Bhutan is home to a variety of freshwater ecosystems and wetlands that are essential to the country’s water resources, biodiversity, and cultural legacy. Wetlands and freshwater habitats in Bhutan are threatened by invasive species, pollution and waste disposal, habitat loss, and the effects of climate change, despite conservation efforts. Continued efforts in community participation, environmental regulation enforcement, and conservation planning are necessary to address these concerns. The loss of watersheds and forest cover is causing many spring water sources to dry up, raising concerns about the supply of water both for agriculture and drinking. To sustain Bhutan’s environmental sustainability and safeguard its distinctive natural landscapes for future generations, it is imperative to conserve and preserve these ecosystems. 

Conservation of wetland and freshwater is one of the important thematic programs of RSPN, and has been working to improve water resource management practices through implementation of water-saving techniques, restoring wetlands and watersheds through springshed and watershed management, and building climate-resilient drinking water infrastructure.