber forest products (mush room, cane and bamboo baskets etc). There are good examples for
small cottage industry development in the Bumthang dzongkhag, such as cheese, honey, and beer
production and some other potential products could be explored. The project will support the
local government and communities on market assessment on potential products.
Alternative Energy: In order to reduce pressure to the firewood consumption, it is recognized that
micro hydropower plant could be upgraded or installed in the communities surrounding the park.
Currently, the hydro-powered electricity supply in most villages is sufficient only for lighting and
not for cooking and heating purpose. Through an initial surveys conducted by the park in
cooperation with WWF, it was recognized that the electricity generated by the micro hydropower
plant would be cost effective than using firewood. Although limited in scale, the clean energy
generated by hydropower could contribute to less CO2 emission. The project will support
development and enhancement of a few micro hydropower generators in the geogs with serious
firewood pressure.
Access to social services: With the government and WWF funds, the project will support the
people living in and around the park to have access to improved health facilities, education (both
formal and non-formal), safe and adequate drinking water. An improved social service,
particularly education is key for increased awareness on conservation needs and to pursue
alternative livelihood options. The activity will provide particular attention to women and girls,
who play a critical role for natural resource management and have less access to social services in
Bhutan. Accordingly, improved agriculture practices are encouraged with improvements in
access to markets for local products.
3.5. Conduct information, communication, and education programs to support planning and
awareness raising in and around the park (GEF 55000, WWF 30000)
Environmental education and communication program: Environmental education and
communication program is one of the most effective tools to raise awareness of conservation
issues in local communities. The main target groups for the formal and non-formal environmental
education programs will be the local adult (particularly women and vulnerable groups) and school
children. A long-term environmental education programme will be developed and implemented in
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coordination with local schools, authorities and community. The programme will increase
knowledge and interest on environment and conservation issues among children and adults, while
encouraging active participation of local stakeholders in the project activities.
Conservation program, in the form of Nature Clubs at schools, exposure visits, green camps, and
exhibitions will be held according to the target group. To date, more than 80 Nature Clubs have
been established in Bhutan with support from the local NGO, the Royal Society for the Protection
of Nature (RSPN), which is active in the environmental education sector. The project will
coordinate and implement the education component with the RSPN.
An Environmental Education Strategy is currently under development in Bhutan and the project
will also support the implementation of the strategy in the project areas once it is prepared.
Under the strategy, the project will support initiatives to implement environment curriculum in
the local secondary schools, provide technical support on teaching method and materials, and
initiate educational programmes for adults.
Strengthen database and monitoring system of the Thrumshingla National Park: In coordination
with the activity 2.3. the project will develop a comprehensive database based on the existing and
new data collected in the Thrumshingla National Park on biological, ecological, socioeconomical, and institutional information. A monitoring and evaluation protocol will be
developed and implemented by the park staff and local government, involving the local
communities. Implementation of the protocol will entail the establishment of baselines for the
project indicators. The database will be developed by gathering and analyzing existing data on
the national park. The project will also identify gaps on the existing data and finance the
necessary generation of baseline information. The data collected in the park will feed to and will
be integrated to the central level biological database mentioned in activity 2.3.
6. SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT
6.1 Institutional and Financial Sustainability
A number of approaches have been incorporated while designing the project to ensure its
sustainability. The cardinal strength of the project is the involvement of the local community and
the strong government commitment for conservation. The integration of all project activities in
the Dzongkhag and Geog Development Plans (five years and annual) from the beginning of the
project implementation is the key mechanism that the project takes to ensure continuity of the
operations beyond the projects life and ownership of the local communities to project activities.
During the project period, various training related to conservation and management will be
provided to both government staff and local people to enhance their capability and skills.
Moreover, intensive environmental education and communication activities will be conducted
during the project period to raise awareness at the community and national level about the values
of ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation of biological corridors so that the communities can
contribute to conservation efforts and make informed decision making in a long run. The project
also focuses on policy linkage and reforms so that the project initiative could be reflected in
national policy development, which would ensure long-term support of the initiatives.
As for financial sustainability, development of a comprehensive financial plan for the biological
corridor management is an integral component of the proposed project. It is proposed and planned
that the essential infrastructure and capacity will be in place during the project period and thereby
reducing the needs for further investments after the project. In addition, maintenance and
recurrent costs will be incrementally built in the national budget systems owing to existing
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government commitments to nature conservation. Furthermore, the ICDP and natural resource
management activities will be integrated as part of the Dzongkhag and Geog Development Plans,
which could be funded by the local government and community budget after the project period.
Finally, the project will ensure linkage with the Bhutan Environmental Trust Fund to support the
Thrumshingla National Park and biological corridor management activities.
6-2 Project Risks
No major risks are identified at this stage that could be of sufficient magnitude to jeopardize
project implementation, particularly based on the relatively stable political and economic
situation of the country with high interest and commitment for nature conservation. Park staff
capacity is considered as potential risk, however, the project design specifies staff capacity
building as a critical component through out the project period. Moreover, capacity building is
the main focus of the Bhutan Trust Fund and the project will closely collaborate with the Fund on
this issue.
7. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT
7.1. Social Assessment
A thorough socio-economic assessment study was conducted at the ThrumshingLa National Park to
develop the Park Management Plan, which has provided much necessary information for the
development of this proposed project. The assessment was conducted by using intensive PRA
methods in all the 51 villages in and around the park, which provided clear understanding on the
condition, threats, and needs of the communities.
The assessment revealed that almost all population in and around the park relies on subsistence
agriculture and natural resources for their livelihood. Off-farm economic activities are gradually
increasing in all the villages, such as casual labor and working at government offices, which are
highly correlated with education attainment and availability of economic opportunities. The area is
remote, however, most of the population are able to access to primary school and basic health unit
within 2 hours walk. Difference between boy and girl school enrollment rate is still significant,
particularly for higher education.
The project will provide particular emphasis in gender mainstreaming in all project activities by
further analyzing gender roles and constraints in the communities in the project sites and will take
adequate measures.
7-2 Stakeholder Identification
This project involves a wide range of stakeholders. At the local level, heads of the village, geog,
and dzongkhag; people representatives of the dzongkhag (chimi); park staff; dzongkhag forest
officers; other line agencies officers (health, education, and extension workers); and local people,
including women and vulnerable groups, whom are identified as major stakeholders. At the
central level, Ministry of Agriculture is the key government agency with the Department of
Forest Services, Department of Livestock, Department of Policy, National Environment
Commission (NEC), and Ministry of Trade and Industry are identified as key actors for the
project activities. The only operational NGO in Bhutan, the Royal Society for the Protection of
Nature (RSPN) will also be fully involved in the implementation and monitoring of the project.
7-3 Information Dissemination and Consultation
The project was developed through a participatory process with all concerned stakeholders. The
methodology used for project planning included: stakeholder meetings, individual and group
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24
interviews in the field, and PRA methods for social assessment in the villages.
participatory tools will continue to be used in the project implementation phase.
These
The project concept was developed through series of discussions with all the above-mentioned
stakeholders. The project will ensure that it will continue to take participatory decision making
process throughout the project implementation by establishing a system to plan, implement, and
monitor the activities with the involvement of all stakeholders. Information dissemination will be
ensured during village and geog meetings as well as various communications means, through
publications, newsletters and media program.
7-4 Stakeholder Participation
The project takes a strong community focus, through a decentralized decision making process by
involving all major stakeholders for development and conservation initiatives at the village and
geog levels. Stakeholder involvement is not limited at the implementation stage but all levels of
project implementation from planning, decision making to evaluation.
The project also provides substantial attention on the socio-economic issues in the temperate
broadleaf forest ecoregion through the co-financial activities initiated under the government and
WWF, and other partners to further promote integrated conservation and development projects.
These activities will contribute for livelihood improvement and reduce pressure to natural
resource in the area.
8
INCREMENTAL COST ASSESSMENT
The baseline scenario for the conservation of the temperate broadleaf forest ecoregion would
comprise of a government initiatives on conservation initiatives in the protected areas in the three
parks (Thrumshingla, Black Mountains, and Royal Manas National Parks – approx. US$ 400000)
and small-scale socio-economic development activities in the geogs (villages) in and around the
protected areas. In addition, external donors’ support to the projects in the Black Mountain
National Park, which is supported by the Government of the Netherlands (approx. US $ 2
million), and the Royal Manas National Park, supported by WWF (approx. 800,000) are also
considered as baseline activities. In terms of development activities there are only one project
supported by IFAD in the project areas: in Lhuentse and Mongar Dzongkhags. IFAD is
supporting an agriculture and livestock loan scheme to local communities with a budget of approx.
USD 20000 for the next 5 years. In addition, there are a few local government funded projects
on livestock and farming improvements, which are implemented by agriculture extension workers
(total of approx. US 100000). Resources available for the baseline program total approximately
US$ 3.3 million. The breakdown and the detail of the baseline costs are described in Table 1.
Under the baseline scenario, funding would not be sufficient to ensure conservation of globally
significant biological resources at the landscape scale in the biological corridors and linch pin
protected area with local participation, initiate informed management planning and
implementation based on scientific research and information, and conduct training and outreach
programs necessary for the involvement of stakeholders. Thus complementary incremental
finance is requested to the GEF to mitigate the threats to the many endangered species and forest
and mountain ecosystems of worldwide significance in the Eastern Himalaya.
The GEF alternative totals US $ 5.155 million, of which incremental cost amount to US$ 1.855
million. Among which, US$ 792000 will fund project activities related to achieving global
benefits for conservation and will therefore be requested from GEF. The remainder (US$1.053
million) will fund activities attaining mostly domestic benefits and therefore will be financed by
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the WWF and Royal Government of Bhutan. A comprehensive Incremental Cost Matrix by
project objectives is presented in the following Table 1.
Table 1
Baseline
Alternative
Global
 Species population isolation  Increased capacity to
environmental
and ecosystem
initiate; landscape scale
benefits
fragmentation and loss
conservation approach to
retain global significant
 Erosion of existing
biodiversity by ensuring
corridors
where the flagship
 Lack of capacity to manage
species continue to
biological corridors and
inhabit
protected areas
 Sustainable conservation
 Inadequate monitoring
of essential forest and
capacity
mountain ecosystems by
maintaining a network of
protected areas and
biological corridors Domestic
 Unsustainable harvesting  Effective natural resource
benefits
of forest and grassland
management system by the
due to lack of knowledge
local communities to
on values and benefits
ensure long-term benefits
from sustainable use of
from harvesting resources.
biological resources, lack  Increased revenue and
of effective management
productivity through
skills, and lack of
sustainable use of natural
alternative economic
resources
activities.
 Increased domestic
awareness and support for
conservation activities
Outcome 1:
Biological
Corridor
Policy and
Guideline
Development
Outcome 2:
Pilot Initiatives
on Integrated
Corridor
Management
- No policy framework and
regulation to manage the
identified biological corridor
- No management structure
among the central and local
government and local
communities
- Limited information and
data on the biological
corridors
- Lack of skills and
knowledge to manage
biological corridors and
biodiversity at the productive
landscape scale
$ 100000
- No management action plan
that integrate both
conservation and
development activities in the
biological corridors
- Lack of knowledge on
LINKPA – Medium-sized Project Brief
Benefit Increment (A-B)
 Ensured ecological
processes, ecosystem
balance, and viable
populations of species of
global importance
through conservation and
integrity of critical forest
and mountain ecosystems
 Enhanced landscape scale
conservation management
to ensure ecosystem
balance and maintains
forest, grassland, and
wildlife species conditions
which could be
sustainably utilized by the
local communities for
economic activities
 Retain cultural heritage
and traditional resource
management practices
- Comprehensive management
guideline and regulation in
place for the management of
the biological corridor together
with the protected area
network in close collaboration
with the local communities
- Increased capacity and skills
to manage biological resources
at a landscape scale in a
participatory manner
$ 270000
Total incremental cost
$ 170000 of which
GEF $107000
WWF 3000
Gov’t 10000
- Integration of biodiversity in
development planning to
mitigate threats in the selected
corridors
- Model initiatives in the
bottleneck corridors areas are
Total incremental cost
$ 660000 of which
GEF $ 280000
WWF $ 270000
Gov’t $ 110000
(April 2001 Final Draft)
26
values and benefit on
conservation and sustainable
use of biological resources in
the biological corridors
- Inadequate information on
the biological, socioeconomic, institutional
resources in the corridors
$ 200000
Outcome 3:
Conservation
and
Management
of a ‘linch pin’
Protected
Areas
(Thrumshingla,
Black
Mountain, and
Royal Manas
National
Parks)
- Limited technical and
financial capacity to initiate
conservation and sustainable
use of natural resources
- Lack of livelihood options
to reduce poverty and
reliance on natural resources
extraction
- Lack of knowledge on
values and benefit on
conservation and sustainable
use
$ 3000000
developed for further
replication in other areas to
conserve the corridors
- Increased knowledge among
the local government and
communities on biodiversity
resource values and
importance for conservation
- Database and monitoring
protocol in place for informed
decision making
$860000
- Increased knowledge and
awareness n conservation
values among the local
communities which leads to
increased cooperation for
conservation initiatives
- Diversified and biodiversity
friendly livelihood options
reduced reliance on natural
resources
- Improved management of
natural resources through
community based natural
resource mgmt
Total incremental cost
$ 1025000 of which
GEF 355000
WWF 370000
Gov’t 300000
.$ 4025000
Total
9
Total 3300000
Total 4115000
Total $ 1855000
Of which
GEF 782000
WWF 643000
Gov’t 420000
PROJECT BUDGET
The total estimated project budget is US$ 1.855 million. The project will be co-financed by the
RGOB (in kind as well as reoriented development initiatives) and WWF funds. The GEF
contribution comprises of $ 792000, which is about 42 percent of the total budget proposed. The
GEF fund will be utilized to address the global benefit and interest for conservation.
The PDF A was not requested since WWF Bhutan borne the cost to conduct all the necessary
baseline surveys, including the socio-economic, wildlife, and vegetation assessments, mapping, and
organize the stakeholder meetings.
Table 5.1:
Budget details of the project: (USD)
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27
Bhutan LINKPA Project Budget
Component 1
1.1 Develop and implement guideline and
regulatory framework
1.2 Organize annual workshops for
stakeholders
1.3 'Exchange lessons learned with other
regional countries
Y1
46000
18000
Y2
33000
18000
Y3
45000
13000
Y4
19000
Y5
27000
5000
5000
4000
4000
4000
22000
22000
23000
10000
23000
10000
23000
89000
86000
5000
5000
10000
10000
1.4 'Develop a sustainable financing plan for
managing biological corridors
Total RGOB
170000 10000
49000 10000
GEF
157000
39000
WWF
3000
3000
132000
165000
23000
136000
14000
120000
13000
107000
660000 110000
50000 10000
157000
280000
40000
270000
2.2 Develop and implement pilot sustainable
livelihood programs
90000
100000
100000
100000
100000
490000 100000
170000
220000
2.4 'Establish database and a monitoring system
42000
42000
22000
7000
7000
120000
70000
50000
Component 3
3.1 'Enhance management structure and
framework of Thrumshingla NP
225000
70000
240000
70000
230000
60000
175000
50000
155000 1025000 300000
50000 300000 100000
355000
100000
370000
100000
3.2 Strengthen park patrolling to curve
poaching of endangered species
40000
30000
30000
20000
20000
140000
100000
40000
3.3 'Improve natural resources use in and
around the park.
30000
40000
40000
20000
20000
150000
50000
100000
3.4. Develop alternative livelihood options in
and around the park
70000
80000
80000
70000
50000
350000 200000
50000
100000
3.5 Conduct information, communication and
education program
15000
20000
20000
15000
15000
55000
30000
403000
438000
411000
314000
792000
643000
Component 2
2.1 Implement policy and framework
guidelines in the corridors
Total
85000
289000 1855000 420000
10 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The project is planned for five years, and the implementation is expected to start from July 2002
coinciding with the beginning of the 9th Development Plan (2002-2007) of the government. The
project will be executed by the WWF in strong partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
WWF will coordinate the several implementing agencies: the Forest Services Division of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Dzongkhag (District) Administrations (Bumthang, Mongar, Zhemgang,
and Lhuntse), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (the only local conservation
NGO currently under operation in Bhutan).
The Ministry of Agriculture will take a lead role for the implementation of the project, with
support from WWF. The component 1 and 2 (biological corridor) would be led by the Director of
the DFS and all the divisions (NCD, FTD, FRDD, FED, and FPUD) to coordinate the activities.
For component 3 (Thrumshingla National Park management), the Thrumshingla National Park
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Manager, who is under the Nature Conservation Division, will be primarily be responsible for the
activities.
A Project Steering Committee (PSC) will be the central coordinating and advisory body of the
project, which will be composed of: 1) Ministry of Agriculture; 2) Ministry of Finance; 3)
Donors; and 4) Planning Commission Secretariat. The committee will be responsible for: 1)
decision making and monitoring of all activities for project implementation. This includes
approval of sub-contracts, approval of Terms of Reference, and monitoring of project
implementation; and 2) policy and institutional coordination. It will provide overall policy
guidance to the implementation of the project and facilitate an effective communication and
decision-making between the project support unit and other actors. The Advisory Group will
meet at a quarterly basis and will also review and approval of the project workplan prepared by
the different implementing agencies.
At the local level, a Coordination Committee will be established at the temperate broadleaf forest
ecoregion with the Park Managers of the three parks (Thrumshingla National Park, Black
Mountain National Park, and the Royal Manas National Park) and the Dzongdas (district
governors) of the five Dzongkhags (Bumthang, Mongar, Zhemgang, Lhuntse, and Trongsa). The
Coordination Committee will meet every 6 months and exchange and review progress on the
workplans, discuss and solve critical issues, strengthen coordination, and learn from each other.
At each Dzongkhag (district) level, the project initiatives will be fully integrated in the
Dzongkhag and Geog (sub-district) Development Plans by following the existing planning
approach. The following procedures has been agreed by the stakeholders to integrate the project
activities in the local development plan and activities:
1) Park and the dzongkhag will prepare a rough framework (financial and technical) of the
annual plan, based on the project document
2) Based on the framework, the Geog Development Committee (GYT) will prepare a detailed
plan, including the project activities
3) The detailed plan will be discussed and approved at the Dzongkhag Development Committee
(DYT)
4) The Dzongkhag and Geog will be responsible in implementing and monitoring the activities
under the plan. The park will also participate in the monitoring.
This approach fully complies with the decentralization approach that the government is
promoting and strengthening with support from UNDP and other agencies. In this way, the
project initiative will be not considered as isolated activities but will be fully integrated in the
local plan and initiated by the local government and communities with full ownership and
sustainability consideration.
11 MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN
Regular monitoring of project implementation will be carried out based on the indicators
specified for the project activities, outcomes and overall goal. It is important to monitor to make
necessary adjustments and changes in the implementation plan. A three-tier procedure will be
followed for effective monitoring and evaluation:
In addition to annual evaluations, a mission team composed of representatives from donor,
executing, and implementing agencies (including local community representatives will jointly
conduct monitoring and evaluation missions at mid-term (second year) and upon project
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completion (fifth year) in order to evaluate impacts, incorporate improvement measures and
develop additional sustainability mechanisms for the project as appropriate. Particular emphasis
will be made to gender issues and project impacts considering the important role that the women
play in biological resource management in the communities.
WWF Bhutan Program will closely supervise the work of all consultants, make periodic field
visits to monitor field activities, evaluate the progress of work and incorporate improvement
measures. WWF Bhutan Program also will receive financial and technical progress reports from
the implementing partners on a bi-annual basis. WWF will take full responsibility for reporting to
the donors.
The implementing agencies will monitor and supervise all project activities on-site and submit
technical and financial progress reports to WWF Bhutan Program and the Ministry of Finance on
a bi-annual basis. The implementing agencies are subject to financial auditing by the Royal Audit
Authority under RGOB regulations. The impact and progress of ICDP activities will be evaluated
using participatory tools and techniques as appropriate.
12 PROJECT CHECK LIST
PROJECT ACTIVITY CATEGORIES
Biodiversity
Prot. area zoning/mgmt.: x
Buffer zone development: x
Inventory/monitoring: x
Ecotourism: x
Agro-biodiversity: x
Trust fund(s):
Benefit-sharing: x
Other: Community education and
their involvement in sustainable
dev.
TECHNICAL CATEGORIES
Institution building: x
Investments:
Policy advice: x
Targeted research: x
Technical/management advice: x
Technology transfer: x
Awareness/information/training: x
Other:
Climate Change
International Waters
Efficient prod.
& distrib.:
Efficient
consumption:
Solar:
Biomass:
Wind:
Hydro:
Geothermal:
Fuel cells:
Water body:
Integrated land and
water: x
Contaminant:
Other:
Ozone
Depletion
Monitoring:
Country
program: x
ODS phaseout:
Production:
Other:
13 ANNEXES
Annex 1: Map of the Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion in Bhutan
Annex 2: Map of Protected Area and the Biological Corridors
Annex 3. Biological Corridors and the Critical Bottleneck Areas
Annex 4: Project Implementation Schedule
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Annex 5: Community Consultation Process on Biological Corridor Management
Annex 6: Letter of Confirmation from WWF for the Co-finance
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Annex 1: Map of the Broadleaf Forest Ecoregion in Bhutan
Annex 2: Map of Protected Area and the Biological Corridors
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(Feb 2001 Draft)
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Annex 3. Biological Corridors and the Critical Bottleneck Areas
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34
Annex 4: Project Implementation Schedule
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
YEAR
Component I
1 2
3 4 5
Develop and implement guideline and regulatory framework for corridor
1-1 management through stakeholder consultation
X X X X X
Organize annual workshops for stakeholders to share experiences on
1-2 biological corridor management
X X X X X
Exchange lessons learned with other regional countries that are undertaking
1-3 landscape level biological corridors
X
X
1-4 Develop a sustainable financing plan for managing biological corridors
Component II
2-1 Implement policy and framework guidelines in the corridors
Develop and implement pilot sustainable livelihood programs in
2-2 consultation with local people in select communities in the corridors
Establish database and a monitoring system on biological corridors and
2-3 protected area system
Component III
3-1 Enhance management structure and framework of Thrumshingla NP
3-2 Improve natural resources use in and around the park.
3-3 Strengthen park patrolling to curve poaching of endangered species
Conduct information, communication and education program to local
3-4 communities residing in and around the park
Monitoring and evaluation
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X X
X
X X
X X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
Annex 5: Community Consultation Process on Biological Corridor Management
The Government of Bhutan in collaboration with the WWF Bhutan Office and other partners
have initiated numerous consultations with the local communities and government to plan for the
biological corridor management under the proposed project. The government as well as the local
community recognizes the challenges to manage the corridors. However, in case of Bhutan, the
low population density and the fact that the forests in the identified corridors are relatively intact
with only minimal presence of human settlements makes management much easier compared to
the case in Nepal and other neighboring countries. Following are summaries of some of the
significant consultations which shows their level of involvement, enthusiasm and commitment:
a) 1996 - 1998 Community consultation for the tiger surveys: The community consultation
process for the corridor development started with the tiger surveys, which aimed to map the
habitats but also identify a safe passage for them. The government and WWF organized a socioeconomic study and consulted the communities around the key habitats on their land use patterns
and human activities. During the process, the communities were informed about the need for
establishing a network of corridors to ensure survival of the tigers and important ecosystem. As
an outcome of the community consultation, the local communities and governments agreed to
conduct an official mapping exercise of the tiger passages and maintain them as biological
corridors.
b) 1998 Community consultation to identify the biological corridors - Based on the above
tiger surveys and other biological assessment studies, as noted in the project brief, the corridors
were identified through a combination of GIS analysis and ground survey by WWF specialist and
trained local rangers in 1998. The rangers were trained in both biological and socio-economic
assessment techniques and were provided with a check list/questionnaires, which they used to
consult the local communities. To cover the entire identified corridor areas, each ranger were
assigned with specific survey site. They had individual as well as group discussions with the
local communities and governments to make sure that the avenues identified under the GIS
analysis are suitable and agreeable by the local communities for wildlife dispersal and to make
specific recommendations to what protection measures are required. During this process, the land
use patterns and human pressures to the corridors were examined again and necessary measures
were identified by the local communities. Based on the Bhutanese cultural belief nested on
Buddhism and government's efforts on awareness raising, the idea of establishing the corridors
were well accepted by the local communities. Moreover, to begin with, most of these identified
corridors were abandoned areas with minimal human activities, thus had less impact to the local
people to set aside as biological corridors.
c) 1999-2001 Socio-economic and PRA study in and surrounding of the TrumshingLa,
Black Mountain, and Royal Manas National Parks As part of the process to develop park
management plans for the Thrumshingla, Black Mountain, and Royal Manas National Parks,
intensive socio-economic assessment studies were conducted by each park by using PRA
methods. A Dutch specialist working in the Black Mountain National Park conducted training
sessions with the park and key government staff on PRA skills and methods. In the case of
Thrumshingla National Park, about 10 staff were trained and conducted intensive surveys during
a period of 3 months in 49 villages, within and surrounding communities around the park
boundaries. The PRA methods used included: awareness on park policy, forest resource ranking,
activity calendar, mapping of resource use, historical time-line, and others. Through the process,
the local communities, particularly in the buffer zone and corridor areas, became aware of their
resource use pattern, ways to minimize threats to the biological resources in the park and
surrounding areas, and identify actions that could be initiated by the communities. In addition,
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the village and district leaders committed to initiate ICDP type of activities and reorient their
development initiatives. (results of the studies, "Reports on Socio-Economic Study" are available
for each concerned park). The proposed project activities are all based on the results of the PRA
and discussion with the communities.
d) 1996 - (present) Daily communication with the local communities by the park staff,
WWF, and other NGOs on the importance to initiate integrated conservation and
development activities - Under the on-going projects in the three parks, park and project staff
are having daily contact with the local herders, farmers, and village leaders on conservation and
development initiatives in the surrounding areas of the park, among which substantial parts are
identified as corridors. Through these processes, the surrounding communities of the parks have
been informed and started to understand the importance of conservation, particularly on
sustainable natural resource use. The proposed project is building up on this growing enthusiasm
of the communities to work on integrated resource management in the corridors. The project will
also continue to enhance community interests and commitment through the proposed education
and awareness raising component.
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Annex 6: Letter of Confirmation from WWF for the Co-finance (in cash)
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