Department of Forest and Park Services: An Overview

At a glance, in an area of 38394 km², Bhutan has about 70 % of the total geographical area under forest cover. More than 50 % of the total area is managed as protected areas interconnected to each other via traversing network of biological corridors. With almost 70 % of the total population living as an agrarian society, yet our agriculture land use is a mere 3 % of the total geographical area.

We have various regimes of management such as protected area network (PAN), forest management unit (FMU), working scheme (WS), community forest (CF), private forestry (PF) with approved scientific management plans. On the précis, we have 17 operational FMUs, 5 WSs, 10 PAs & 529 CFs. FMUs and WSs purvey to the need of timber resources, PAN provides protection to various flora and fauna diversity and CFs caters to the need of rural society in terms of timber and non-timber resources. Those areas which are not managed under the purview of aforementioned management regimes are separately managed under a different scientific regime known as “management of forest areas outside FMU system” with approved management plans. This fulfils the policy statement 2 (b) of the National Forest Policy of Bhutan 2011 which requires all GRF land to be brought under the science-based management regimes for sustainable supply of products and ecosystem services.

At the helm of coordination, the department of forests and park services (DoFPS) is headed by a director general (DG) under whom at the HQ, 6 functional divisions provides technical as well as administrative guidance to directorate and field offices. The 6 functional divisions are FPED, WCD, SFED, FRMD, WMD, NRED.

FPED (forest protection and enforcement division) is a division responsible for forest land lease, forest clearances, forest offences, timber utilization and also homes forest fire management section of the department.

WCD (wildlife conservation division) is a focal agency dealing with in situ conservation of wildlife through management of 10 protected areas (5 national parks, 4 wildlife sanctuaries and 1 strict nature reserve). The division is responsible for catering to rescue and rehabilitate injured wild animals. Also embedded in its mandate, WCD coordinates human-wildlife conflict management and integrated conservation and development program.

SFED (social forestry and extension division) strives to facilitate and enhance people’s participation in joint management of forests and conservation through initiating and establishing CFs and PFs. Initially started as an afforestation division, SFED develops technical guidelines on plantation and NWFP utilization. The division technically backstops 20 dzongkhag forestry sectors (DzFS) in effective implementation of decentralized forestry extension services.

FRMD (forest resources management division) is mandated to sustainably manage forest resources based on sound forestry science. Sustainable forest management is achieved through identification, establishment and management of FMUs. Under its purview, management plans of 17 FMUs and 5 WSs are prepared which are implemented in the field by 12 territorial divisions. FRMD currently coordinates a comprehensive and exhaustive NFI with the blend of state of art equipment and geo-spatial technologies. It also houses database for information related to forestry in Bhutan.

WMD (watershed management division) is a recently established division which focuses on issues concerning water resources and watershed management. Additionally it serves as a focal point for climate change, wetland management, REDD+ activities and ecosystem services.

NRED (nature recreation and ecotourism division) is a focal agency which coordinates and facilitates all ecotourism and recreational programmes.

Technical backstopping and formulating policy framework and guidelines remain a common cross-cutting mandates like all other functional divisions.

12 Territorial divisions, 10 protected areas and 20 Dzongkhag forestry sectors basically provides similar functions related to service delivery, law enforcement, resources management and sectoral coordination. While the difference in technical mandate lies in territorial divisions focusing on timber resources mobilization, protected areas in wildlife management and dzongkhag forestry sectors in facilitating social programmes and providing extension services.

Under the departmental auspice, we have a research and training institute established in 2004 in Bumthang known as Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation & Environment (UWICE). The institute focuses in the area of research education and training forestry personnel. With the national mandate to coordinate nation-wide research programmes, RDC-Yusipang, Thimphu coordinates forestry related research programmes.

A government authorized resources mobilizing and marketing agency (not under DoFPS) under Druk holding and Investment (DHI) with corporate social responsibility is mandated to harvest and market timber and other natural resources as per the marketing policy of the government.

Conservation has long been accorded a highest and national priority. Over the decades, strong statutes and clauses therein have evolved to ensure protection, management and sustainable use of biodiversity resources. Article 5 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan mandates maintaining at least 60% of the total geographical area under forest cover for perpetuity. The Constitution also entrusts every citizen with trusteeship of country’s natural resources but also commands protection and preservation of natural resources as a fundamental duty of every citizen.

Gross national happiness (GNH), a celestial and unique development philosophy defines the quality of life in a holistic and psychological terms than GDP. Environment conservation being one of the pillars of GNH, ensures development pursuits are within the limits of sustainability without impairing biological productivity of natural resources. From mother of all statutes to the unique philosophy of GNH, all other national legislations have been instrumental in prioritizing conservation with pragmatic management practices which forefronts conservation as an imperative ultimatum.

Bhutan has one of the highest fractions of land under protected areas thereby providing an opportunity to maintain rich biodiversity. The progeny of conservation success has been depicted via catalogue of varied and numerous flora and fauna species. They include national symbols such as raven, takin, cypress, blue poppy; rare, endemic and endangered species such as golden langur, white-bellied heron, black-necked crane, Bhutan swallowtail, etc; and astonishingly 11 felid species are recorded in Bhutan including the magnificent Bengal tiger, the elusive snow leopard, charismatic lesser felid species such as clouded leopard, marbled cat, Asiatic golden cat, etc, and rare melanistic form of black panther.

Due to geographical diversity and diverse climatic condition, eco-floristic zonation are well represented over small area. The major forest types in Bhutan are sub-tropical broadleaf, warm broadleaf, cool broadleaf, chirpine, bluepine, mixed conifer, fir, sub-alpine and alpine scrub. Interestingly in some places we can observe a conspicuous distinction and interface of 2 forest types like mixed conifer forests giving way to fast growing bluepine forests.

In the face of rapid socio-economic development and keeping abreast the fast changing era, we confront copious challenges such as incessant dry season fires which poses an ever burgeoning threat to the long term goal of 60% forest cover, clandestine poaching causing serious threat to species conservation, illicit felling that fuels illegitimate timber market and inflates market trend, environmental degradation hence reducing forest cover by destroying habitats and fragmenting forest land, soaring timber demand due to booming and burgeoning developmental activities with huge pressure on limited timber resources, human resource constraint thwarting smooth implementation and monitoring and a both side bereaving situation such as human-wildlife conflict. Of recent there has been numerous incidences of trans-boundary smuggling of plant and animal (parts as well). Several apprehensions are made en route by forest department but this issue still needs enhanced cooperation and efforts from concerning trans-boundary countries.

Yet cycling the hurdles of multifaceted nature, department strives to achieve the following:

-         - Enhancing ecosystem sustainability

-          -Formulating policies and developing practices that are pragmatic and user friendly

-          -Addressing research needs through constant research and capacity development

-          -Increasing long term restoration capacity via resilience and convalescence

-        -Epitomizing and exemplifying  leadership role in forests and carbon monitoring (national, regional and at the global platform)

-          -And promoting quality science-based conservation and education.

By Ugyen Penjor (ugyenpenjorfrmd@gmail.com), FRMD, DoFPS.

Presentation on behalf of the department to the visit of 2013-15 batch of Indian Forest Service Officer Trainees on 13^th Feb 2015 at NRDCL Conference Hall, Thimphu.