Bhutan is a world leader in conservation. Located in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, the country has successfully maintained 70% of its land under forest cover. The prioritization of biodiversity and a healthy environment benefits wildlife and people alike. The region provides water for one-fifth of the world’s population. Bengal tigers, snow leopards, elephants and 27 globally threatened species utilize the five million acres of intact and protected habitat. One of the nation’s top industries – ecotourism – has thrived thanks to national conservation policies.
Bhutan has the highest percent of land under protection of any Asian country: 51% of the country’s total area is secured as protected areas and biological corridors. Eight biological corridors were established in 1999 to connect existing protected areas and maintain animal and plant movement and gene flow. Since their establishment, the following policies and plans have been created to refine needs and priorities for operationalizing the corridors, including developing site level management plans and assessing the needs of conservation projects to improve functionality.
In 2007, the Executive Order on the Management of Biological Corridors in Bhutan altered the protocols surrounding the biological corridors. It allowed the Department of Forest to propose designating any area as a corridor if it was determined critical for the safe movement of wildlife. The “Rules on Biological Corridors” outlined management protocols and the status of the biological corridors. These designated corridors were not as strictly managed as Protected Areas but had higher protection status than government reserved forests. Activities that were strictly prohibited within the corridors included building new settlements, mining, littering, and leasing land for grazing. Additional activities such as construction, prescribed burns, commercial harvesting and collection of wild plants and animals were prohibited except with a written permit. Grazing permits were only to be issued for traditional grazing.
In 2010 the Regulatory Framework for Biological Corridors proposed revisions of the original plan to improve the effectiveness of the corridors. Recommendations included promoting the status of the biological corridors by recognizing them as part of the Protected Area system. In their policy recommendations, the Wildlife Conservation Division suggested adjusting corridor boundaries, along with altering the penalties for violations to enhance the functionality for people and wildlife alike.
In 2017, the revision of the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations upgraded the biological corridors’ protection status to give them the same status as other national protected areas. This made the corridors equivalent to national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature reserves under strict protection. It also changed the old designation process and management approach toward the corridors.
Other scientific recommendations included considering choke points, river connectivity, and corridor minimum width, along with considering the needs of barrier-sensitive and habitat specialists and focal species in the planning of corridors. In accordance with Bhutan’s political pillars, the recommendations prioritized infrastructure and economic growth alongside ecological considerations. Additional emphasis was given to harmonizing the construction of linear infrastructure, resource production, and ecotourism with the safe movement of wildlife.
Currently, a new biological corridor is being proposed to provide connectivity between Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in the eastern part of Bhutan. The proposal is being vetted by Parliament and is expected to be approved in the September 2023 session. The designation of the new biological corridor will take the protected area coverage to 52% of the country’s geographical area.
Through the funding and support of the Bhutan for Life initiative, starting in 2018 all the biological corridors have been assessed for functionality and biodiversity. Individual conservation management plans detail interventions necessary for these corridors to serve their important purpose.
Please note: This digest is intended to provide up-to-date information on policy development from a neutral, unaffiliated position as it relates to connectivity and corridor science and management. Many thanks to Mr. Sonam Wangdi from the Nature Conservation Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Bhutan, for reviewing and providing suggestions.
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