Institutions Involved Directly in Environmental Conservation :

The National Environment Commission (NEC) - This is high-level policymaking body that oversees all cross-sectoral activities related to the environment in the country. It has a high level committee including the Minister of home Affairs, the minister Trade and Industry the Deputy Minister of the National Environment commission, the secretary of agriculture, and the joint secretary of forest as members. 

Nature Conservations Section in the Forest Services Division - This organization is responsible for conservation activities all over th4e country. It has drawn up management plans for forest and is also in the process of formulating a Biodiversity Auction Plan

Sustainable Development Secretariat - This is section with in the Ministry of planning. It was formed after Bhutan entered the sustainable development Partnership based on reciprocity and equity with the Netherlands, Benin and Costa Rica. Under this treaty signed in March 1994, the government of the Netherlands provides US$ 3 million per annum for projects in culture, biodiversity, renewable natural resources and energy.

Sustainable Lifestyle :

With a relatively small population of 600,000, people in Bhutan enjoy a sustainable lifestyle, which they inherited from their forefathers. Buddhism, prevalent in the country since the 7th century, respects all forms of life and considers them sacred. The natural elements of the earth: wind, water, rocks, trees, lakes an d mountains are seen as the abode of gods and goddesses and spirits and demons. They are believed to punish, with death and disease, those who disturb and pollute their domain.

For centuries, Bhutanese have treasured the natural environment and have looked upon it as the source of all life. This traditional reverence for nature has delivered Bhutan into the 20th century with an environment still richly intact. Bhutan wishes to continue living in harmony with nature and to pass on this rich heritage to its future generations.

In recent years, however, increasing populations, change in consumer patterns and rapid urbanizations have begun to put great pressure on the environment. This could potentially be great threat to conservation and sustainable development. For example, the unabated population growth, if unchecked, would negate all development efforts and seriously impair the country’s potential for achieving its goal of sustainable development and improving the quality of life of all Bhutanese people.

Fortunately for Bhutan, maintaining a balanced natural ecosystem remains the central theme of its development process. Bhutan’s development policies disregard sacrificing its natural resource base for short-term economic gains and are consistent with the central tenets of sustainable development, environment conservations and cultural values. Bhutan believes that a healthy environment is essential for material and spiritual happiness. In the words of his majesty the king of Bhutan: ‘Gross National Happiness is more important than gross National Product.’ 

Preserving All Forms of Life :

In the Buddhist perspective, culture, traditions, religion and beliefs and the environment are dynamic Phenomena that are interwoven tightly in the web of all life. The inter-relatedness off all living things is revealed in the strongly embedded Buddhists philosophy, value, and local belief that have contributed to a healthy and intact environment.

While world leaders today, both temporal and spiritual, struggle to address problems related to the breakdown of this interrelation of life such as severe deforestation, mass degradation, pollution and poverty, Bhutan is making sincere efforts to check the emergence of these problems. Representing one of the best and last chances for the conservation of biological diversity in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is committed to protecting and preserving this last area of rich biodiversity for all generations to come.

Culture and traditions in Bhutan play very important roles in preserving the status of the pristine environment. Bhutan’s unique cultural and traditional values, highly valued in them by all the populations, are also essential embodiments of the nation’s identity. For a small country located between the two most populated countries of the world and with no military might or economic strength, the preservation and promotion of its distinct cultural identity is seen as an independent and sovereign kingdom. It was this identity that has protected and sustained Bhutan and also provided the foundation for its major policies.

While seeking to develop the kingdom in order to improve the living standard of the people, his majesty the King has made determined efforts to promote its rich spiritual and cultural heritage so that values and customs, which have given strength and resilience to Bhutan through the ages, are not eroded in the process of modernization. As Buddhist philosophers say, ”culture lies not in the mind and compassion towards all sentient beings.

Previous | Top >