𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

As part of its continued efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and strengthen community-based conservation, the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), in collaboration with the College of Natural Resources (CNR), conducted a week-long Training on Rural Entrepreneurship from July 9th to 15th, 2025 at CNR, Punakha District.

The training was designed to build the capacity of local officials to foster rural-based entrepreneurship in sectors such as beekeeping, fisheries, ecotourism, and high-value vegetable and crop cultivation. These efforts are aligned with RSPN’s broader goal of reinforcing the conservation of the critically endangered White-bellied Heron (WBH) through inclusive community engagement and sustainable economic development.

A total of 28 participants from the WBH landscape, including Dzongkhag Agriculture and Livestock Officers, Economic Development and Marketing Officers, Gups, and Gewog Administrative Officers, took part in the training. Their diverse expertise and local knowledge contributed to enriching the dialogue and ensuring the contextual relevance of the training. The key objectives and highlights of the training are:

• Enhancement of entrepreneurial competencies among rural development practitioners
• Identification and screening of viable rural business opportunities
• Preparation and testing of business plans tailored to local contexts
• Live pitching of business ideas to a panel of experts and financial institutions for feedback and guidance

As a result,participants gained a deeper understanding of rural entrepreneurship and developed practical skills necessary to initiate and sustain small-scale enterprises aligned with both community needs and conservation goals.This initiative marks an important step in promoting people-centered conservation, where local livelihoods and biodiversity protection go hand-in-hand.Through the empowerment of local changemakers, RSPN endeavors to position rural communities as key actors in environmental stewardship and contributors to Bhutan’s sustainable economic development.

 “This training is more than just about business it’s about building resilient rural communities that take pride in conserving their natural heritage,” shared one of the participants.

This activity is part of the IKI Project, “Developing Ecosystem-based Solutions for Managing Biodiversity Landscapes in Bhutan,” funded by the BMUV and co-funded by the MAVA Foundation and RSPN.