Organic Denmark visits RSPN

With an onset of partnership program between Organic Denmark and Royal Society for Protection of Nature in August this year, a long standing effort by the two organisations to initiate a formal tie in organic agriculture finally became a reality. A team from Organic Denmark comprising of Mr. Per Rasmussen, Organic agriculture expert, Mr. Jesper Saxgren, Vice Chairman of Global Organic Committee in Organic Denmark and Mr. Tsewang Lhundup visited RSPN from 25^th October to 1^st November 2016. Organic Denmark (www.organicdenmark.com) is inspired by Bhutan’s Vision of becoming 100 percent organic by 2020.

The partnership program seeks to strengthen the relation and understanding between the two organisations; to initiate dialogue on long term collaboration and to enhance understanding of the two organisations in agricultural practices and scenario in the two countries. Beside meetings with relevant partners and stakeholders, the Organic Denmark‘s programme in Bhutan included field visit to Baeyull Kuenzang one of the potential sites identified for organic agriculture project. Baeyul Kuenzang is a remote village under Bongo gewog in Chukha district with only about 56 households. The village does not have road network and is accessible by a narrow footpath which entails about four hours of walk from the nearest road head at Jimichhu. At Baeyul Kuenzang, the team met with 35 local community members to understand farming practices, issues, needs and opportunities in the area.

The team also had opportunity to visit farms and households and have informal interactions with farmers. The visit concluded with fruitful dialogue on long term future collaboration between Organic Denmark and RSPN in the areas of organic agriculture. While accessibility is a problem, Baeyul Kuenzang is observed to have immense potential for organic farming and agriculture in general.

This visit was preceded by similar visit to Denmark by RSPN team in August this year. During the visit, RSPN team visited several areas in Denmark showcasing Organic Denmark’s initiatives. The team also had the opportunity to meet the stakeholders of Organic Denmark comprising of farmers, companies and individuals. This preparatory phase program will end by March 2017. RSPN and Organic Denmark intends to further this effort to establish a long-term collaboration in organic agriculture.

Organic Denmark (Økologisk Landsforening) is an association of companies, organic farmers and consumers in Denmark. It has more than 160 member companies and is considered the largest representative of the organic food industry in Denmark.

Photo Credits : Tshewang Lhundup, Organic Denmark and Tshering Phuntsho, RSPN

On October 24, 2016, project launch meeting on “Expanding tradable benefit of transboundary inland waters” was held at Guwahati, Assam, India. The meeting was attended by around 30 regional representative from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN), and numerous participants from IUCN, ICIMOD, Saci Water, local press and various international organizations and government offices of Assam.

The meeting was organized by Consumer Unity & Trust Society international (CUTS), an Indian based NGO which is a consumer protection organization with its head office in Jaipur, India. The one year project funded by The Asia Foundation (TAF) under the Civil Society Fund of the South Asia Water Governance Program project will be implemented by CUTS international in partnership with Unnayan Shamannay, Bangladesh; Royal Society for Protection of Nature, RSPN, Bhutan; and south Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal.

The goal of the project is to ‘contribute to improving institutions (i.e, policies, laws, and regulations) for the governance of inland waterways in the BBIN region from the point of view of transport connectivity and livelihood of those directly connected to identified inland waterways’. To achieve this goal, the project objectives will be to create an alternative policy discourse for enabling reform measures between policy makers, civil society and communities as well as to share knowledge on policies, laws, and regulations enabling or impeding the governance of inland waterways in the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins.

The activity under the project will include diagnostic study for Bhutan, which will be through compilation of literature review on existing governing policy, acts and rule on inland waters and field research. The research publication will be followed by national reference group meeting with relevant members with policy-makers, representatives of governmental and inter-governmental bodies, representatives of civil society organizations and community-based organizations and media. It will then be followed by sub national dialogue, national level advocacy meeting and interaction with media as medium for information dissemination, basin level dialogue, synthesis report and finally regional dissemination meeting.

For Bhutan, the project will generate awareness on future prospects of using river for trade and connectivity. The subject on inland water is very new for Bhutan and RSPN as a project implementer for Bhutan will facilitate awareness and advocacy on using trans-boundary water for future prospects for trade and connectivity. The synthesis report for the project will reflect pros and cons of such trade in our region.

Reported by:Narayan Ghalley

The monitoring of Drinking Water Supply Scheme construction in Yoeseltse Gewog in Samtse was initiated from 24^th-30^th October 2016. The monitoring visit was undertaken as per project plan and in consultation with Programme Development Division and Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood Unit. The objectives of the field visit to project areas are: 1) to monitor the progress and quality construction of the water infrastructure in Yoeseltse; and 2) to meet and inform contractor, engineer, accounts officer and Gegow officials on efficient use of project fund, quality and timely completion of construction.

It was observed that the foundation of the construction of 50m³ Over-head Intake Tank and 150m³ Reservoir Tank in Yoeseltse are completed with the obtained of environment clearance from Divisional Forest Office. It was also observed that the Gewog has already received the water pipes and the construction of the two water tanks is scheduled from first week of November 2016. The team was also informed that tender quotation for the construction of drinking water supply scheme through pumping system in Dumsidara under Phuntshopelri Gewog will be awarded soon to the bid winning contractor. The completion of construction of Drinking Water Supply Schemes is scheduled to end of February 2017, and the water supply scheme will benefit around 539 households in Yoeseltse and Phuntshopelri Gewogs.

And as part of monitoring, the team also met with proprietor of Tshamchey Construction, Engineer, Accounts Officer of Samtse District, Principal of Yoeseltse Middle Secondary School, Yoeseltse Gewog Officials and thank them for their continued support. In addition, the contractor and other officials who are involved for project were briefed on their inputs, efficient use of project fund, quality construction and timely completion of Water Infrastructure Development for the benefit of the rural communities.

 The monitoring activity was initiated by Mr. Tsheten Dorji, WASH Project Officer and Mr. Tshering Dorji, Adm./HR Coordinator of RSPN and Mr, Damcho, Engineer of Samtse District.

RSPN would like to thank all the concerned agencies and individuals for the continued support. The project is funded by SDF and will be completed by June 2017.

Reported by: Tsheten Dorji, Project Officer-WASH

A lone Black-necked Crane descended to Gangtey-Phobji valley on 22.10.2016 at 2.30 pm. It was a clear sunny day and more cranes were expected to follow. Since it is already last week of October, more cranes are expected to arrive. Last year on 6th November, three cranes flew to the valley at 1.23 pm.

Our records from the past show that cranes arrive at different time of the day and mostly during mid day and of course on clear days. In 2009, 3 cranes arrived on 29th October at 3.10 pm, in 2010, 3 cranes arrived on 2nd November (1.25pm), in 2011, 4 cranes arrived on 7th November (10 am), in 2012, 3 cranes arrived on 27th October (12.30 pm) and in 2014 a group of 5 cranes arrived on 31st October at 1 pm.

RSPN is pleased to declare the results of the CBST Project officer interview held on the 19th of October 2016.

It was a good news for Bhutan and perhaps, more so to the environment conservation society in the country to learn that Gangtey-Phobji wetlands has been designated as the third RAMSAR site in June 2016. The news comes after four longs years since Khotokha and Bumdeling were designated as Site No. 2033 and Site No. 2032 respectively in May 2012. The news was made public in September 2016 by the Department of Forest and Park Services. Since the establishment of Watershed Management Division under the Department, it has been the nodal agency in the study of wetlands and watershed in the country and also the lead agency to process the Ramsar Information Sheet through the government.

In particular, Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) received the news with excitement. RSPN has been involved in the conservation of the cranes and the wetlands of Gangtey-Phobjikha as early as 1987. RSPN started its conservation journey quite modestly. In fact, RSPN’s founder Dasho Paljor J. Dorji, began the organization by counting the cranes in Gangtey-Phobji valley. It can perhaps be labeled as the genesis of RSPN as the pioneer environmental NGO in Bhutan. Since then, the desire of having some sort of legal status for the area as conservation area was always there. Though the Royal Government of Bhutan has always bestowed support to conserve the wetlands, it was a challenge in absence of a legal status and definite demarcation. RSPN welcomes such designation and applauds the pro-conservationist government.

Gangtey-Phobji with 975 hectares is Ramsar Site no. 2264 and it is the largest Wetland of International Importance for Bhutan. The wetlands fall with in the two Gewogs (Block) of Gangtey and Phobji. The other similarity among the three Ramsar site is that, it is winter habitat for the vulnerable Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis) in Bhutan and also holy Buddhist pilgrimage sites. All together, the three sites measure 1,226 hectares (12.26 km2) which shall remain protected under this designation for good. The recognition for all the sites in Bhutan are principally on the basis of its importance as it provides fundamental ecosystem services, such as water regulation, filtering and purification, as well as numerous scientific, cultural and recreational values. It is often referred to as the the “kidney of the landscape” and considered as water storage “sponge”. These wetlands are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits or services.

The wetlands of Gangtey-Phobji is the largest natural wetland and also the largest winter habitat of the Black-necked Cranes in the country. Its existence values; ecological, cultural and aesthetics are irreplaceable. The valley, in general, represents exceptional natural beauty and holds outstanding universal value as a high altitude inland wetland.  It is a significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, especially for the vulnerable Black-necked Cranes which is listed as protected bird species under Schedule I of Forest and Nature Conservation rules of Bhutan (FNCR 2006). It also represents Bhutan’s unique conservation style and integration of culture, science and sustainable livelihoods. The valley is also one of the most important tourism destinations in the country. The designation is a symbol of forward-thinking of the Bhutanese environment conservation sector. The site certainly deserves long term management and conservation in which every stakeholder is party starting from community to the government.  And the designation asRamsar site is timely and appropriate.

Today there are 2,242 Ramsar sites world wide covering 215,253,719 hectares (2,152,537.19  km²), almost equivalent to Greenland in size. In terms of regional comparison, Nepal has 10 sites, Pakistan with 19, Bangladesh with 2 and India with 26. However, the size of the sites is much larger with diverse ecosystem services.

In retrospect, the 8th Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan (Winter Session, 2011) ratified the Ramsar Convention after 1 hour 30 minutes’ discussion. Thirty-six out of thirty-six members of parliament present during the session voted to ratify the 12 articles of theRamsar Convention. The then Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho said that the decision is only going to further benefit the country in its effort to conserve wetlands in Bhutan. He stated that being a member and having Ramsar wetland sites in Bhutan will not only help the people and government of Bhutan avail fund for conservation but also help in enhancing research activities in Ramsar Sites. He asserted that it will only increase Bhutan’s stringent tradition of environmental conservation. In the same year Bhutan became the 161st contracting party to the Ramsar Convention. The Parliament approved the proposal of the three sites as Ramsar sites in 2012. Article 5, of the Constitution of Kingdom of Bhutan explicitly mentions that the “Parliament may, by law, declare any part of the country to be a National Park, Wildlife Reserve, Nature Reserve, Biosphere Reserve, Critical Watershed and such other categories meriting protection”.

The WWF Bhutan Program has been supporting the Watershed Management Division towards Bhutan’s accession to the convention including research and consultations. It is expected that Gangtey-Phobji will have robust management plans and that the continuity of conservation efforts will only magnify.

The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971), called the “Ramsar Convention” after Ramsar city, is an intergovernmental treaty, perhaps the oldest global environment agreement, that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the “wise use”, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. Unlike the other global environmental conventions, Ramsar is not affiliated with the United Nations system of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), but it works very closely with the other MEAs and is a full partner among the “biodiversity-related cluster” of treaties and agreements. The Ramsar Secretariat is based at Gland, Switzerland (Source: www.ramsar.org). 

By Tshering Phuntsho

RSPN is pleased to announce the list of applicants shortlisted for the post of CBST Project Officer

Royal Society for Protection of Nature(RSPN) in Thimphu would like to invite quotations from eligible printing firms with valid trade licence for printing of Environmental Science Textbooks.

The printing specifications can be obtained from the Adm/HR Division during office hours upon payment of Nu.300/(non-refundable). For details please contact Adm/HR Division at 326130 or visit our website www.rspnbhutan.org

You must submit your quotations to the Adm/HR Division on or before 7^th November 2016 before 12.00 noon which will be opened on the same day at 2.30 P.M.

As a part of ongoing “White-bellied Heron Recovery Plan Project” RSPN would like to invite proposals from enthusiast researchers to carryout researches on various aspect of critically endangered White-bellied Heron across its habitat range. We welcome all proposals pertaining social, environmental and ecological aspects of White-bellied Heron. Best 7 small scale projects will be supported with maximum grant amount is Nu. 35,000, however we do consider additional fund depending on types of project.

For 2017, focused habitats are;

• Punatsangchu basin from Sunkosh, Tsirang till Lhamoizhingkha (Kalikhola) Dagana
• Mangdechu basin from Tingtibi till Panbang or Manas region
• Dragmechu basin Trashiyantse and Tashigang region
• Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary
• Serichu Basin Mongar.

Please kindly submit your proposal in RSPN format at ipacharja@rspnbhutan.org

Last date for submission of proposal is 31st October, 2016 by 5:00 PM

For any inquiries please contact; Rebecca Pradhan, Ecologist or Indra Prasad Acharja, Project Officer, at 02-322056

We also like to inform all interested researchers that following researches has been already done in the past, we encourage looking into different aspects.

1. Assessment of local people’s awareness and perception on threats to White-Bellied Heron Ardea insignis (hume) along Punatsangchu: impact of awareness programmes.
2. Land use change effect on habitat and white-bellied heron population by hydropower project along Punatshangchu.
3. Vegetation structure and species composition in nesting and roosting habitats of white-bellied heron along the Phochu River.
4. Influence of forest fire frequency on nest-site selection and nest-use by White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis hume) at Athang gewog under Wangdiphodrang dzongkhag
5. Vegetation structure and composition of forests along the dry slopes of Burichu, Punatshangchu valley- a nesting site for critically endangered White-Bellied Heron (Ardea insignis)
6. Assessment of Forest fire impacts on White-Bellied Heron Habitats along Bertichu, Zhemgang Dzongkhag.
7. Habitat preference by White Bellied Heron along Bertichu, Zhemgang dzongkhag
8. Feeding frequency and dietary composition of white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) along the Punatshangchu basin
9. Population and Distribution of White-bellied Heron in Bhutan, 2013.

Gangtey-Phobji wetlands area in Wangduephodrang, has been included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List). This brings the total Ramsar site in the country to three. The other two sites are Bumdeling in Tashiyangtse and Khotakha in Wangduephodrang.

Wetlands in Bhutan constitute an extensive array of ecosystems, such as lakes, rivers, streams, glaciers, marshes, peat bogs and fens. Functional wetlands are critical segments of the watershed, as they support a high level of biological productivity and diversity, provide habitat for flora and fauna, including rare and threatened communities and species, maintain local and regional hydrological regimes, remove nutrient and pollutants, act as stores for rain/flood water and support human activities and values. Wetlands are recognised to provide fundamental ecosystem services, such as water regulation, filtering and purification, as well as numerous scientific, cultural and recreational values. Wetlands are also important for the maintenance of the broader ecosystem health.

The inclusion of the new site in the Ramsar list is the Department of Forests and Park Services’ effort to conserve and promote the sustainable use of the important wetlands area that is home to the vulnerable Black-necked Cranes(Grus nigricollis). The aim of the Ramsar list is “to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life through the maintenance of their ecosystem components, processes and benefits/services”.

The Ramsar Convention, adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in February 1971, is the oldest global environment agreement. It promotes the wise-use and conservation of water and wetland resources through national action and international cooperation. Bhutan became the 161st contracting party to the Ramsar Convention in 2012. Along with the overall management of all the wetlands areas in Bhutan, the Watershed Management Division of the Department of Forests and Park Services, coordinates the management of the Ramsar sites, promoting the wise use of wetlands.

The total area of the Gangtey-Phobji Ramsar site is 974.65 ha. It is the biggest Ramsar site in Bhutan.

-Watershed Management Division

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forests