Staff

Wangchuk, Prior to joining RSPN, he had more than 15 years of experience in the domains of donor coordination, resource mobilization and managing climate finance at various capacities as the National Designated Authority (NDA) of GCF, Operational Focal Point (OFP) of GEF, National Focal Point of Climate Investment Fund (CIF) and Designated Authority (DA) of Adaptation Fund. He also served as the Chairperson of GEF Small Grant Program (SGP) providing strategic direction to the SGP projects in Bhutan. It was under his imitative and leadership, Bhutan realized its first accreditation with Adaptation Fund, followed by Green Climate Fund. He was also part of the Country’s Delegation and Negotiator to the UN Climate Change COP-21 in Paris; COP 23 in Bonn; COP-24 in Marrakech and COP-25 in Katowice. He holds Master Degree in Public Policy and Economics and Master Degree in Environmental Management and Development from the Australian National University and Post Graduate Diploma in Developing Economies from IDEAS, Japan. Currently, Mr Wangchuk is the Director of the Department of Program Coordination and Climate Change (DPCCC) at RSPN. His key roles include coordination of programs and projects, resource mobilization and networking with relevant donors and partners.

Dr. Lungten had served 34 years in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Royal Government of Bhutan, before joining the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) in 2017, as a Specialist. His life- long career as forester, researcher, research manager and specialist has led gain vast experiences on policy and program planning, co-ordination and management; and undertaking research on natural resource system, including socio-economic surveys. Of late, he has led and mentored foresters and researchers in conducting investigation and policy analysis on the emerging issues such as Forest and Climate Change, Carbon Sequestration, Ecosystem-based Conservation, Payment for Environment Services (PES), Green Recovery and Bhutan REDD + strategy preparation. He has PhD from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, and has many scientific publications to his credit. His present work at RSPN mainly includes coordinating, writing and submission of technical proposals for donor support; providing guidance on policy & program planning, implementation and monitoring; and supporting technical staff on proposal writing, data analysis and report writing. He continues to mentor Bhutanese researchers, foresters and students in carrying out research and publication of the results for wider dissemination.

Ms. Sonam Peldon has worked under the Department of Forests and Park Services as a Non-wood Forest Products (NWFP) Specialist before joining RSPN as the Program Specialist. She has an experience of more than 18 years in the field of forestry and community-based resource management with focus on Community Forests and Non-wood Forest Products (NWFPs).

In addition to the forest ecology and management, she has experiences in policy review and development of policy brief, program planning and project management & coordination. She has developed various project proposals and coordinated the implementation of numerous projects, mainly to support the community-based resource management and forestry-based enterprises to enhance the community livelihoods. She was the focal person and managed projects funded by IFAD, WWF-Bhutan, FAO, SDC, Helvetas Swiss Inter-cooperation and Asia Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO).  She has been the team leader for the technical working group for the development of National REDD+ strategy in Bhutan. She is also the Vice chairperson for the High Conservation Value National Expert Group (NEG) for the ‘Living Landscapes: Securing High Conservation Values (HCVs) in south-western Bhutan, a project implemented by World Wildlife Fund Bhutan (WWF BT).

She holds a Masters of Environmental Management from Yale University, USA and Post Graduate Diploma in forestry & allied subjects from Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun, India.

Mr. Sonam Yarphel worked as the Deputy Chief of the Development Coordination and Debt Management, Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance under the Ministry of Finance before joining as Program Analyst in RSPN. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from Royal Institute of Management, Bhutan.

He started his career as Program Officer in the Department of Local Governance, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs in 2007. As a Program Officer, he managed the Decentralization Support Program funded by UN Agencies and TVRO project funded by the Government of Japan. In 2008, he was transferred to Gross National Happiness Commission as Planning Officer. He was involved in coordination of formulating 10 Five Year Plan to 12 Five Year Plan. Later, as a Program Coordinator in GNHC, he was the Focal Person and managed projects funded by the Government ofJapan, Austria, Netherlands, and United Nations Development Programs in Bhutan. He possesses project management knowledge and practice, including resource mobilization planning and programming.

Sangay Dema has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and English from Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan (2018). Right after her graduation, she joined Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF) as a Communication & Media officer and gained her first-hand experiences in the social service sector. She attained various social media and communication trainings. She joined RSPN in July 2021 and is exploring herself as a Communications Officer under the Communication & Education Division. Besides, she is an outdoor soul and enjoys mountain trekking and new learnings every day.

Jigme serves as National Coordinator for Black-necked Crane conservation. For the first 7 years of 14 years’ service at RSPN, Jigme was based at Phobjikha Conservation Area, the largest wintering habitat of BNC in Bhutan, researching and working with partners in the implementation of conservation and sustainable livelihood activities related to Black-necked Cranes. He completed Economics honours for his Bachelor’s degree from Sherubtse college, Trashigang and has a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Charles Darwin University in Darwin, NT, Australia. Jigme is passionate about birds and the environment in general and particularly in saving the Black-necked Cranes and their habitat.

Tshering is very passionate about the conservation of bird species found in Bhutan. His main focus is safeguarding the bird species and restoring the important bird habitats through various conservation activities driven by scientific aids. Currently, he is very much focussed in supporting to save the Critically Endangered bird, White-bellied Heron. He holds a Master in Environmental Science graduated from Noida International University, India under the prestigious government scholarship of Nehru-Wangchuck. Prior to his current position in RSPN, he worked as a teacher teaching Environmental Science in various schools of Bhutan and managed various environmental projects. He also holds many publications of books and scientific papers in the field of bird conservation and environmental education. He loves to spend his weekends and free times outdoors watching birds. He currently serves as a Research Officer under the Species and Habitat Conservation Division.

Tshewang completed Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Development from the College of Natural Resources (CNR), Royal University of Bhutan, and joined RSPN in 2016 as a Research Officer under the Species and Habitat Conservation Division (SHCD). He was engaged in various White-bellied Heron (WBH) conservation projects with RSPN since 2016. Ever since then, he had gained paramount skills in the field of WBH conservation aspects both social and scientific insights. Besides attending numerous workshops and training in the country, he also attended two months captive breeding and bird handling training from Prague zoo and Zlin zoo in the Czech Republic and Warsaw in Poland as a part of the WBH ex-situ program of RSPN. Tshewang is a strong practitioner of conservation and keens on wildlife photography.

Thinley currently serves as a Research Officer in Species and Habitat Conservation Division of RSPN. Since 2018 he has been volunteering actively in various White-bellied Heron conservation projects with RSPN. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the Dolphin (PG) Institute of Bio-medical and Natural Sciences (DIBNS), Dehradun, India. Currently, he is focused on safeguarding the White-bellied heron and restoring their important habitats through various conservation activities. Thinley is passionate about birds in general and their habitat.

Ms. Samten Leki completed her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the College of Natural Resources in 2020. She did her internship to gain hands-on experience at Gosarling, RNR centre Tsirang and Jangsa Animal Saving. Samten believes animals too are sentient beings with feelings and integrity and should equally deserve to be treated with kind, compassion and respect since humans, animals and nature are interdependent. Samten has high regard for environmentalist philosophy and rights. Samten is a keen explorer and voracious reader.

Tsheten joined RSPN in May 2005 and held responsibilities in various capacities both in the field and at the headquarter in Thimphu, and has adequate experience in the implementation and management of both regional and national level conservation and sustainable livelihood programs and projects. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Manipal University, India; Advance Certificate in Eco-Peace Leadership from Eco-Peace Leadership Center, College of Forest and Environmental Studies, Kangwon National University, South Korea and Master of Business Administration from the University of Canberra, Australia. Tsheten enjoys volunteering for social causes and during leisure hours, he engages in farming, bird watching, photography, cycling, and hiking.

Khachi obtained Bachelors in Commerce (majored in Finance) from Gaeddu College of Business Studies, Bhutan in June 2012. Right after pursuing the bachelor degree, she joined the Tourism Council of Bhutan as Tourism Focal Officer looking after tourism activities in the Central region based in Zhemgang Dzongkhag Administration. Besides that, she worked under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as Destination Steward looking after a project titled, “Entrepreneurship development in creative industries to support the productive sector impacting on community-based tourism for job creation and poverty reduction”. Wangmo joined the RSPN as a Project Officer in November 2016 to oversee the Community-based Sustainable Tourism project. Currently, she oversees the Ecotourism projects in RSPN.

Karma is a passionate social worker with a decade of social service experience gained from serving various positions in the Tarayana Foundation. He has also worked in various government institutes like the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource (MoLHR) under the Department of Human Resource as Project Supervisor and at Nursery Management under Dzongkhag Forestry sector, Haa. Mr. Karma is the first Bhutanese to represent the country at AUROVILLE Earth Institute, India, and successfully completed the Earth Architecture Course from the Institute. At the international level, Mr. Karma had the opportunity to work with Development Alternatives, TARAgram, Orchha, India. During this time, he specialized in waste recycling and eco-friendly technologies. He was also one of the recipients of the FK Norway exchange program, 2011. He has a bachelor’s degree in Bachelor Science Information Technology (Bsc IT) from Manipal University, India. Currently, he is overseeing the EcoTourism program, under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project with RSPN.

Tshering serves as the Chief of Administration and Finance Division. He had been recruited as the Adm/ HR Officer during the beginning of 2011 untill he became the Chief of Adm/HR Division in 2014. He has a Bachelors of Education (B.Ed) from the National Institute of Education(NIE) in Samtse (2003-2005), MA in Applied Community Development from the Future Generations University, USA. He has also completed his Advance Diploma Course in Educational Studies from the University of Leeds, U.K (1991-1992). During 2007-2008, he had completed an International Diploma in Educational Planning and Administration (IDEPA) from the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) , New Delhi, India. Prior to joining RSPN, he had served as a teacher, Principal and Assistant Dzongkhag Education Officer for 23 years (1987-2009) under the Ministry of Education.

Lingi Jamstho has a Master of business administration (MBA) from Gedu college of business studies and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Gedu college of business studies, Bhutan. He begins his career from Bhutan Alternative Solution as Finance officer and more than 7 year experience in financial sector served as Risk Based Internal Auditor, Credit and Investment Section Head and Chief Risk Officer at Bhutan Insurance Limited.

Mrs. Phuntsho Wangmo did her degree in bachelors in commerce with major in Finance from Gedu college of business studies. Initially she worked as fund counselor for 2 years with Business Opportunity & Information Centre and then joint BDBL as project officer and Internal Audit officer and served BDBL for 8 years. She attended training on Women’s Development through Microfinance in collaboration with (CICTAB) at National Institute of Bank Management, Pune, India and Credit Appraisal & Recovery Techniques at Bangkok School of Management, Thailand, Bangkok. She is Highly skilled and detail-oriented Finance Officer with a proven track record of success in managing financial operations and driving strategic financial planning initiatives. Currently she is serving as Sr. Finance Officer at RSPN.

Mr. Sonam Dorji brings with him a wealth of experience, having served more than six years in the Ministry of Health and the erstwhile Ministry of Information and Communication, Royal Government of Bhutan, before joining the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) in January 2024 as an Administrative Officer. Additionally, he contributed to the Election Commission of Bhutan as an intern, diversifying his career experiences. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in BSc. Environmental Science from Sherubtse College under the Royal University of Bhutan, he currently holds the position of Administrative Officer within the Administration and Finance Division (AFD) at RSPN.

Ms. Dechen Tshomo completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Gyelpozhing College of Information Technology in July 2023. Following her graduation, she pursued an internship at Tashicell Company in the Software Development Unit for a duration of 4 months to gain hands-on experience. Dechen then joined the RSPN as an ICT Officer in November 2023 to oversee Information and Communication services within the Administration and Finance Division (AFD) at RSPN.