Environmental issues in Bhutan

Densely forested mountains of Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan.

Among Bhutan's most pressing environmental issues are traditional firewood collection, crop and flock protection, and waste disposal, as well as modern concerns such as industrial pollution, wildlife conservation, and climate change that threaten Bhutan's population and biodiversity. Land and water use have also become matters of environmental concern in both rural and urban settings. In addition to these general issues, others such as landfill availability and air and noise pollution are particularly prevalent in relatively urbanized and industrialized areas of Bhutan. In many cases, the least financially and politically empowered find themselves the most affected by environmental issues.[1]

Through 2011, Bhutan experienced accelerated economic activities which pressured natural resources such as land, air, and water. Development activities increased urbanization, industrialization, mining and quarrying, agriculture, and solid waste management projects. Land degradation, biodiversity and habitat loss, high fuel-wood consumption, and human-wildlife conflicts are some of Bhutan's environmental challenges.[1] Notwithstanding these problems, Bhutan remains overall carbon-neutral, and a net sink for greenhouse gases.[1][2]

Within the Bhutanese government, the independent National Environment Commission (NEC)[3] and Bhutan Trust Fund,[4][5] as well as the executive Ministries of Health (for chemical and radioactive waste),[6] Economic Affairs,[7] and Agriculture and Forests (Department of Forestry Services)[8] are tasked with addressing environmental issues. Waste disposal issues often fall to local governments, Bhutan's dzongkhags and thromdes. Non-governmental agencies active in addressing environmental issues in Bhutan are the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), the only domestic environmental NGO, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

  1. ^ a b c Pelden, Sonam (2011-09-05). "Report Underlines Climate Threats". Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  2. ^ Pelden, Sonam (2011-10-11). "Bhutan to Submit its Climate Issues to UNFCCC in Durban". Bhutan Observer online. Archived from the original on 2011-11-27. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  3. ^ "About the National Environment Commission". Government of Bhutan. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  4. ^ "Parks of Bhutan". Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation online. Bhutan Trust Fund. Archived from the original on 2011-07-02. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  5. ^ "The Organisation". Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation online. Bhutan Trust Fund. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference BO-pipe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Department of Industry (DOI)". Ministry of Economic Affairs. Government of Bhutan. Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  8. ^ "The Ministry". Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. Government of Bhutan. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-11-27.