Living Landscapes - Securing ecological connectivity of high conservation value areas in Bhutan

In southwestern Bhutan special biodiversity and ecosystem services worthy of protection exist (High Conservation Value Areas), which are, however, without any formal protection status. For their long-term protection at national, regional and local level, they should be considered as an integral part of comprehensive land use planning as well as in management plans of the District Forestry Offices. In addition to building up knowledge and capacities within the forest administrations, the project also provides them with technical equipment to monitor and implement the management plans. It also supports local communities in reducing human-wildlife-conflicts, securing water resources and developing business plans to generate additional income. The development of guidelines, pilot projects and the exchange of experience between districts and authorities are intended to enable multiplier effects in other landscapes and districts.

Project data

Countries: Bhutan
IKI funding: 8,873,998.00 €
Included preparation phase: 98,709.79 €
Duration: 04/2020 till 03/2028
Status: open
Implementing organisation: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Germany
Political Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) - Bhutan

Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) (Bhutan)

Ministry of Finance - Bhutan

National Land Commission (NLC) - Bhutan
Implementing Partner: Tarayana Foundation (TF)

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Bhutan
Online: https://www.wwfbhutan.org.bt/projects_/living_landscapes__securing_high_conservation_value__hcv__in_the_south_western_bhutan/#:~:text=western%20Bhutan%20%7C%20WWF-,Living%20landscapes%3A%20securing%20High%20Conservation%20Value%20(HCV),in%20the%20south%2Dwestern%20Bhutan&text=The%20project%20seeks%20to%20achieve,in%20the%20south%2Dwestern%20Bhutan.

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State of implementation/results

Securing High Conservation Values (HCV):
- An HCV Screening was conducted following the HCV National Interpretation with technical support from the HCV Network. HCV screening results were endorsed by the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) and submitted to the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) for inclusion into National Land Use Zoning. Draft Operational Guidance for HCV Management and Monitoring are available (m.facebook.com/…).
- Between January and June 2024, the Divisional Forest Offices (DFOs) conducted consultations with local communities and other local level stakeholders for the nine proposed High Conservation Value (HCV) areas (a total of 800 people attended the meetings).
- To gain best practices and learnings from HCV management and monitoring at landscape level, 24 members including the DFO managers, HCV National Expert Group members and members from the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) went on a study visit to Sabah, Malaysia in May 2024. The learnings will help in the management of the HCVs in Bhutan including the development of management and monitoring plans.
National Land Use Zoning:
- The project is supporting National Land Use Zoning (NLUZ) and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) work undertaken by NLCS in which HCV is integrated and mainstreamed for national land use planning in future. The LULC report was published (www.nlcs.gov.bt/… www.nlcs.gov.bt/…) and the NLUZ Report was launched on 18 September 2023 (www.bbs.bt/…:~:text=To%20promote%20the%20sustainable%20use,Minister%20in%20the%20capital%20today).
Development of Management Plans for Divisional Forest Offices (DFO):
- a. Biodiversity Survey:
  - As a prerequisite for developing a management plan, a Rapid Biodiversity Survey was conducted in 9 Divisional Forest Offices covering 3,168 km2 from late 2022 to early 2023. The survey was undertaken by 137 foresters covering 198 (4x4 km) survey grids. The respective reports were developed and finalized in early 2024 and are prepared for publication in late 2024. (www.facebook.com/…;eav=Afb0IYCy7i3F9L0nynDBSBFdbjaRT0G9KodLcXRiXPzOBPDJRgzPi5wU_rU54elmQOk&_rdr).
  - Tarayana Foundation prepared a report on invasive plant species in the project region together with the National Centre for Biodiversity (NBC) and the College of Natural Resources (CNR) and after interviewing farmers. Publication of the study (www.tarayanafoundation.org/…) and based on it, implementation of trainings in the communities to identify and remove invasive species.
- b. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Socio-economic Data Collection:
  - In addition to the biodiversity survey, a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) and a Socio-economic Survey are important prerequisites for the development of the Climate Smart Management Plans for the 9 Divisional Forest Offices in the project area. A total of 6231 (2284 women) people residing in the project landscape were interviewed from July to December 2023 to gather information on climate change and socio-economic conditions. After data collection, 18 officials attended a weeklong training on CCVA at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal in November 2023 to be trained on how to conduct about the climate vulnerability assessment using the data collected (www.wwfbhutan.org.bt/…).
Livelihood Improvement:
- Completion of ecotourism facilities in 5 DFOs (Dagana, Gedu, Samtse, Sarpang, Zhemgang). Pakhadura under Samtse DFO was developed as a recreational area for the visitors. A 3.1km hiking trail was developed from Nindukha to Do Namkhai Kaw in Dagana and amenities such as canopies and toilets were constructed. Under Gedu DFO, Shougayla eco-trail was maintained and camping sites and amenities along the trail were developed. In Sarpang, the southern wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center was opened to visitors after supporting development of visitor facilities. At a cultural site called Dungkar Nye in Zhemgang, visitor facilities including a place for offering, cantilever bridge and waste disposal facility were constructed. The interventions are expected to benefit at least 21,740 people in these five areas. (www.bbs.bt/… www.bbs.bt/…).
- A study on the conservation and application of local and traditional knowledge has been completed, which also addresses key issues for the project, such as the management of human-wildlife conflicts, water management measures, and adaptation to climate change.
- The focal officials from nine DFOs were trained on conflict to co-existence (C2C) approach and Human-Wildlife-Conflict (HWC) assessment in eight gewogs were conducted using the C2C assessment framework in the first half of 2024.
Building Capacity of Project Partners and Beneficiaries:
- A tree nursery at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER) was established. The nursery serves not only to raise seedlings, but also as a demonstration and training facility for prospective foresters at UWICER. In addition, nurseries were established in the five forest offices Tsirang, Dagana, Samtse, Gedu and Paro.
- Two Advanced Drone Operation Trainings were conducted for NLCS and DoFPS. A total of 31 (4 women) officials from DoFPS and 13 (2 women) from NLCS were trained on surveying, mapping, and surveillance using drones including basic maintenance and data analysis.
- Until June 2024 a total of 551 (192 women) members of local communities each representing a household were trained on management of Non-wood Forest Products and Community Forests. Other trainings for communities included vermicomposting and invasive plant species management (472 people).
- A total of 222 forestry officials and 16 officials from the NLCS took part in different capacity building trainings from January to June 2024. The trainings were provided on forest fire management, human wildlife conflict management, SMART patrolling, drone operation, species research and surveys including data analysis and reporting, sustainable forest management, forest pest management, and basic flora and fauna identification trainings.
- Aimed at instilling conservation stewardship, public awareness campaigns were held across the 9 DFOs focused on forest fire prevention, new forest and nature conservation rules and regulations and online forestry services. A total of 6320 people (1704 women) attended the awareness events.
- Tarayana Foundation presented project methodologies and impacts on water resource management at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai in December 2024 (www.linkedin.com/…).
Securing Water Resources:
- Based on the springshed assessment report, Tarayana worked on springshed management and improving water supplies Interventions include installing rainwater harvesting facilities, developing water filtration and storage facilities, and improving water distribution (express.adobe.com/…
- Until June 2024 water harvesting schemes were established in 14 gewogs under 9 districts in the project landscape benefitting 1364 households with a population of 7713 people (3831 women).