Grants awarded in Bhutan

USD 326,000 given out in grants to four organizations

1. Grantee: Royal Society for the Protection of Nature
Project: Building grassroots support for conservation in Bhutan
Amount: USD 140,000
Duration: 3 years (2007-2010)

This project aims to establish a network of local support groups in six pilot districts within key biodiversity areas of the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex. The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature will also build the capacity of these groups to identify and undertake conservation actions for key biodiversity areas and important habitat linkages, with action grants and funds leveraged from small grant schemes. 

2. Grantee: Kuensel Corporation Limited
Project: Advocacy and awareness campaign on biodiversity in Bhutan
Amount: USD 80,000
Duration: 3 years (2007-2010) 

Kuensel, a leading national daily, has consistently made environment-reporting a priority. The media organization is the recipient of a grant to help inform and educate the nation on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development issues in the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex. Their 3-year advocacy and awareness-raising project goes towards the creation of an informed society while enhancing the ability of media personnel to understand and communicate conservation issues. 

3. Grantee: Royal Institute of Management
Project: Management of Social Forestry in Bhutan
Amount: USD 84,000
Duration: 3 years (2007-2010) 

The Royal Institute of Management (RIM)’s grant will go towards managing social forestry in the country. The project aims to identify inconsistencies in the laws, regulations and practices of social forestry in Bhutan and recommend appropriate systems and processes to manage the sector. Although Bhutan’s government places emphasis on the participation of communities in the management of natural resources, there is little comprehensive research on social forestry management issues in the country. The study as proposed under this project is therefore a timely and relevant one.  

4. Grantee: Norden Pines
Project: Production of alternative fuel from sawdust and other wood waste by using briquetting technology
Amount: USD 22,000
Duration: 9 months (2007-2008) 

The main source of domestic heating in Bhutan is fuel wood. Due to its high-altitude, Bhutan’s per capita fuel wood consumption is one of the highest in the world and alternatives to fuel wood heating are much needed. Norden Pines’ project looks at the production of alternative fuel from sawdust and other wood waste by using briquetting technology. The main goal of the project is that environmentally sound domestic energy is adopted by communities in two pilot sites within the key corridor linking Thrumshingla National Park and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in the Bhutan Biological Conservation Complex.