ICS_RNR Newsletter May-June 2013 - Ministry Of Agriculture And

RNR
NEWSLETTER
A bi-monthly publication of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forests
Vol. XXXIII Issue No. 150
Inside
Red Panda
Pg 5
Biogas benefiting Radhi
farmers
One of the beneficiaries with
her bio-gas plant
Pg 11
Druk Path trail cleaning
campaign by Volunteers
The Druk Path Trek is the
most popular trek amongst
tourists
Pg 15
NO to Spread of GALS!!
Penjor/ICS
June 15-16, Mongar:
Following the recent
outbreak of the invasive
Giant African Land Snail
(GALS) in Gyelposhing,
Mongar, the National Plant
Protection Centre (NPPC)
and the Department of
Agriculture of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forests
(MoAF) in collaboration
with Bhutan Agriculture and
Food Regulatory Authority
(BAFRA), Renewable
Natural Resources Research
and Development Centre
(RNR-RDC) Wengkhar
and Mongar Dzongkhag
Administration organised
a two day mass campaign
programme to contain and
control the spread of GALS.
The first outbreak of
the snail was reported in
Gyelposhing in the year
2010. It is an exotic species
native to Africa. The length
Photo by Penjor, ICS
A Safe Haven for the
Red Panda
May - June 2013
www.moaf.gov.bt
Giant African Land Snail Eggs
of the snail can reach upto
20 cm or more and it lays
around 1000 to 1200 eggs in
a year. It is listed as one of
the top 100 invasive species
in the world which can
adapt to wide range climatic
conditions from sub-tropic
to temperate region and
life expectancy up to 10
years. It is known that some
individuals are collecting the
snails for their shells to be
used for decoration purposes.
According to the DoA, fast
multiplication and spreading
of snails in other areas can
have serious negative impact
on environment, agricultural
crops, ecological balance,
farming communities and
also on human health as it is
known to cause diseases if it
is not handled properly.
Contd. on page 3
Avert Mushroom poisoning
Ugyen Tshering/ICS
May 28, Thimphu: In
the wake of the recent
incident of a family
of four in Tharpaling,
Ugyentse gewog in Samtse,
succumbing to mushroom
poisoning, an official from
the National Mushroom
Centre (NMC) went to
identify the suspected
mushroom together with
Gewog Agriculture Officer
and the Gewog Tshogpa.
The mushroom poisoning
incident on 12 May 2013
cost the lives of the family
of father Pancha Kumar
Ghalley, 34; mother Leela
Maya Ghalley, 33; daughter,
Urmila Ghalley, 10; and
the wife’s brother, Khemraj
Ghalley, aged 8.
In order to zero-in on
their suspect, the team
accompanied by the relatives
of the deceased, visited
the forests from where
the mushroom was earlier
collected for their culinary
dish that fateful day. As
per the field report filed by
the team, a live sample of
Amanita species belonging
to the Amanitaceae family
was detected in the collection
area.
The team found that the
mushroom had a light black
cap with margin, often
striated, thick long straight
stipe with a bulbose base,
white free gills, and no skirt
(ring).
Hence, in contrary to what
the father of the head of the
family, Chhabilal Ghalley
78, reported that the death
occurred due to consumption
Contd. on page 3
Ss
2
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
WARNING
GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS (GALS)
Infestation in Gyalposhing, Mongar
Threat to:
Environment
Agriculture Crops
Human Health
Cement Plaster
Source: Google
How can you HELP?
• Report immediately at Toll Free numbers given below if you
spot GALS
• Participate in campaigns
• Prevent its movement to other areas
Contact Toll Free number
204 or 155
Issued in the public interest by BAFRA and DoA, MoAF
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
3
NO to Spread of GALS!!
Contd. from page 1
In addition to efforts
carried out by the Mongar
Dzongkhag, the MoAF
is implementing various
control mechanisms for the
affected areas and other
surrounding places. A
surveillance and vigilance
team has been formed
along with the members
from local communities to
monitor snail sightings and
a mobile collection unit
is being placed to collect
the snails. Meanwhile,
officials from BAFRA are
monitoring the movement
of snails to Mongar and
other Dzongkhags on regular
basis. A total of three check
points, one on Bumthang
highway at Thrinagbi, one on
Kurizam towards Lhuentse
and Mongar and another at
Yongri towards Nganglam
have been activated to ensure
the control of further spread
of snails in other Dzongkhag.
Officials from various
agencies under MoAF,
students, business
communities and local
residents of the affected areas
took part in the campaign
and picked up the snails
manually since the hand
picking and salting was
the only and best possible
option to reduce and control
its population. Later, more
than seven tons of collected
snails were safely disposed
into a biological pit with
salt solution in the presence
of Mongar Dzongdag,
other relevant officials and
members of communities.
As part of the campaign
programme, local residents
and other relevant
stakeholders were also
educated on the importance
of managing risks, impacts
and safety measures of the
GALS. Meanwhile, the
MoAF urges all individuals
to refrain from transporting
snails or its shells to other
places for any purpose.
Avert Mushroom poisoning
Contd. from page 1
of Bhalu Cheo (Bear
mushroom), scientific name
Albatrellus species, officials
believe that it could be the
Amanita species that killed
the family.
According to L.B Tamang
of NMC, who led the team,
they have not been able to
collect any live sample of
Bhalu Cheo in the area. In
addition, he says this is not
usually the season for the
Bhalu Cheo. “So, I think
the guilty mushroom is
the Amanita species.” It is
based on the symptoms that
the victims suffered after
ingestion of the mushrooms
which consists of irritation
of the digestive system
followed by intensive
vomiting, diarrhea, stomach
cramps and sleepiness.
However, he also shared
that it is difficult to ascertain
that the poisoning was
actually caused by that
particular mushroom. This is
because no one has seen the
mushroom except Chabilal
Ghalley who is 78 years old.
He could not recollect the
actual shape and size of the
mushroom that was collected
and consumed by his family
members which caused a
death toll of four.
The team, during their
recent visit also conducted
an awareness campaign on
mushroom poisoning in the
locality. They explained
that mushroom poisoning
in the country occur
mainly due to mistaken
identity and consuming
rotten mushrooms. In the
past, NMC has conducted
numerous awareness
campaigns.
The officials also shared
with the community
members that immature
collection, sending small
children for collection,
mushroom picking from
the area where insecticide
or pesticide was sprayed
and excessive consumption
of mushroom often results
in mushroom associated
complications.
A poster titled
“Mushrooms of Bhutan”
showing the details of their
edibility, non-edible and
poisonous one was also
distributed to the people,
in addition to leaflets to
about 20 farmers who were
present during the awareness
campaign. A few more copies
of mushroom charts and
pamphlets were also retained
to be made available from
Amanita
the Gewog Extension Office,
Gup Office, BHU, School
and other institutions.
As told to the team, by the
father of one of the deceased,
Chhabilal Ghalay, the wild
mushroom was collected
by his late son and was
consumed on the evening
of May 11. However, after
a sumptuous dinner that
evening, at around 7 pm, the
symptoms appeared after
relatively long interval of
more than twelve hours after
ingestion.
The victims suffered from
irritation of the digestive
system which was followed
by intensive vomiting,
diarrhea, stomach cramps
and sleepiness. However,
the deceased were brought
to Samtse hospital only
after 6 hours of mushroom
poisoning symptoms
appeared. They were
admitted in Samtse hospital
and four of them were
referred to Thimphu on 14
May, 2013.
The neighbour Dilli Ram
Ghalay is said to have
also shared a little of the
dreaded mushroom dish
with Bangchang (locally
brewed wine) as he already
had had his dinner. He too
suffered from the mushroom
poisoning. Although he
was initially discharged, he
was later again taken back
to hospital and to Thimphu
JDWNRH when his
condition worsened.
Officials with the National
Mushroom Centre advice
that all Bhutanese should be
extra careful while collecting
wild mushroom and even
when purchasing from the
roadside sheds and Sunday
markets.
4
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Vegetable Value Chain Programme (VVCP)
DAMC
Till date the Vegetable
Value Chain Programme
has supported 104 farmers
groups in increasing their
vegetable production and
improving marketing in the
six Eastern Dzongkhags. Of
this number 28 groups are
already registered with the
Department of Agricultural
Marketing and Cooperatives
(DAMC).
The programme focuses
on several marketing
opportunities: local
markets, larger towns in
other Dzongkhags, the
Assam (India) markets
in the summer months
(May–October), and
some institutions. In the
summer months, Bhutan
has its climatic comparative
advantage to the Indian
plains: production in the
monsoon heat and humidity
is difficult and prices triple
or quadruple in India, while
Bhutan’s cooler climate
due to its altitude supports
vegetable production.
The programme has also
made considerable progress
in linking to schools: as of
now farmers’ groups have
signed with 21 boarding
schools in the East. Supply
started with the beginning of
the academic year in midFebruary. All the farmers’
groups supplying vegetables
to schools were visited,
and the signs are very
positive. Groups have shown
responsibility to solve initial
start-up problems: even
buying vegetables at a higher
cost when they did not have
enough own produce. After
this good start, it was decided
to expand this approach to
more boarding schools and
other institutes.
Cost sharing under VVCPEast: Under this programme,
farmers accepted the
principle of cost sharing on
the vegetable seeds provided
by the programme. Two
rounds of seeds have been
provided amount to, in total,
74,900 packets worth Nu
1.79 million to 104 farmer
groups. In the first round of
seed distribution, farmers
contributed 40% of the
cost, as per the Vegetable
Production and Marketing
Plan (VPMP) policy. For
the second round this was
reduced to 25%, as 40%
was found expensive in the
case of hybrid seeds. There
was also some confusion
between the regular
promotional programme
and VVCP-East. It was
clarified that the promotional
programme provides a few
packets of free seeds to
farmers, focusing on kitchen
gardening and household
nutrition, whereas VVCPEast focuses on semicommercial farming and
marketing.
The exit strategy is to
reduce the government
contribution and make
farmers independent of
project support. This will
contribute to the sustainable
growth of the vegetable
sector in the long run. As
per the Market Access and
Growth Intensification
Project (MAGIP) design
document, beneficiaries
are also required to make
contributions to appreciate
the sense of ownership and
for sustainability in the long
run.
Involving OSFS in the
seed supply: Around Nu 0.56
million of the 1.79 million
worth of seeds was ordered
through One Stop Farmer
Shops (OSFS): in this way
the programme is helping
OSFS get more involved in
supplying seeds to farmers.
Ordering directly from
the National Seed Centre
(NSC) or Bhutan Alpine
Seeds would mean taking
away the business from the
OSFS. The One Stop Farmer
Shops are important for
sustainable supply of seeds
and other agricultural inputs
to farmers, provided they are
given the opportunity to do
the business.
Testing new varieties of
seed: In 2012, one of the
lessons learnt was the lack
of right varieties for summer
production and supply to
Indian markets. The existing
varieties in Bhutan are more
suitable for autumn and
winter production, but are
vulnerable to early bolting
and have a short shelflife in high temperatures.
During the review planning
meeting on 30 October,
2012, project stakeholders
agreed that new varieties
should be introduced under
VVCP-East. The VPMP
report states that if Bhutan
seeks to go into commercial
vegetable cultivation to meet
its increasing demands, then
promotion of hybrid seeds is
the only solution. Therefore,
import liberalisation of
hybrid seeds has been
considered by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forests
(MoAF). In this context,
the Regional Agricultural
Marketing and Cooperative
Office (RAMCO) has placed
supply order for heat tolerant
and short duration vegetables
varieties of cabbage,
cauliflower and radish to
NSC, Paro. The Research
and Development Centre at
Wengkhar will be involved
in testing the newly imported
varieties at different
altitudes and recommend the
successful varieties for future
commercial production.
The new varieties will be
an important step towards
making Bhutan self-sufficient
in vegetables, as per the
national goal by 2014.
Incentivising group
coordinators: With
increased joint marketing
by VVCP-E groups under
MAGIP, coordination
and dedicated roles &
responsibilities for marketing
of vegetables within the
groups have become more
important. Till now group
coordinators have taken
on these responsibilities in
an informal manner. More
and more groups are being
formed and are signing
supply contracts with schools
and other institutions. This
means the roles of group
coordinators will increase
and become more formal,
demanding more time from
them and also involve
other costs like travel and
communication. Under this
programme, there was no
approach to promote some
form of compensation for
the efforts and costs of
these group coordinators.
In 2013 a concept note on
providing incentives to group
coordinators has been shared
among stakeholders and has
received a positive response.
Therefore, VVCP-East
has promoted the need
for farmers to contribute
financially (service
charge) towards the efforts
undertaken by the group
coordinators. These are
valuable tasks benefiting
the community, and some
form of reward is required to
keep the group coordinators
motivated and committed.
This has been discussed in all
of the 104 groups, and it has
also been well received and
well understood by all the
groups concerned.
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
5
A Safe Haven for the Red Panda
Ugyen Tshering/ICS
Sighting a Red Panda in the
wild is believed to shower
much luck. This could be
true since sighting the cat is
considered a rare occasion
and only a few lucky ones
get to see them in the jungle.
More so, due to rarity and
elusive behavior of the extant
species, not many encounter
the animal in the forests.
The red panda has been
classified as ”Vulnerable”
by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN).
However, lady luck has
blessed forest officials of
Lamperi Royal Botanical
Park, who have been
increasingly crossing path
with the red panda. Park
officials not only have
the red panda captured in
numerous video clips by the
camera trap set within the
park area but some officials
have even chanced upon with
the animal in real.
Few months ago, park
officials set up remote
cameras to confirm the
predator behind the livestock
kill reported to the park
authorities. When they
later retrieved the cameras,
officials found out that
besides a tiger, a red panda
had also been filmed by
the camera trap. Later that
same month, another forest
official, Tshewang Lhamo
was out early in the morning
bird watching within the
periphery of the park office.
She was near the Baritsho
Lake, a few hundred metres
away from the park office
when at the corner of her
eye she caught a movement.
When she checked it out she
found out that it was a red
panda.
According to the park
official, such sightings
Red Panda
indicate that the red panda
is thriving well within the
park. They added that in
most of the park areas there
is abundant bamboo, which
is the primary diet of the red
panda. “With food aplenty, it
should thrive well.”
In a study done by the
Wildlife Conservation
Division’s Forestry
Officer, Sangay Dorji, he
mentions that the red panda
required matured forests
with complex understorey,
including a dense growth
of bamboo for food and
access to water. “The few
detailed studies on red
panda ecology throughout
its range suggest that
bamboo cover and height,
canopy cover, and proximity
to water are important
structural attributes.” As
per his studies, Bhutan’s
temperate forests are crucial
to the survival of the species.
Further, he found out that
Red Pandas in Bhutan were
generally confined to cool
broadleaf and conifer forests
from 2,110 – 4,389 metres
above sea level (masl) with
the majority of records being
between 2,400–3,700 masl.
However, the research
he undertook as part of his
Masters degree program
highlighted there exist an
inadvertent conflict between
the needs of the people and
the needs of red pandas.
Because Bhutan’s temperate
forests that encompass prime
red panda habitat are also
integral to human subsistence
and socio-economic
development, there exists an
inadvertent conflict between
the needs of the people and
that of the red pandas.” As
per his research, careful
sustainable management of
Bhutan’s temperate forests
is necessary if a balance
is to be met between the
socioeconomic needs of
people and the conservation
goals for red pandas. “The
red panda is vulnerable to
extinction through habitat
loss and fragmentation,
which restricts the
availability of mature dense
trees and prolific bamboo
undergrowth.”
The red panda is endemic
to the eastern Himalayas.
Its distribution ranges
from western Nepal into
India, Bhutan, and northern
Myanmar through to the
Minshan Mountains and
upper Min Valley of Sichuan
Province in south-central
China.
In Bhutan, detection
of Red Panda have been
reported from areas such as
the Jigme Dorji National
Park, Thrumshingla National
Park and also from Royal
Manas National Park.
6
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Beekeeping picking up among Jigmecholing
farmers
Tshering Doma, ICS
April 25-27, Sarpang: Many
farmers in Jigmecholing
geog under Sarpang
Dzongkhag had showed
their genuine interest in
beekeeping, considering
the fact that it is easy and
requires little investment and
less manpower.
This was expressed by
farmers in a three day
beekeeping training,
organised by the geog
livestock sector with
resource persons from the
Research Development
Centre in (RDC) Jakar,
Bumthang. Around thirty-two
participants attended it based
on the ICIMOD manual
which has been adopted by
countries such as Nepal,
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
and Bhutan.
Although, farmers have
been into beekeeping since
a long time ago, most of
them have not got a proper
training opportunity. They
have been following the age
old traditional method of
beekeeping in log and wall
hives which is difficult to
manage at times.
The training started with a
brief history of beekeeping
practices by Mr. Dawa
Sherpa, bee expert from
RDC-Jakar. According
to him, beekeeping dates
back to at least 700 BC and
there are more than twenty
thousand bee species in the
world. ‘Of these, six species
produces honey but only
three species (Apis mellifera,
A. cerana and Trigona spp.)
have been domesticated so
far. Apis mellifera is the
most popular honey producer
which is raised in Bumthang,’
he added. He also informed
farmers about the local
honeybee known as A.
cerana which is abundantly
found between 300-3400
metres above sea level.
During the training, farmers
learned about the modern
method of beekeeping using
the Langstroth hive- with
open top and movable
frames. The modern hive
is designed in a way to
ease bee management that
will also help to maximise
honey production with
better quality. In addition,
they learned about the
bee life cycle, honey
extraction techniques,
queen identification, colony
multiplication, weather
condition for bees, various
tools required, feed,
insecticides and how to
protect from bee sting among
others.
During the practical
session, farmers learned
how to prepare hives and
fit their frames. There was
a demonstration on how to
transfer bees from log and
wall hives to a modern hive
including the usage of veil,
smoker, honey extraction
machines etc. They also
discussed issues which they
encountered often including
pests attack (hornet in
particular) which is a serious
threat for bees.
Each participating farmer
was provided a modern
hive to motivate them
further. According to Mr.
Agam Kumar, the livestock
extension officer, participants
will be provided with other
necessary tools at a later
stage. With the training,
farmers hope to do better
in honey production and
improve their income as
well.
According to Mr. Dawa,
beekeeping is a flexible
activity that helps to ensure
crop pollination, maintains
a rich biodiversity, act as
a source of non-perishable
food for rural people and
also provides employment
opportunities.
RDC-Jakar has been
organising similar kind
of training since 2006
during which the first
honey producing group
was formed in the country.
According to the resource
person, beekeeping is also
practiced in other potential
Dzongkhags such as
Tsirang, Dagana, Samtse
etc. At present, there are
eight informal bee keepers’
groups with around 300
trained members. With
the increasing numbers of
skilled bee keepers, honey
production in the country is
expected to increase in the
near future.
Resource person demonstrating bee transfer from log to a modern hive
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
Three wildlife rescued
WCD
A female Himalayan serow,
Capricornis sumatraensis
calf was found abandoned
by her mother at a place
called Wagtsa in Tsimasham,
Chukha. A DCM truck
driver picked up the calf
and handed it over to Kinley
Dorji, Gewog Forestry
Officer of Chapcha Gewog
who immediately called the
Wildlife Rescue and Animal
Health Section at Taba in
Thimphu for necessary
action to be taken. Kinley
Dorji kept the calf in an
empty storeroom at his place
feeding it a bottle of Amul
Kool drink.
On the early morning of
12 April, the rescue team
went to Chukha to bring
the calf to the rehabilitation
enclosure at Taba. The calf
was found to be normal and
even had the good appetite
for another bottle of Amul
Kool. The calf’s mother
was thought to be killed by
some other predators as it
is unlikely for mammals to
abandon their calves, and
this calf was approximately
just five to six days old. The
calf is currently undergoing
rehabilitation at Motithang in
upper Thimphu.
The same morning at
around 5:30 am, the rescue
team also rescued a sambar
deer fawn which was found
being chased by a pack of
stray dogs at Langjophakha
in Thimphu. The fawn
was later reunited with her
mother who was waiting
and searching for the lost
fawn. The fawn’s mother
was found by listening to her
alarm call.
In the evening, the rescue
team received another call
asking them to rescue a
barking deer fawn. It was
on the ridge above Chuzom
(the river confluence between
Thimphu and Paro). A
caretaker who looks after the
land of Mr. Raling Ngawang,
Specialist with the Nature
Recreation and Ecotourism
Division (NRED) saved the
fawn from a pack of hungry
dogs. The fawn was kept
for a night in his house. The
fawn is currently also at the
rehab enclosure at Taba.
7
Bhutan Ecological Society Call for
Abstracts
The Bhutan Ecological Society is hosting its
First Annual Environmental Fair & Research
Symposium on 21 July 2013 at Clock Tower
Square/Hotel Druk in Thimphu, Bhutan. We
invite all conservation researchers, practitioners,
educators, and interested individuals to join
us for a day of sharing and learning about
experiences and best practices for protecting and
understanding Bhutan’s rich natural biodiversity.
We are currently accepting abstracts for research
presentations and poster exhibitions targeting any
of seven focus areas:
• Sustainable Livelihoods (includes humanwildlife issues)
• Waste Management
• Energy Resources
• Biodiversity Conservation (includes speciesspecific projects on wild flora and fauna)
• Water Resources
• Climate Change
• Agriculture Science (includes domestic
livestock and crops)
To submit an abstract, download and fill
out an Abstract Submission Form from our
website. Completed forms should be emailed to
[email protected].
The deadline for submitting abstracts has
been extended to Friday, 5 July 2013. For
more information, please contact us at
[email protected] or (phone) 17861154
- BES Symposium Organizing Committee
A deer welcomes the serow calf at the Rahab enclosure
8
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Training on ISO/IEC 17025 Standards
NFTL/BAFRA
June 17, Yusipang: A week
long refreshers’ training
course on the requirements
of ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
standard for competence of
the testing and calibration
laboratories has been
conducted for the laboratory
officials of National Food
Testing Laboratory (NFTL),
BAFRA, Yusipang.
Dr. G. M Tewari, UNIDO
International Laboratory
Expert was the resource
person through support from
United Nations Industrial
Development Organization
(UNIDO) Project on
Standards, Metrology,
Testing and Quality (SMTQ).
The main objectives of such
trainings are to sustain and
upgrade the accredited scope
of NFTL.
The training programme
covered the following
aspects:
• Effective participation
in Inter Laboratory
Comparison (ILC)
and Inter Laboratory
Proficiency Testing
(ILPT) programmes
and their report
preparations and
documentations.
• However, much
of the focus was
given to ISO/IEC
17025: 2005 Internal
Audit Procedures,
Method Validation
and Measurement
of Uncertainty
which are integral
aspects of laboratory
accreditation
processes.
• During the training,
the additional scope
of test parameters
in food chemical
and microbiological
analyses were
recommended
Executive Director, BAFRA awards certificates to participants
using test methods
customized from the
Association of Official
Analytical Chemists
(AOAC – Codex
Standard) along
with other regional
standards.
Further, the training also
identified and recommended
additional key technical
inputs in terms of manpower
skills and facilities for
successful implementation
of ISO/IEC 17025: 2005
in preparation for the
periodic surveillance
audits and maintenance of
NFTL accreditation status
and concluded with the
award of certificates to the
participants.
Currently, NFTL is
accredited for both food
chemical and microbiological
test parameters as follows:
• 12 (Twelve) Chemical
Parameters viz. Ph,
degree bix, acidity,
acid insoluble ash,
water soluble ash, total
ash, total dissolved
solids, total sugar
content, dry matter
content, moisture,
alkalinity, total
hardness.
• 3 (Three)
Microbiological
Parameters viz. Total
Plate Count, Total
Coliform Count and
Yeast and Mould
Count.
Currently, the NFTL
accredited scope covers
5 (Five) food product
categories such as processed
fruits & vegetables, non
beverages, cereal products,
bakery products including
drinking water.
NFTL has immediate
plan for accreditation of
additional chemical test
parameters such as heavy
metal contaminants, protein
and fats. The facilities for
handling pathogenic food
microbes such as salmonella,
E. coli, staphylococci and
shigella are under process.
The revised scope of
accreditation would cover
other food product categories
such as oils & fats, tea &
coffee, milk & milk products,
alcoholic beverages, honey,
sea foods, meat & products,
egg & egg products,
spices & condiments,
coca & byproducts and
confectioneries.
Articles for RNR
Newsletter
Intrested writers may
contribute articles to
[email protected]
- ICS
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
Chinese citrus fruit fly management program
NPPC
May 6, Tsirang: The
National Plant Protection
Centre (NPPC) in
collaboration with the
Dzongkhag Agriculture
sector, Tsirang and financial
support from the ACIAR
Citrus project initiated
the Chinese citrus fruit
fly, Bactrocera minax
Enderlin management
program. The program
has been started with the
objective of managing the
Chinese citrus fruit fly in
a coordinated manner on
an area wide scale and to
showcase the effectiveness
of the management program
to the farmers. Prior to this
program, a survey carried
out in Tsirang indicated
B. minax to cause serious
fruit drops contiguously
through the Geogs of
Goseling, Kikorthang and
Dunglagang (NPPC survey,
October 2012). Therefore,
this program was initiated in
Tsirang which in future will
have to be replicated in areas
where incidence of this pest
causes major yield losses.
The program will primarily
focus on managing the
pest through the use of
protein baiting and fruit
drop collection. Protein
baiting is an environmentally
friendly technique that
involves the use of protein
mixed with a minuscule
amount of insecticides and
applied as spots (50ml/ tree).
Contrary to cover sprays, this
technique greatly reduces
the amount of insecticide
sprayed in the environment
and consequently minimizes
the adverse effect on human
health, non-target and
beneficial organisms. Fruit
flies require protein for
sexual maturation and hence
are attracted to the applied
spots, feed on it and die.
This season the program
has been initiated in
Kikorthang Geog involving
120 households. The
program in the ensuing
season will involve more
farmers covering a wider
9
area. Knap sack sprayers,
protein, insecticides were
distributed to 22 farmers
group with a group leader
each. Prior to the program,
demonstration on protein
baiting and sprayer operation
were conducted. Protein
baiting will be carried out
from the beginning of May
till the end of July and
fruit drop collection and
destruction will commence
from October up till mid
December. These two
management strategies will
however have to be repeated
over seasons on an area wide
scale to significantly reduce
the pest population and
minimize yield losses.
Low cost Bamboo Poly house
Phuntsho and Sonam Tashi
RDSC Lingmethang
In commercialisation of
vegetables, a greenhouse
is often considered to
be a useful technology
preferred by many growers.
However, the technology
which comes with a price
tag of at least a minimum of
Nu.50,000 to a maximum
of about Nu.100,000
per set depending on the
quality and size is a major
investment cost. Therefore,
options to reduce the cost
of green houses could help
reduce investment cost and
encourage utilisation of
locally available resources.
RNR RDC Wengkhar
began trying some
greenhouses built with local
materials especially bamboo,
and other locally available
materials. The centre has
now constructed three types
for demonstration at the
centre and also promoted
some in Depong geog with
vegetable outreach groups
with supports from various
projects namely HRDP-Japan
International Coopration
Agency (JICA), Department
of Agriculture (DoAMinistry of Agriculture
and Forests-MoAF),
MAGIP-IFAD, MoAF
and SLMP-WB, National
Soil Service Centre (DoA)
MoAF. These structures
are currently recommended
to farmers in the research
outreach sites in the east
where commercialisation
of vegetables have been
proposed. A construction
manual was also developed
by the centre and published
and circulated to all geog
centres with support of
MAGIP-IFAD_Extension
Materials Development.
10
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
First-Ever Rhododendron Festival in Bhutan
Ugyen Tshering/ICS
11 – 13 May, Lamperi: The
first ever Rhododendron
festival in Bhutan was held at
Lamperi from 11 to 13 May
this year. It was organised
by Nature Recreation
and Ecotourism Division
(NRED) of Department of
Forests and Park Services in
collaboration with the Meto
Pelri Tshogpa.
The three-day festival
highlighting some of the
cultural richness of the park
and its interrelation with the
nature attracted more than
1000 local visitors and about
350 foreign tourists.
During his address at
the inaugural ceremony,
the Chief Guest, Director
General of Department of
Livestock, Karma Dukpa
said that festival, first of
its kind, is an opportunity
to make the park resident
appreciate the park
resources. “It is crucial for
the park and its resident
coexists in harmony and
work in partnership,” he
addressed adding park
resident play pivotal role in
park management.
Recalling his stint with the
department, during which the
park was established, he said,
today the park has fulfilled
the dream they dreamt. He
said, when the park was
inaugurated way back in
October 2008, we had lots of
vision and expectation of the
only recreational park in the
country.
The festival has not only
brought together the people
and communities living
in and around the park’s
jurisdiction but also the
schools and institutions.
Such a festival also
provided opportunity for the
participating communities
to generate cash income
through sale of local
products. Locals put up
stalls serving as sale outlet
for array of local products,
cuisine and beverages.
While some of the guests
went around visiting the
stalls, the festival ground
remained ever alive with
locals putting up diversity of
cultural and entertainment
shows. The cultural shows,
some of which were never
witnessed elsewhere such as
Tibetan boedra and Zhungdra
dating back to 17th Century,
Tiger and Bear dances
treated the guests who
congregated for the festival.
As part of celebrating
wild Rhododendron, the
park campus had 29 species
of the plants growing from
among the 46 species in the
Country. This Rhododendron
plants were housed in the
Rhododendron garden
spreading 124 acres. A one
kilometer long walk within
the garden provided rare
opportunity for the guests
to learn about them and
appreciate their beauty in full
spring bloom.
In addition, the guests
were also offered opportunity
to explore the mini-Himalyas
through guided walks within
the park zone. The Serichu
trail and RBP campus
provided bird watching
opportunity while also
listening to melodious calls
of the spring birds. Others
had the option to walk the
Dochula trail or Lumitsawa
ancient trail and relieve the
history where the trail in
the past linked Thimphu
with Wangdue and Punakha.
Lungchu Tsey pilgrimage
trail through the serene
forests provided a perfect
forest bath.
Throughout the festival
period, the educational and
awareness stalls remained
opened with talk shows and
screening of documentaries
on environmental themes.
Boating in the periphery of
Baritsho lake, Horse and
Yak riding,Taa-daa-Nor
traditional game, Rhodo wish
game were some of the major
highlights.
The festival was sponsored
by Tourism Council of
Bhutan.
Cordyceps Consultation Meeting
Kunzang Thinley,BWS
10 May 2013, Lhuentse:
The Bomdeling Wildlife
Sanctuary (BWS) Park
Range in collaboration with
the geog administration,
Khoma, conducted a daylong
consultation meeting with
the Cordyceps collectors of
Rongmateng and Tsangwog
under Khoma geog in
Lhuentse Dzongkhag.
The meeting was
conducted as part of BWS
annual initiatives in capacity
building of the people living
in the alpine areas and
value addition on cordyceps
collection. In addition, the
participants were briefed on
the dos & don’ts in keeping
in view of existing cordyceps
harvesting rules and onward
storage before sell off
through auction.
The BWS Chief Forest
Officer (CFO), Pankey
Dukpa, who chaired the
meeting said, stakeholders
are called for such annual
consultation meetings so
that all the issues related to
cordyceps harvesting and
marketing are brought into
the common forum, through
which all activities related
to cordyceps would further
be improved. Also during
the meeting, the issues
pertaining to collection
permit, Certificate of
Origin, waste management,
malpractice and sustainable
cordyceps harvesting were
also discussed.
The main outcome of
the consultation meeting
was regarding the time of
cordyceps harvesting. After
much deliberation it was
unanimously decided that the
harvesting of cordyceps for
the fiscal year 2013 would
start from 10 June to 9 July
2013 for a period of one
month and the BWS staff on
Northern border patrolling
duty would start their journey
from Khoma to Singye
Dzong most tentatively from
the first week of June 2013.
Discussing about garbage
management, the CFO
cautioned about increasing
waste at cordyceps
collection sites. After much
discussion there was felt a
need to properly manage
the waste by taking equal
responsibilities. So in order
to address this issue, the CFO
informed the floor that, from
this year onward cordyceps
collectors were required
to bring back all garbage
to the army camp based at
Tsikang with the one who
brought back the maximum
garbage to be rewarded with
a lucrative cash prize and
those who did not to be fined
simultaneously.
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
Biogas benefiting Radhi farmers
Phurpa Tshering, Radhi
The livestock extension
centre in collaboration
with the Natural Resources
Management Tshokpa
(NRMT) in Radhi geog,
Trashigang have introduced
biogas in the geog, under
the project, ‘Communitybased Sustainable Energy
from Biomass’ to promote
trapping and utilisation
of sustainable energy
for household cooking
purposes thereby reducing
firewood consumption and
saving forest areas. The
project is now benefiting 30
households.
The biogas equipments
such as gas stove sets and
other construction materials
including cement, bricks,
sand etc. was supported from
UNDP/GEF/SGP project
fund while the manpower
cost was borne by the
beneficiaries. The project has
spent around Nu.31,000.00\-
for each biogas plant.
Biogas, a combustible gas
and a mixture of methane
and carbon-dioxide can
be generated from cattle
dung and other organic
materials. The methane gas
is an effective energy carrier
that has a wide range of
uses, from simple gas stove
for cooking to lamps for
lighting. Further, the slurry
left over from biogas can be
used as an organic fertiliser
to improve soil fertility and
increase crops yield.
Such plants, with a
life span of at least 20
years is easy to operate
and economical. Biogas
helps to maintain clean
environment and improve
health conditions by reducing
green house gas emissions,
time and work load as well
particularly for women.
A 58 year old, Ap
Ngawang Tshering, one
of the biogas users from
11
One of the beneficiaries with her bio-gas plant
Jonla village, Radhi said
that biogas is an easy way
of cooking comparing to
traditional stove which also
help them to save money
from buying of LPG gas. He
also realised that biogas plant
would help them to keep
home and surrounding clean.
He further added that one
should encourage farmers to
practice cattle stall feeding
to adopt high yielding cattle
and produce enough cow
dung for biogas production.
‘This will reduce unwanted
cattle population and in the
long run land degradation
with minimum grazing,’ he
added.
Farm machinery hiring services launched
Choidup Zangpo/ICS
6 May, Kabisa: The
Department of Agriculture
(DoA), Ministry of
Agriculture and Forests,
formally launched the farm
machinery hiring services
starting from Serigang
village, Kabisa geog under
Punakha Dzongkhag. Hiring
service will be managed by
the Agriculture Machinery
Centre (AMC) through the
Regional AMC offices.
Hiring services is
instituted mainly to address
a long standing issue of
labour shortage, agriculture
feminisation and ageing
rural population. Hiring
services also aims to
achieve land intensification,
utilisation of fallowed
land, income generation
through crop intensification
and commercialisation of
agriculture.
Range of machineries
available through hiring
services includes land
preparation, paddy
transplantation, harvesting,
among others. Till now,
mechanisation services
relied purely through the
hiring services provided by
the private owners, which
is expensive as well as
inefficient in terms of area
coverage.
For the current cropping
season, approximately 5000
acres of land will be brought
under partial mechanisation.
For Punakha and Wangdue
valley, 1500 acres of land
will be brought under
mechanisation. Most of the
farm machinery used for the
hiring services is from the
DG, DoA launching the farm machinery hiring services
2 KR Japanese Grant and
Non Project Grant Aid from
Japan.
During the handing
and taking, the ceremony
was attended by the DoA
Director General, Mr.
Tenzin Dhendup along with
geog leaders, farmers and
officials from the Dzongkhag
Administrative, Punakha and
Ministry.
For detailed information
on hiring services,
Please contact;
Agriculture Machinery
Centre, Paro at Tel. No #
08-271234/271460
12
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Vegetable woes of Wolathang
Ugyen Tshering/ICS
For the first-time visitor,
Wolathang Primary School
in Punakha represents a
beautiful educational site.
It is located on the foot
of a towering mountain
fencing it on one side,
and the Phochhu River
on the other, meandering
in an ox-bow journey
south to join the Mochhu
River below the legendary
Punakha dzong, the seat
of Zhabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal. It is in this school
that hundreds of children
from the communities of
Tshachiphu, Tamidamchu,
Thamze, Khame and Khatoe
of Punakha dzongkhag begin
their first journey into the
world of modern education.
The school environment
wears a perfect look with
structures blending with
nature. It is around this time
of the season, the school
looks best. Jakaranda trees
blooming with blue flowers,
Silver oak in yellow and
of course the cypress trees
adorned as always in full
green gives the school all the
beauty it needs.
However, all is not as rosy
as the surrounding when
it comes to some odd 98
children studying in the
school. Besides, having to
walk for almost three hours,
the school had no feeding
program. The children,
however, managed carrying
pack lunches from homes,
which often were forcefully
eaten by elder students on
their way. If most managed
to carry it safe to school, the
lunch was rendered all cold,
barely exciting enough to
eat.
But one day came the big
rescue from the capital city
in Thimphu. The school was
adopted as a sister school
by Jigme Losel Primary
school in Thimphu who
began helping Wolathang
school with the day feeding
program. The sister school
benefitted with donations
of rice cookers, plates and
other school essentials. The
civil servants hailing from
the community joined suit
sponsoring food stuff such as
rice, salt cooking oil etc.
Even with all this help it
was not enough to complete
the whole food package
requirement of the school.
Having no access to the
support in vegetable growing
under School Agriculture
Program (SAP) of the
Council for RNR Research
of Bhutan (CoRRB), most
of the field remained fallow.
The school authorities felt
the pang every time it was
time to cook curry for the
students.
According to the school
Principal, Rinchen Dukpa,
the school tried everything
in their means to serve a
balanced and nutritional food
to the students. “We grew
what little we could in the
miniature garden,” said the
Principal, adding, “we even
supplemented the vegetable
requirements of the school
from the forests.”
The Principal shared with
ICS that every season, they
collected wild vegetables
such as fiddle head (Nakey),
mushroom, Damru and
literally every edible forest
resources to supplement the
school diet.
A teacher of the school,
Kinley Rabgay shared
that they had once gone to
Phobjikha coinciding with
the potatoes harvesting
season. “We moved from
field to field carrying an
empty sack, requesting for a
little of their harvest,” said
Kinley. “At the end, we were
able to collect almost nine
sacks of potatoes, which
were brought to the school to
fed the kids.”
However, soon these
vegetable woes of Wolathang
Primary School is going to
be a thing of the past. This is
because the Asian Vegetable
Research Development
Centre (the World Vegetable
Centre) through CoRRB
and Department of School
Education will be supporting
the vegetable gardening in
the school.
As promised by Dr.
John Donough Keating,
AVDRC’s Director General
to the school, they will be
supporting the school by
providing training to the
focal teacher, supply of
tools, implements and inputs.
During the field visit by the
AVDRC’s delegates to the
school, another member of
the delegates, Dr. Warwick
Jogn Easdown, AVRDC’s
regional director, Hyderabad
assured all their support for
the school. He hoped such a
support would help students
eat better food and learn
better.
Principal, Rinchen Dukpa
while thanking on behalf of
the teachers and students, the
stakeholders for the support,
assured to work hard to
make the project successful
one. “With your support,
our students will soon eat
a nourishing food with
balanced diet.
Wolathang Primary school,
established in the year
2002, is an hour drive from
Khuruthang town in Punakha
along the bumpy farm road.
Food and Cash crops relay cropping in Mongar
Phuntsho, RDSC Lingmethang
and Sonam Yangdon, Saling
Geog
Tsanzabi, Saleng: After
the paddy harvest, terraced
fields are left fallow till the
next paddy transplant season.
To effectively utilise and
intensify the crop production
the Research Development
Support Centre (RDSC)
in Lingmethang went in
collaboration with the Saling
Geog Agriculture Sector.
Winter potato and bulb onion
production was initiated as
a relay cropping after the
paddy in Tsanzabi village.
Relay cropping is when a
second crop is planted after
the first has been harvested.
The village is located in
Saleng Geog of Mongar as a
Research Outreach of RDSC
Lingmethang and RNR EC,
Saleng. There, an eleven
member farmers’ group was
formed and registered in
2012.
The Tsanzabi farmers’
group works in a common
area located at an altitude of
950 metres above sea level.
The area belonging to one
of their group members was
sub-divided among the group
members thereby ensuring
each member has his/her own
responsibility in addressing
the problem. Potato and
onion were planted in area
of approximately 1.8 acres.
The group was also provided
with a set of greenhouses
to facilitate their vegetable
Contd. on page 13
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
13
Some farmers in Jigmeling gewog take up poultry
farming
Tshering Doma/ICS
While many farmers in
Jigmeling geog under
Sarpang Dzongkhag are
going for beekeeping, a few
of them (in Khamey village)
have instead intended to
take up poultry farming
particularly to supply eggs in
and around.
A group of eight members
have started a farm called
‘KB Gurung Farm’ from
September 2012 with seven
hundred layer birds. ‘The
farm has a capacity of
rearing twelve hundred birds
but due to limited resources,
the group decided to go with
smaller numbers’, said one
of the group members.
Prior to farm establishment,
the members attended a one
day training to understand
about poultry management
and group formation where
they also enquired about the
possible facilities that will be
provided by the Department
of Livestock. To start with,
the group was provided with
CGI sheets, cement, timber
and others including the
free transportation of birds.
In addition, the livestock
be helpful for them.
sentiments people started
officials will provide free
In the coming days, the
dropping the rearing. The
medication and vaccination
group has plans to extend
geog at the moment has three
for new castle disease,
their farm with more layer
other private poultry farms
cannibalism, booster dose
birds, for which they have
with birds ranging from 400etc. as and when required
already started constructing
1000 numbers functioning on
besides carrying out monthly the shed with proper biotheir own.
monitoring.
security arrangements, so
In the meantime, the
The birds are expected to
that there will be less risk of
livestock sector is planning
start production from August disease outbreaks.
to encourage dairy farming
2013. According to group
According to Agam Kumar
as an alternative option for
members, the local egg
Bhujel, the Geog Livestock
the farmers through the
has a good demand in the
Extension Officer, used to
supply of bulls and jerseys
geog as there are not many
be more than two hundred
and group formation to
farmers into it. They are also
poultry owners in the past.
enhance their income.
planning to sell their eggs
However, due to religious
in Zhemgang,
Trongsa and
Bumthang if the
production goes
well. ‘A carton
of eggs fetches
Nu. 1500\- in the
market which is
a good price both
for consumers and
producers,’ said
the members. The
only concern the
group expressed
was about the
increasing
price of Karma
Feed which if
subsidised would The birds will start egg production around August
Food and Cash crops relay cropping in Mongar
Contd. from page 13
nursery production from the
Constituency Development
Grant (CDG). The vegetable
crops they grow alongside
bulb onion and winter potato
include Cole crops, chilli,
beans and tomato. RDSC
Lingmethang provided inputs
and technical support such as
bulb onion seeds and potato
seeds with support from
Bhutan Potato Development
Programme (BPDP).
At this outreach site,
farmers have already started
to demonstrate field activities
to others starting with a
day-long awareness visit
on an outreach programme
for Geog extension officers
of Mongar and Lhuentse
Dzongkhags through fund
support from Market Access
and Growth Intensification
Project (MAGIP). During
the program the Research
Development Centre
(RDC) at Wengkhar
conducted awareness among
Extension Officers on the
approaches of outreach
program in preparation of
implementation of a similar
program in Market Access
and Growth Intensification
Project (MAGIP) sites in
the coming season. A total
of 29 participants consisting
of extension agents, farmers
and District Agriculture
Officers (DAOs) attended
the meeting and visited the
vegetable outreach research
field activity site of the
group.
Farmers intracting with
Extension
14
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Celebrating citizen participation in
forest governance
SFED, Mongar
The approach to forest
management in Bhutan has
gone through fundamental
changes over the past
decades. Today, there is a
rapid growth in communitybased forest management in
the country. Households in
a community come together
to form community forest
management groups. These
groups are provided with
access and management
rights and responsibilities
over community forests.
Community forest
management groups
represent a decentralized and
people-centered approach
towards forest management,
balancing conservation
with sustainable utilization
of forest resources. The
ability of group members
to sustainably utilize forest
resources brings in more
direct livelihood benefits,
and is expected to play
an important role in rural
poverty reduction in the
country. This is evident in
the rapid pace of growth of
community forestry, fuelled
by local demands.
The Participatory Forest
Management Project
(PFMP), implemented by
the Social Forestry and
Extension Division of the
Department of Forest and
Park Services and Helvetas,
funded by the Swiss
Agency for Development
and Cooperation (SDC),
has been supporting the
emergence of communitybased forest management
since 2002. The Project has
been supporting the capacity
development of foresters
and community groups, and
development of policies,
strategies and procedures that
favor decentralized use and
management of forests. The
Project is in its second phase
and SDC plans to continue
engagement in this sector in
a third phase as well.
While it has taken 11 years
from the establishment of the
first Community Forest in
1997 to the handing over of
the 100th Community Forest
in 2008, the pace has since
accelerated significantly,
with the approval of 400
Community Forests in less
than five years.
To commemorate the
establishment of the
500th community forest
management group, His
Excellency Ambassador
Beat Nobs, Under State
Secretary of the Federal
Department of Foreign
Affairs of Switzerland will
hand over the Community
Forest in Geneykha on
17th May, 2013. His
Excellency the Ambassador
will be accompanied by
the Regional Coordinator,
Asia Pacific, the SDC
Programme Manager for
Bhutan, and the Counsellor
and Director of Cooperation
of the SDC office in Bhutan.
The Director General of
the Department of Forests
and Park Services and other
officials from the department,
and local government
officials will also be present.
With the handing over of
the Geneykha Community
Forest to the 500th forest
management group the
number of households
involved in the programme
will increase to 22’257 (in
third of all rural households),
covering an area of 57’038
hectares of forests or 2% of
all forests in Bhutan.
Celebrating
World Day to Combat Desertification and
Land Degradation
Domang, RDC Wengkhar
June 17, Mongar: Zunglen
Sazhing Zhinchong
Tshongpa, RNR Extension
Center and people of
Drepong geog celebrated
the World Day to Combat
Desertification and Land
Degradation in Zunglen,
Drepong under Mongar
Dzongkhag.
The theme for this year
‘Don’t let our future dry
up’ focuses interventions
towards drought and water
scarcity. Accordingly, some
45 Ha (111 acres) of water
catchments and 14 Ha (35
acres) of agricultural land
belonging to 68 households
are brought under protection
through catchment protection
works (Plantation and
fencing) and Sustainable
Land Management Practices
(live plant hedgerow
establishment).
Mongar Dzongdag,
Sherab Tenzin on the
occasion emphasized on
the importance of our land,
environment and water
resources and called for
communal and individual
care of our natural resources
for sustainable utilization of
resources.
The day was launched
with a land management
campaign participated by
the beneficiary farmers
of Zunglen cheog,
representative from Global
Environment Facility’s Small
Grants Program (GEFSGP), RNR RDC Wengkhar,
Mongar Dzongkhag
RNR Sectors, Geog RNR
Extension Centres and the
community led by the Gup of
Drepong.
This year’s campaign
and interventions on land
and water conservation
implemented by Zunglen
Sazhing Zhinchong
Tshongpa is supported
through GEF-SGP, UNDP
with total fund of about Nu.
1.3 million. The technical
support was provided by
Geog RNR Extension and
RNR RDC Wengkhar.
The program strengthens
Community Based SLM
Practices (CBSLM). With
this year’s intervention, the
geog has now taken CBSLM
concept to six of its thirteen
villages. Past initiatives were
supported by Sustainable
Land Management ProjectNSSC, DoA, MoAF with
technical assistance of
RNR RDC Wengkhar and
Dzongkhag / Geog RNR
Extension Centres.
RNR
NEWSLETTER
May - June 2013
15
Druk Path trail cleaning campaign by Volunteers
Ugyen Tshering/ICS
June 17, Thimphu:
Volunteers with a caravan of
horses carrying the garbage
collected along the Druk Path
trail, during their week-long
cleaning campaign, organised
by Amazing Dragon Holiday,
returned to Thimphu on
June 12. The Druk Path Trek
is a trek from Thimphu to
Paro via Phajoding or vice
versa. They collected some
70 sacks of trash which
consisted of metal, bottles,
empty canes, papers, old
rags etc which otherwise
were strewn along the trail.
The collected trash was
surrendered to Thimphu City
Corporation.
The volunteers consisting
of tour operators, guides, job
seekers and students with
some 30 horses, started their
journey from Thimphu on
7 June trekking the whole
trail from Paro along Jili
dzong, Tshoklam, Narithang,
Bjimilangtsho and finally
returning back to Thimphu
from Phajoding. The
volunteers also included 11
females trekking in groups
each carrying a sack and
picking up every trash they
found on their way.
The Druk Path Trek is the most popular trek amongst tourists
According to the organiser,
Dorji of the tour company,
Amazing Dragon Holiday,
this cleaning campaign was
initiated to maintain a clean
environment especially
along the trail used by
trekkers. Besides, he said,
the volunteers developed
an appreciation of nature
and its beauty. “Nature is
most beautiful without the
garbage.”
A volunteer, Kanjur, who
along with other trekked
for six days, said that they
really enjoyed the cleaning
campaign. “The sights and
scene of nature in mountains
are breathtaking,” said
Kanjur adding that it must
always be kept that way.
He said that except for the
occasional rain en route,
the cleaning campaign was
really fun. “We picked most
trash from the campsites
along the trail,” Kanjur
shared with ICS. Another
female volunteer, Phurba
Lhamo, a guide, said that it
was difficult but enjoyable
too. “I’m happy I joined
such a campaign,” said
Phurba adding, “I must have
collected up to 7-8 sacks of
garbage.”
For Rinchen Wangmo,
another female volunteer, it
was her first time trekking
in such a high altitude. She
shared that at one time, she
suffered from mild high
altitude sickness. “But the
nature’s beauty inspired me
more than be bothered by
altitude sickness.”
The cleaning campaign
was also supported by ABTO
and NRED.
Meanwhile another group
with around 35 volunteers
from Aman Kora and others
started another cleanup
campaign from 14 June 2013
along the Jhomolhari trek,
the popular trek route. The
second group is expected
to reach back on 18 June
2013. It is coordinated by
the same tour company with
NRED and JDNP park staff
facilitating where possible.
Volunteers were given certificates of participation duly signed by ABTO, Amazing Dragon Holiday and NRED
16
RNR
May - June 2013
NEWSLETTER
Joint Forest Awareness Campaign by
Samdrup Jongkhar and Assam
Samdrup Jongkhar Division
4 June, Dharanga Mela,
India: The Samdrup
Jongkhar Forest Division in
collaboration with the Baksa
Division, BTC, in the Assam
state of India conducted an
awareness program on the
importance of forest and
environment to the students
and public under Baksa
Division, which shares
the border with Samdrup
Jongkhar Division.
On 4 June 2013, just
a day before the World
Environment Day, the
local MLA (Member of the
Legislative Assembly), Sub
Divisional Police Officer,
Tamulpur, Divisional Forest
Officer Samdrup Jongkhar,
Divisional Forest Officer
Baksa, DzFO, staff of
both the divisions in the
Bhutanese and Indian sides
and some of the sector
heads of Samdrup Jongkhar
Dzongkhag were also present
during the program in
Dharanga Mela, India.
The main objective of
the program was to make
people aware that forest and
environment is a common
resource that needs to
be used responsibly and
judiciously for sustenance.
The program was conducted
jointly by these two divisions
as follow up of one of the
resolutions passed in the
meeting held in Manas Tiger
Reserve in Assam state of
India. The program mainly
highlighted the importance
of conservation of natural
resources, both by the people
living upstream (Bhutan)
and down stream (India) as
it was said by Divisional
Forest Officer, Samdrup
Jongkhar “The wealth of
people downstream depends
on the health of forest
upstream”. So, this clearly
states the common interest
that both the parties share
for conservation of natural
resources.
The message was “Save
the forest, both the countries
are benefited by getting all
the basic necessities like
food, water, shelter, water
and air from the forest and
if you destroy the forest,
both the countries are at
loss by having to face the
implications of all the
consequences of forest
degradation, especially
the flash flood and climate
change.” So, joint effort for
If undelivered please return to:
Information and Communication Services (ICS)
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Post Box: 1095, Thimphu-Bhutan
Tel(PABX): 02-323765/321142/322855
Fax: 02-324520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.moaf.gov.bt
conservation of forest comes
into picture.
The Dzongkhag Forest
Officer of Samdrup Jongkhar
stated the importance of
community participation
for management of forest.
He said like the Joint
Forest Management in
India, Bhutan has a similar
concept of community
participation for management
of forest-Community Forest
Management Group.
The Divisional Forest
Officer, Baksa told the
students that, they should
pass on the message to
their parents and relatives
on importance of forest
and environment. He even
expressed his pride of
Bhutan’s rich forest cover
that benefits the bordering
country of India. In order to
protect and conserve forest
along the border, both the
countries should join hands
to collectively work hard in
educating local communities
so that the conservation
of natural environment is
strengthened. “Healthy life
purely depends on healthy
environment” said the
Divisional Forest Officer
of Baksa. The program is
the first of its kind and will
continue till we win the
hearts of the people towards
Conservation of Nature.
Meanwhile, on 5 June
2013, World Environment
Day, the day was observed
in our own small way by
planting trees near the office
by the staff of the Samdrup
Jongkhar Division.
Officials from S/jongkhar and Assam
To