Contact
Chophel Dayang
Country Coordinator (CEPF)
WWF Bhutan Programme Office,
Thimphu
+975 2 323528
USD 634,000 given out in grants to seven organizations
1. Grantee: Nature Conservation Committee of Trashiyangtse
Project: Restoration of wintering habitat of the black-necked crane
Amount: USD 105,000
Duration: 2 years
This project aims to restore the wintering habitat of the endangered black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) in the Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, which has been inundated by floods in the last two years, by engaging the local community through a community-based habitat restoration plan. A community-based monitoring framework for the species will also be developed.
2. Grantee: World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Project: Biological Corridor Framework for Bhutan
Amount: USD 113,000
Duration: 19 months
WWF’s project expects to result in the development Corridor Management Framework, and its endorsement by the government of Bhutan, that will serve as a guide for the effective management of biological corridors in the country. In the long-term, this project aims to maintain the ecological integrity of the eight biological corridors that link nine protected areas in Bhutan.
3. Grantee: Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment
Project: Develop a national ecotourism framework for protected areas in Bhutan
Amount: USD 90,000
Duration: 1.5 years
A national eco-tourism framework, to be developed by the Ugyen Wangchuk Institute, is expected to guide the development of sustainable and conservation-friendly tourism practices in Bhutan. This framework will assist the national parks in generating their own revenue for long term sustainability. Park management and residents will be involved in planning, implementing and monitoring tourism in their own localities. The scheme, if successful, will enhance ownership of tourism both by the national park and local communities alike. More importantly, much needed funds to maintain the parks will be generated.
4. 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.
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.
6. 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.
7. 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.