ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF LAND DEGRADATION

1. Conservation, Rehabilitation and Sustainable Use of

Forest Resources
a) Forest Fire Management

Develop and implement community-based forest fire management

schemes targeting specific groups of local communities, such as lemon
grass oil producers and grazers. Review and rationalize existing forest
fire penalties to make them enforceable. Review and strengthen
institutional arrangements for networking, reporting and forest fire
suppression.
b) Sustainable Production and Utilization of Forest Resources
Develop and promote alternative fuels and construction materials to
reduce dependence on forest resources. Promote bio-digester (biogas)
at household level and stall feeding livestock for collection of manure.
This intervention would address two problems: reduction in fuel wood
consumption as well as uncontrolled grazing of livestock in forests.

c) Rehabilitation of Degraded and Barren Forest Lands

Assess the extent of degraded and barren forest lands, map these
areas, and prioritize them for reafforestation taking into consideration
a number of factors such as socio-economic benefits to the local
communities, ecological risks (both immediate and long-term) of not
rehabilitating the forest land, and contribution to global environmental
needs such as carbon sequestration and adaptation to climate change.
Re-afforest prioritized degraded and barren forest lands using species
and methods that are environmentally appropriate to local conditions.
d) Participatory Forest Management
Design and impart participatory training to develop community skills
for community and private forestry focusing on activities such as
community organization, conflict resolution, benefit-sharing and
community fund management. For the sustainability of the fastspreading community forestry program, it is very crucial to equip the
local communities with adequate technical and social skills to establish
and manage community forests.
e) Livestock and Grazing Management
Carry out carrying capacity studies and based on these, develop a
taxation scheme to discourage the rearing of livestock in excess of the
carrying capacity. Provide effective animal health coverage to give
livestock farmers the security to keep smaller but more productive
herds of livestock. Where overgrazing is a problem but livestock
rearing is the primary source of livelihood, develop and promote

improved pasture management and forage development. Concurrently,

promote alternative livelihoods that are environmentally sustainable.

2. Development and Promotion of Sustainable

Agricultural Practices
a) Integrated Soil Fertility Management
Develop toolkits for training of farmers on integrated soil fertility
management. The toolkits may include training handbook (for the
agriculture extension staff), posters, flipchart, video, pictorial manual
and other materials that may be necessary for farmer-friendly training.
Conduct farmer training on integrated soil fertility management in a
phased manner, first focusing on dzongkhags where use of inorganic
fertilizers is most excessive.
b) Sustainable Land Management for Steep Slope Agriculture
Conduct and complete land capability studies. Based on these studies,
develop agricultural land capability classification and formulate
management guidelines for agricultural land use as per land capability.
Mainstream SLM in RNR-Research programs and translate SLM research
results and recommendations into farmer-friendly extension materials
on SLM
c) Phasing Out of Tseri and Promotion of Suitable Alternatives
Depending on the resolutions of the parliament, carry out policy,
legislative and administrative reforms to phase-out tseri cultivation
and/or promote suitable alternatives which are more environmentally
sound and economically viable than tseri.
d) Integrated Pest Management
Building upon past work and with additional research, consolidate
integrated pest management technology integrating biological
measures and good crop management practices to control agricultural
pests and diseases. Discourage the use of pesticides that belong to
Class Ia (extremely hazardous), Class Ib (highly hazardous), and Class
II (moderately hazardous), and gradually phase them out if possible.
e) Improvement of Irrigation System Management
Review and revise existing irrigation development guidelines,
especially examining ways in which management of the tertiary
irrigation channels and tail sections of the irrigation channels can be
improved. Rectify existing irrigation schemes that have become highly
risky from the land degradation point of view.

3. Environmental Management of Development Activities

that pose Land Degradation Risks
a) Environment-friendly Road Construction
Make adoption of existing environmental codes of practices for road
construction mandatory for all types of roads by enhancing legal
provisions for EFRC in the Roads Act of Bhutan.

b) Sustainable Mining
In keeping with the Mines and Mineral Management Act 1995 and
Mines and Mineral Management Regulations 2002, ensure all existing
and new mining operations have mine plan, environmental
management plan, and mine restoration plan as per acceptable
standard stipulated by law, regulations and ECOP, and that these plans
are being effectively implemented.
c) Sustainable Urban Development
Decelerate the growth of Thimphu and Phuentsholing urban centers
and enhance environmental management of these centers, including
beautification of urban lands and development of public amenities for
recreation, drainage, sanitation, and waste disposal. Improve municipal
governance and strengthen municipal capacity to effectively manage
urban environments and deliver public services.
d) Solid Waste Management
Establish waste recycling hubs in major towns. In establishing such
hubs, examine the possibility of introducing models of communitybased entrepreneurship and public-private partnership for waste
management. Improve solid waste management by introducing a
system for waste segregation at source and adoption of proper landfill
management practices.

4. Strengthening of Systemic and Institutional Capacity

a) Policy and Legislation Development
Formulate a National Mining and Mineral Development Policy laying out
Bhutans fundamental position and principles for mining to ensure
equitable allocation and access to mineral resources, sustainable
management of non-renewable mineral resources, long-term
sustainability of mineral based industries, and mitigation of adverse
environmental impacts.
b) Strengthening Enforcement of Environmental Laws and
Regulations
Enforce the full range of procedures and processes for environmental
assessment and clearance on projects which inherently have very high
potential of adverse environmental impacts. These would essentially
include infrastructure development that involves use of heavy
machinery, industries and mines.
c) Institutional Development
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Department of Disaster
Management and Dzongkhag Administrations to effectively deal with
natural disasters.

5. Information, Advocacy and Education for Policy and

Public Support

Produce and broadcast a TV documentary series, highlighting land

degradation trends and issues in the country, to create increased public
awareness. Carry out a country-wide quantitative survey of land degradation
using Geographic Information System technology. This survey would need to
assess the nature, extent and scale of land degradation and generate
quantitative information to primarily inform decision-making, provide baseline
for monitoring land degradation trends, support awareness raising programs,
and aid planning of geographically-targeted actions to combat land
degradation.