Foreword ith every passing day, anthropogenic pressure on the ecological resources Wof our planet is mounting. There are currently an estimated 7 billion people and our era is termed the anthropocene. Across the globe, eff orts are underway to stem this crisis. We believe that the Institute for Conservation and Environment here in the heart of the Himalayas is one of ’s signifi cant initiatives to answer this call to action.

Over the last year and a half, we have made considerable progress. In addition to providing a wide range of trainings to fi eld staff in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and outside, we have also made signifi cant strides in our research eff orts. We have found that the Black-necked cranes feature as one of the highest fl ying birds on our planet. We have tagged the national animal – the Takin – to understand its migratory routes. We have also mapped the distribution of the national tree (the Tsendhen) and assessed timber availability in the country. And we have plans to launch a citizen science monitoring program to track biological and physical rhythms in relation to climate change. We plan to call it HEROES: Himalayan, Environmental Rhythms Observation and Evaluation System. Such a system will underpin the development of eff ective climate resilient strategies by helping understand climate change bett er.

In the region, under the leadership of His Excellency the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Forests, we successfully convened the Bhutan Climate Summit for A Living Himalayas in November 2011. The implementation of the outcomes from the Summit will ensure that collaborative actions within the region will help communities adapt successfully to climate change.

1 uwice We have expanded our linkages to include partners both in the region and abroad. The prospect of working with these renowned institutions to build capacity and contribute to knowledge generation is exciting. We believe that we are in a secure position to develop into a unique center of learning and progressive thinking in the region.

Most of the required infrastructures are in place at the Institute. As such, we have plans to expand our training programs to students outside Bhutan.

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment continues to demonstrate the relevance and value of science and capacity building to help address environmental concerns. We remain the benefi ciaries of continued guidance from the Minister and Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and the Director of Forests and Park Services.

Given the support of our leaders and of our partners, we remain confi dent of playing a vital role in ensuring an environmentally sustainable future for Bhutan and the region.

Nawang Norbu Director (Offi ciating)

2 uwice His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen visited the Institute on 31 July 2012 3 uwice HIGHLIGHTS AND DISCOVERIES: The impacts of Cordyceps collection: Crossing the Himalayas: The Flight of the Cranes • Garbage may despoil some of the last pristine alpine ecosystems in the Himalayas • Black-necked cranes from Phobjikha summer in Kangmar county, Shigatse province, China • A flight of < 3hrs reaches them to China from Bhutan • At 6181 masl Black-necked cranes are amongst the highest flying birds

Identifying the Migratory Routes of the Takin: • 4 Takins tagged with GPS collars • Help in defining corridors more precisely

The distribution of the national tree (Tsendhen) in Bhutan: • A few of the last natural stands outside Protected Areas >> Unidentified butterflies and moths

4 uwice >> High Fliers: Cranes Crossing the Himalayas

5 uwice ONGOING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: • Snow cover changes in the Himalayas • Understanding water scarcity in Bhutan (with the NEC) • Altitudinal migration of the Bhutan Takin • Trans-boundary migration of Black-necked cranes • Ecology and distribution of Bhutan’s national butt erfl y • Ecological signifi cance of high altitude wetlands • Transhumance patt erns: Documenting change in nomadic communities of Merak and Sakteng • Documentation of traditional use of plants • Understanding the cryptic Tibetan Wolf: Impact on high altitude ecosystems and livelihoods • Multi-temporal mapping and analysis of wetlands in >> Researchers sampling a high altitude lake Phobjikha valley

>> Distribution of Tsendhen in Bhutan >> Next to the largest Tsendhen at Pangri Zampa,

6 uwice TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS/CONFERENCES:

In addition to providing the one-year certificate course in Conservation, Environment and Forestry Studies, we successfully organised 20 events over the past year and a half.

>> Researchers sampling a high altitude lake Events (April 2011 – December 2012) Number of Events

• International Conferences 2 • National Professional Trainings 16 • National Meetings 2

>> Next to the largest Tsendhen at Pangri Zampa, Thimphu >> A female operator learns how to use a chainsaw

7 uwice National Trainings for Bhutanese Professionals • Fire Fighting (18 – 23 April 2011) National Meetings • Refresher Power Chainsaw (25 – 27 April 2011) National Stakeholder Consultative Meeting (4 – 6 April 2012) • Basic Forest Research Skills (15 – 22 May 2011) • Wildlife Survey Techniques (12 – 17 June 2011) A 3-day National Stakeholder Consultative Meeting was held at UWICE. The meeting was inaugurated by Honourable • Natural Sound Recording (3 June 2011) Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Dasho Sherub • GPS and GIS (5 – 11 September 2011) Gyaltshen, and attended by partner organizations. • Dendrochronology (30 October – 6November 2011) • Nursery Management (7 – 12 November 2011) • GIS and GPS for Auditors (5 – 9 December 2011) National Stakeholder Workshop for the 2014 International • Wildlife Health (30 November – 6 December 2011) Congress of Ethnobiology (25 October 2012) • Low-impact Logging (1 – 30 April 2012) The stakeholder workshop chaired by the Honourable • Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment (6 – 13 May 2012) Director, Department of Forests and Park Services was one of • Wildlife Survey (27 May – 6 June 2012) the pre congress activities that will lead to the International • Basic Social Research Method (5 – 11 March 2012 and Congress of Ethnobiology in 2014. The Institute was selected 10- 19 September 2012) as the host organization for the 2014 International Congress of Ethnobiology during the 2010 ISE congress held at Tofino, Canada. The ISE congress is held every two years to promote Certificate Course in Conservation, Environment and Forests ethno-biology and bio-cultural diversity.

The 4th batch Certificate Course in Conservation, Environment and Forestry Studies comprising 30 students graduated on 22 June 2012. The Director General, Department of Forest and Park Services, Dasho Karma Drukpa, was the Chief Guest of the event.

8 uwice International Events:

International Climate and Society Conference (11 November 2011) Bhutan Ride for Climate (1-15 July 2011)

This one-day conference was organized by UWICE in As a lead up to the Bhutan Climate Summit 2011, twenty collaboration with the Earth Institute of Columbia University, five youth from the region and the US rode from Bumthang USA, at the Nazhoen Pelri Complex in Thimphu. HRH Ashi to Thimphu to understand and raise awareness on climate Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck graced the inaugural session change. of the conference. A series of talks was given by a group of International and National experts on climate change. A total of 60 participants, including 15 International and Regional Bhutan Climate Summit For a Living Himalayas (17 – 19 participants attended the conference. November 2011)

The Summit brought together leaders and experts from the four eastern Himalayan countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. A ‘framework of cooperation’ document was agreed through a Summit Declaration adopted on the 19th of November 2011.

>> Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck with bike ride participants

9 uwice The 2nd Jigme Singye Wangchuck Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award Conferred (5 June 2012):

>> Her Royal Highness Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck conferring >> Her Royal Highness Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck the award on Mr. Raling Nawang Drukdra conferring the award on Ms. Rebecca Pradhan

oinciding with World Environment Day on 5th June Ngawang Drukdra. Rebecca Pradhan is a plant ecologist C2012, Her Royal Highness, Ashi Chimi Yangzom who works for the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature Wangchuck, conferred the second Jigme Singye Wangchuck (RSPN) and Raling Ngawang Drukdra is a specialist working Outstanding Environmental Stewardship Award (www. in the Department of Forests and Park Services. jsw-oesa.bt) upon Ms. Rebecca Pradhan and Mr. Raling

10 uwice INSTITuTIONAL STRENGTHENING: EXTENDING PARTNERSHIPS: Organization structure approved by the Royal Civil Service AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO Commission With the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan (07 May 2012)

• UWICE and the College of Natural Resources signed a MoU for the implementation of a joint 2 years Forestry Degree Program as part of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Center for South Asia Forestry Studies under UWICE.

With the Max-Planck Institute (29 July 2011)

• Under this agreement, joint research will be pursued to bett er understand high-altitude ecology, particularly focusing on altitudinal migrations. The MoU was signed by Mr. Nawang Norbu and Dr. Martin Wikelski (Director of MPIO) in the presence of His Excellency, Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Forests.

With the School for Field Studies, USA (12 November 2011)

• To promote joint research and on-the-ground learning by Bhutanese and USA students.

11 uwice >> Provost Perry Brown and Mr. Nawang Norbu signing the Letter of >> Professor Martin Wikelski and Mr. Nawang Norbu exchanging Intent the MoU in the presence of His Excellency Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho

With the University of Montana, USA (27 April 2012) With the Earth Institute, Columbia University, USA (24 September 2010) • A ‘Letter of Intent’ was signed between the Director of UWICE, Mr. Nawang Norbu, and the Provost of • To facilitate joint research, student and faculty the University of Montana, Dr. Perry Brown. The exchange document outlined areas of cooperation for a five- year time period (2012 – 2016). Amongst others, it With the ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated was agreed that both Institutions will work towards Mountain Development) [25 March 2010] starting a joint MSc program in Himalayan Ecology and Environment in the near future. The Letter of • To facilitate joint research, policy dialogue, education, Intent was signed within the framework of a MoU training and knowledge sharing signed between the Institutions on 19th July 2011.

12 uwice DISTINGUISHED VISITS: • Major General V. K. Pillai, IMTRAT (26 July 2011) His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen (31 July • Professor Martin Wikelski, Director, Max-Planck 2012) Institute for Ornithology, Germany (30 July 2011) • Dr. Bruce Bunting, President, The Bhutan Foundation National (8 November 2012) • Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Sherub Gyaltshen (4 April 2012) • Chief of Operations, Royal Bhutan Army, Goongloen Scientist of Campus Batoo Tshering (20 June 2012) Dr. Ellen Cheng, a graduate from the University of Montana, • Secretary, Dzongkhag Development Commission, USA, is helping UWICE with its conservation biology Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen (28 June 2012) program. • Executive Director, Bhutan Foundation, Mr. Tshewang R. Wanghuck (9 July 2012) • Director, Department of Forests and Park Services, PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA PRODUCTS: Mr. Chencho Norbu (26 August 2012) • Field Guide to the Swallowtails of Bhutan • Special Advisor, National Environment Commission, Dasho Paljor J Dorji (12 September 2012) • Procedures for Implementing Small Mammal Inventories in Bhutan • Secretary, Dzongkhag Development Commission, Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen (28 June 2012) • Community Forestry in Bhutan: Putting People at the Heart of Poverty Reduction • The Bird Songs of Bhutan (DVD) International • In Search of Sacred Giants: A Documentary on the Tsendhen in Bhutan • Dr. Perry Brown, Provost, University of Montana (20 July 2011)

13 uwice COMPLETED INFRASTRUCTURE:

• Dzong renovation • Dzong inner courtyard temple with Amitaba Buddha statue • Exchange scientist living quarters [2 units]

>> The inner courtyard lhakang within the dzong

14 uwice PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS:

>> The inner courtyard lhakang within the dzong

15 uwice >> Community based monitoring of environmental change

16 uwice