Bhutan

Sustainable Livelihood through Alternative Energy Use, Watershed Management and Animal Husbandry

Background
Farmers in Tsamang Geog within Thrimshungla National Park, like in many other parts of Bhutan rely heavily on the nearby forests for their timber, grazing, energy and water needs.  Fuelwood use is high due to lack of efficient cooking stoves.  Changing climate coupled with overgrazing and high resource extraction has let to degradation of watersheds and subsequent drying up of water sources.  There is also threat to biodiversity from these factors. 

The project aims to address the aforementioned problems by initiating community consultations, capacity building and implementation of relevant strategies through appropriate activities.  For addressing watershed issues, training on watershed management together with restoration of degraded areas will be carried out.  This will be followed by restoration of water supply facilities in critical areas.  Threats to biodiversity will be minimized by promoting livestock intensification.  Rewards - such as increased - milk production from this intensification will be multiplied through the formation of a dairy cooperative.  The cooperative in collaboration with Helvetas will be supported in terms of expertise, infrastructure and technology.  Reduction of fuelwood consumption will be by using biogas on a pilot basis. Learning and information exchange will be facilitated through regular discussion and meeting amongst stakeholders.  Experiences will be documented and successful activities will be up-scaled and expanded to cover other potential areas. 

The restoration of critical watersheds would lead to better management, thereby ensuring adequate water supply.  Free grazing in the forests would be reduced.  Livestock intensification by encouraging stall feeding would lead not only to higher production of milk but also to reduction in human-wildlife conflicts.  A cooperative would ensure the community to take advantage of economies of scale resulting in higher average incomes for households.  Alternative energy in the form of biogas would be made available to the people.  Watershed degradation, loss of biodiversity and emission of green house gas would be minimized. 

Objectives

The Park is currently implementing the LINKPA (Linking and Enhancing Protected Areas) project which is jointly funded by the UNDP/GEF, WWF, and RGoB.  Over the last few years, the park has gained considerable experience in community mobilization, fostering partnerships and project management.  With facilitation by the park, the proposed project will be successfully implemented and in turn the capacity of the community members will be enhanced. The main objective of the project are as follows:

• To conserve the biodiversity within the park;
• To rehabilitate the water catchment which has dried up and

To demonstrate reduction on fuelwood consumption by pilot testing the biogas technology. 

Achievements & expected results

• 2 hectares of degraded catchment area restored;
• All the households have access to drinking water;
• Reduction in fuel wood consumption demonstrated through biogas use;
• An agricultural/diary cooperative fully instituted and
• Annual household income of Tsamang community inside Thrimshingla National Park increased by 10%.

The results from the proposed project contribute to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Policy Objectives of enhancing production, access and marketing.  It also contributes towards the Government’s efforts to reduce and eliminate poverty.   Empowerment of communities and local government is also achieved.  The crucial goals of reducing poverty, mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity as stated in the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ are also addressed.