SAWEN Update

BHUTAN

Sonam Wangchuk, Chief Wildlife Conservation Division, Bhutan

Second Meeting of South Asia Expert Group on Illegal Wildlife Trade – Paro,

Location of Bhutan

BHUTAN

Tibet

India

Tibet plateau (100 to 300 mm)

Nepal

Bangladesh

90 oE 98 oE

30 oN

20 oN

Southern foot hills (5000 mm)

Bhutan straddles two biogeographic realms - Indomalayan (Oriental) region consisting of the lowland subtropical forests of South and Southeast Asia

- Palearctic realms consisting of conifer forests and alpine meadows of northern Asia and Europe

-72% Forest cover

- 5,603 species of vascular plants- 369 species orchids & 46 Rhodos- Over 90 species of mushrooms (Matsutake)

Over 300 species of medicinal and aromatic plants(including 105 sp. of endemic (BAP 2009)

Panthera tigris tigris

200 species of mammals

Golden Langur (Presbytis geii)

Budrocas taxicolor whiteii

- Close to 200 species- 27 species globally threatened (1CE, 11E, 15V)- 115-130 nos of tigers recorded upto 4,210m

Herpetofauna- 15 reptiles and 3 amphibians recorded

Invertebrates - 800-900 species of butterflies with 150 species catalogue with picture

Fish Fauna- Existing record list over 50 species

- 678 species- 14 Globally threatened species & 10 restricted range species- 1 critically endangered (White-bellied heron) as per Red List

Crested Serpent Eagle

Golden -throated Barbet

Boreal owlBlack-necked Crane

• Bhutan’s conservation policy strongly favors conservation and sustainable management of natural resources;

• Explicit provisions to maintain 60% forest cover at all times (NFP 1974 & Article 5 of Bhutan’s Constitution 2007).

• Thrimzhung Chenmo 1959 (Supreme Law of Bhutan) was the country’s first forestry related legislation

• Bhutan Forest Act 1969 is the first piece of modern forestry legislation enacted to protect the forests;

Policies supporting PAs

Buddhist ethics which respect all life forms Strong Political will Sound Environmental Legislation

Governance

Basic principle is to give back to nature what has been taken away and accord respect to all forms of life.

Conservation: Policy to action• Established in 1999 a network of Biological Corridors as a Gift to Earth by the King and people of Bhutan• Set up Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation in 1992 with an initial capital of US$ 10m, now reported to have assets over US$ 43 millions.

National and International Initiatives1960s – First Protected Area designated covering entire northern and southern belt1974 – eight more designated in different parts of the country1983 – Notification of Protected Area System1990s – Ratified 2 major conventions – CBD, UNFCC1993 – Revision of protected area system2000s – EIA, BA, Water Act, etc.

- CITES in November 20032010 – Final Draft Protected Area & Wildlife Bill

Management- 12 Forest Divisions- 10 Protected Areas (4 NPs, 4 WS, 1 SNR, 1 CP)- Antipoaching Unit (FPUD – FPED)- Entry points by road (Samtse, Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar)- Paro International Airport- Manned by Royal Bhutan Police, Customs, BAFRA, & Forest- Clear mandate - Nature Conservation Division – WCD and NRED

CHIEF WILDLIFE OFFICER

BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY & DATA

MGMT. SECTION

1.Biodiversity Survey & Data Mgmt. Program2. Mgmt. Planning Program3. Fish & Herpetology4. Taxidermy & Forensic Program

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

SECTION1.Convention on Biological Diversity2. TRAFFIC, CITES, MIKE, SAWEN

HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT MGT.

SECTION

1.HWC Mgmt. Program2. Wildlife Rescue & rehabilitation Program

SPECIES CONSERVATION AND MONITORING

SECTION

1.Carnivore Consn. Program2. Herbivore Conservation Program3. Ornithology Conservation Program4. CITES

ADM SECTIONACCOUNTS SECTION

BIOLOGICAL CORRIDORS PROGRAM

ORGANOGRAM OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DIVISION

STRUCTURE

Capacity BuildingNational Level - On going awareness program on environmental conservation with emphasis on conservation acts and rules- Quarterly meet of Technical Committee - conservation Law enforcement - WCD conducted one day training workshop on how to operate the online database with focal officers identified in all the field offices- Training of trainers on tiger conservation (Teacher, park staff)- Co-existence of human with elephants (Zoo Outreach)

Regional Level- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun - certificate course in wildlife management (1-2 slot Global Tiger Forum) - PG Diploma course (1 slot SAARC)

- Observation tour to center of excellence to neighboring countries (Thailand, Nepal, India)- One officer completed a month long attachment course in TLC and hair sampling Jawaharal Nehru Academic of Science, Bangalore- One officer attended a M-stripe course organized by Global tiger Forum

Challenges

1. Rugged Terrain of Bhutan. - Difficulties in monitoring and research.

2. Donor dependent PA Management (sustainable financing) - No continuity of fund flow.

3. Habitat fragmentation through agriculture and development works

4. Lack of skilled human resources (need for capacity building)

5. Knowledge Gap – lacks baseline data of most biological resources

6. Human Wildlife Conflicts (compensation, insurance schemes)

Second photo from JSWNP (2005-2007)

First tiger photo at Peme (TNP) Alt. 2,765m – May 20003rd Photo from JDNP (Alt. 4210m), 2008

Future Plans

- Need Assessment workshop on wildlife enforcement (TRAFFIC)- Training on wildlife rescue (RGoB, seeking external support for equipment etc)- Detection machine to be installed at all entry points (funding sought for equipment and transport)- Seek support to extend facility of M-stripe, MIST, etc.