14th Black-necked Crane Festival

The Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC) will be hosting the 14^th Annual Black-Necked Crane Festival on 11^th November 2012 at the Gangtey Goenpa in Phobjikha valley, Wangduephodrang.

Starting this year,  the entry fee for the festival will be Nu. 500.00 per international visitors. The entry fee has been initiated by the committee to help them sustain the festival.

The following is the tentative programs for the upcoming event:

Programme Item List

The following lists of items are performed by the local community people, school students and monks.

1. Welcome Dance by community
2. Rigsar dance by Phobjikha Middle Secondary School
3. Black-Necked Crane Dance by Bayta Community Primary School
4. Mask Dance “Zhatsam Chham
5. Rigsar dance by Ramaychen Community Primary School
6. Boedra Dance by community
7. Rigsar dance by Phobjikha Middle Secondary School
8. Mask Dance “Pachham
9. Rigsar dance by Bayta Community Primary School
10. Thrung Thrung Karme Luje, a traditional Crane Dance by community
11. Rigsar dance by Ramaychen Community Primary School
12. Mask Dance “Durda chham”
13. Rigsar dance by Phobjikha Middle Secondary School
14. Black-Necked Crane Dance by Bayta Community Primary School
15. Zhungdra Dance by community
16. Rigsar dance by Ramaychen Community Primary School
17. Mask Dance “Dramitse ngachham”
18. Rigsar dance by Bayta Community Primary School
19. Item performance by the Phobjikha Environment Management Committee
20. Tashi Lebay

On 3rd October 2012, a single story Forest Outpost cum Residence was inaugurated in Ramaychen in Phobj Gewog (Phobjikha), Wangduephodrang. The outpost was constructed by RSPN and handed over to the Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS), Ministry of Agriculture and Forest.

The forest outpost was inaugurated jointly by Mr. Chencho Norbu, Director, DoFPs and Mr. Lam Dorji (Ph.D), Executive Director, RSPN. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between RSPN and DoFPs for the purpose of strengthening conservation efforts and law enforcement in Phobjikha conservation area.

The MoU emanates from the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions to conserve the biological diversity of Phobjikha executed under RSPN’s project to strengthen conservation management of Phobjikha conservation area under Phobjikha and Gangtey Gewogs.

While RSPN, as non-governmental agency, deems it necessary to strengthen the legal status of Phobjikha as a conservation area for sustained ecological significance of area and associated ecosystem services in the long term, the DoFPs concurs with the proposal of RSPN for strengthened status of Phobjikha as a Conservation Area.

The need for stronger presence of the department in monitoring and enforcement of forests and nature conservation regulations in the area is critical for continued efforts to preserve the pristine ecology of the area.

By signing the MoU the DoFPs agreed to expand its monitoring and enforcement reach by establishing an additional outpost at Ramaychen, Phobji Gewog and staffing and equipping the outpost with two forester staff.

The forest outpost was constructed under RSPN’s project titled ‘Sustainable Natural Resource Management’ in Phobjikha Landscape Conservation funded by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation based in USA.

The outpost is constructed on a piece of land measuring 25 decimals registered in the name of DoFPS, located at Ramaychen, Phobji Gewog. The facility includes: Office space with 2 office rooms, 1 waiting room (hall way) and 1 large wash room (toilet) and Residence space with 2 bed rooms, 1 living room, 1 kitchen, 1 toilet, 1 hallway and open verandah.

The ceremony was attended by RSPN officials, DoFPs officials from Phobjikha and Territorial Forest Division, Wangduephodrang, Local Government Officials of Gangtey and Phobji gewogs, Phobjikha Environment Management Committee members and the local community. The Outpost has been built at the cost of Nu. 2.5 million.

Reported by Tshering Phuntsho

Pursuant to decision X/46, the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) is being  held in Hyderabad, India, from 8^th October and will continue until 19 October 2012.

COP 11 will include a high-level ministerial segment organized by the host country in consultation with the Secretariat and the Bureau. The high‑level segment will take place from 17 to 19 October 2012.

This meeting will take place during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) as declared by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 65/161. The United Nations Decade on Biodiversity will serve to support and promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Its goal is to mainstream biodiversity at different levels. Throughout the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, governments are encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of national strategies for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.

For more information visit http://cbdcop11india.in/home.html

October 4, 2012 – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized RSPN as an official repository for its documents and publications in Bhutan on 1st October 2012.

In a letter written addressed to the Executive Director of RSPN, the Regional Director of IUCN Asia Regional Office based in Bangkok, Thailand said that it is IUCN’s “pleasure to recognize the Environment Resource Centre (ERC) of RSPN” to be the official respository for all kinds of documents and publications published by IUCN. With the recognition, RSPN will receive “representative selection” of their publications.

While congratulating RSPN on its Silver Jubilee, the Regional Director commended the conservation work of RSPN over the last 25 years which has made “important controbutions to an impressive array of issues, including species conservation, natural resources management, sustainable livelihoods and environmental awareness.”

As a global union of Governments and NGOs and Scientists, IUCN has network of 11 offices and over 200 member organizations.

RSPN was enrolled as a member of IUCN in March 2008 and is celebrating its 25 years of service to the environment conservation this year.

Over 450 students and teachers from three schools namely, Bayta Community Primary School, Phobjikha Middle Secondary School and Ramachen Community Primary School attended a climate change awareness program in Phobjikha on 12^th September 2012.

The awareness program included general introduction on climate change and its impacts on various sector in our country. The interactive program also portrayed the need of individual effort and commitment to curb the environmental damages incurred through our unsustainable means of living.  

The awareness was carried out by the Research Program as part of the climate change networking with support from the International Institute of Environment and Development, UK.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, the world’s largest and most important conservation event, begins today on Jeju Island, South Korea.

More than 8,000 people from more than 170 countries are in Jeju to discuss, debate and vote on solutions to some of the globe’s most pressing environmental and development issues.

Held every four years, the Congress, which runs to 15 September, brings together government and non-governmental organizations, scientists, business and community leaders from around the world to look at how nature provides the solution to many of our problems.

“Nature is inherently strong, but we must improve how quickly nature and people adapt to change,” says Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director-General of IUCN. “If we strengthen nature, we’ll see that ecosystems are more resilient and people, communities and economies are healthier.”

A huge range of issues is on the agenda, including the latest news from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, growing threats to tuna populations, fresh figures on coral reef destruction and the urgent need to stop countries making false claims on ocean protection.

Several important multimillion dollar announcements on initiatives and corporate partnerships with major international business will also be made. Climate change, growing threats to natural ecosystems and improving global decision-making on environmental issues will also feature.

While conservation is focused on global issues, various local issues will also be in the spotlight. Korean and German experts will be debating how to use the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, and its surprisingly intact nature, to promote peace, referencing experiences from the former iron curtain. Across the border, replanting and rehabilitating the destroyed forests of North Korea will also be addressed.

Delegates will be joined by notable figures including South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, human rights advocate Bianca Jagger, leading author and oceanographer Sylvia Earle, Japanese singer/songwriter Iruka and HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden amongst other CEOs, and several government ministers and heads of major NGOs and UN agencies.

Follow the IUCN World Conservation Congress:
Congress website: www.iucn.org/congress  
Congress fact sheets: http://www.iucnworldconservationcongress.org/news___press/press/fact_sheet/ 
IUCN on Korean environmental issues: http://www.iucnworldconservationcongress.org/about/korean_environmental_issues/
Image gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iucnweb/sets/72157627514768600/show/ 
www.facebook.com/iucn.org  
www.twitter.com/iucn Twitter #IUCN2012

The Board of Directors, Members and Staff of RSPN express our profound grief for the untimely demise of our dear colleague, Mr. Tshewang Norbu who worked with RSPN since 2003. He expired in an unfortunate car accident on 29^th August, 2012 at Sisiding (Thinleygang) at around 12:30AM.

He was one of the most active field staff who contributed to RSPN as an Assistant Research Officer, especially in White-bellied heron conservation. He will always be remembered for his cheerful character, calmness and enthusiasm. He was an ardent bird watcher, trekker and guide.

He is survived with his wife and 3 children. His rites will be performed by his parents and wife at his residence in Dechenchholing.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Selection result of a project officer signed by committee members. (click on the picture to enlarge)

This is the complete list of nominees which RSPN has received via online forms and postal couriers till date.

Please note that the list is compiled in order of date the nomination is filed by respective nominators. It has nothing to do with the final decision and selection.

The Exam and Viva Voce will be conducted on 27th August 2012 at 9.30 AM at RSPN Office at Kawajangsa. All Candidates are requested to bring their original documents and other supporting documents during the interview.

Kindly contact the Adm/HR Officer for details at 322056 / 326130 during working hours.

Names of Shortlisted Candidates for the post of Project officer for CWFWSL, Wamrong