NEWSLETTER A bi-monthly publication of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forests RNRVol. XXXII Issue No. 146 www.moaf.gov.bt September - October 2012 Inside Yet another rare butterfly.... Ugyen Tshering/ICS Barking Deer safely Division (WCD) and Relocated Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) forestry staff. According to the news release issued by WCD, the team was in Bumdeling this July, undertaking some research works on pupa of Deer enters human domain Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory after being chased by dogs when they sighted the Bhutan Tree Brown in the Pg 4 area. “It was a mere chance sighting,” said WCD’s forest officer, Sonam Wangdi who Thinley Dorji out for hunting Buddha captured the photo of the rare Mushroom butterfly. He believes that the Bhutan Tree Brown Bhutan Tree Brown might be very rare in Bhutan. This Thimphu, 22 August: Just Bhutan Tree Brown with is ascribed to the fact that after the rediscovery of its scientific name, Lethe it was not sighted last year Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory three margaritae, of Lepidoptera, when so many researchers years ago, which went all the Nymphalidae family was were in the area. “Last year, way to earn the designation rediscovered by a team we literally combed the of National Butterfly of researchers from the whole forest in search of of Bhutan, yet another Butterfly Society of Japan the early stages of Ludlow’s Illustration of people hunting rare butterfly has been (BSJ), Ugyen Wangchuck for mushroom Bhutan Swallowtail and rediscovered in Bumdeling Institute for Conservation still this butterfly was not Pg 6 Wildlife Sanctuary on 26 and Environment (UWICE), sighted.” July this year. Wildlife Conservation Contd. on page 2 2nd phase of RGoB- International Year of Cooperatives HSI joint project Tandin Dorji /ICS Communities towards Gross The acting Prime Minister, National Happiness. Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba Thimphu, 8 October : With Cooperative movement who graced the event as cooperatives playing a vital although existed in Bhutan the Chief Guest shared that role in the socio-economic since early 1960s especially much development has been development of a nation, in the agriculture sector, the achieved in the agriculture the year 2012, is observed formal movement began and livestock sector but as the International Year of with the implementation of organising cooperatives Cooperatives all over the the Cooperative act in 2009 in the non-agricultural world. Bhutan joined the and the establishment of the sector is yet to make any other nations to observe Department of Agriculture gate way. He requested the Launching of the Project the event by hosting a three Marketing and Cooperatives. participants especially the day international seminar Bhutan, as of now has 16 Bhutanese cooperatives Pg 13 on the theme Cooperatives: cooperatives and 100 plus to take advantage of the Empowering Rural registered farmers group. Contd. on page 2 2 September - October 2012 RNR NEWSLETTER International Year of Cooperatives Contd. from page 1 which will nurture in other countries, to United Nation Development democracy at the grassroots develop new relationship Programme, SNV forum, and learn from the level which ultimately aid to and partnership with Netherlands Development experiences shared by the a functional democracy at the the institutions from the Organisation, International experts participating from national level. participating nations and Fund for Agricultural other countries. ”Cooperatives group have to further promote the Development and Bhutan Speaking on the theme, helped farmer’s, particularly development of cooperatives Development Bank Ltd. Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema small farmers improve in Bhutan among all relevant Cooperatives is an Gyamtsho shared that their lives and that of the stakeholders. association of likeminded Bhutan’s philosophy of communities,” said the About 140 participants persons group united GNH and the international United Nations Development including 26 international voluntarily to meet their theme for cooperatives Programme Resident participants from China, common economic, social, towards building a better Representative, Claire Van India, Thailand, Bangladesh, and cultural needs and world confirms the global der Vaeren. Japan and Nepal are aspirations through a acknowledgment of the The seminar expects to attending the seminar. The jointly-owned enterprise. important contribution the raise awareness on the seminar will touch upon Cooperatives promote cooperatives are making importance and benefit of topics such as cooperatives pooling of resource in to the socio-economic cooperatives and to generat and its role in socio- order to reduce cost of development and ultimately valuable set of conclusions economic development and production and enhancing to human development that might be useful for the Policies, law and regulations bargaining power of that is happiness. He also development and promotion conducive for the formation marginal individuals and shared that Cooperatives of cooperatives elsewhere. and development of share the profits equally, development will strengthen The seminar also creates a cooperatives. can lead to improvement in the social unity and harmony platform to share and learn The event was made the living standards of the amongst the communities of cooperative movement possible with support from communities. Yet another rare butterfly.... Contd. from page 1 it is not a new species, it is rare” by some Japanese are believed to be found in a record for Bhutan after a researchers. small pockets in certain areas long absence. “It actually This species is thought to just like Ludlow’s Bhutan Sonam Wangdi in the news elevates importance of occur in primary forest at Glory, they have found release also mentioned that biological diversity in 1,500-2,500 metres above similar habitats in other parts this chance sighting makes Bhutan despite being a very sea level and perhaps “one- of the country. “Just now it a very important record small country.” brooded” meaning it occurs our studies is confined only for the purpose of butterfly Literature review done only once in a year, during in that area,” he said adding conservation and could prove by experts indicated June to August. No study on that there may or may not be to be a good reason for its that Bhutan Tree Brown its early stages have been possibilities of finding them inclusion in the Schedule List was first discovered by done so far. in other areas. of Butterflies in Forest and Elwes, way back in 1882 WCD’s chief when asked Butterflies are also said Nature Conservation Act of elsewhere. However, it was what type of conservation to be an indicator of how Bhutan as works are ongoing first recorded in Bhutan in efforts would now be put in healthy and functional the for revision of Schedule list. the 1930s by some British place, said especially when ecosystem is. This is because WCD’s Chief Forestry explorers which must be the biodiversity conservation they depend on a particular Officer, Sonam Wangchuk same time when Ludlow’s was carried out, one of the habitat which means they when asked for his take on Bhutan Glory was discovered priority activity is to look at are considered to be more such a rediscovery shared for the first time. endemism. “But we need to habitat specialist requiring that Bhutan remains largely This butterfly was recorded do little bit of ground work one particular set of habitat pristine and unexplored from as a rediscovery last year to source out where this component to thrive on. the inaccessibility point of in India by the Foundation species was first described Thus, the butterfly has view. He said, “However, of Indian Butterflies when from.” This, he said, is been put by the ecosystem with works such as the it was recorded in Northern because literature says that analyser as an indication of biodiversity assessment part of Sikkim in 2011. The the butterfly is endemic to healthy ecosystem. being done, it is providing us species was also recorded for Bhutan, Sikkim and Northern Whatever, Bhutan Tree an opportunity to find new the first time from Kachin Myanmar. Brown remains as the latest documentation.” state in Northern Myanmar WCD’s chief also said entrance in the Butterflies of He also said that although where it is recorded as “very although such rare butterflies Bhutan. RNR NEWSLETTER September - October 2012 3 6th Management Committee Meeting of Centenary Farmers’ Market held Tshering Doma/ICS The meeting introduced installation among others. to work closely with the the newly appointed vendor’s Besides, the meeting also management team to enhance Thimphu, October 4: The representative, Ap Dhendup discussed the internal audit the agriculture production 6th management committee to the management members. report on CFM and approved and market promotion for meeting of the Centenary The vendor’s representative the proposed budget for vendors. Farmers’ Market (CFM) is elected annually who will 2012-2013. According to Kaling Dorji, was held at the ministry’s act as a bridge between the During the meeting, the focal officer of CFM, conference hall under the management and vendors. Lyonpo expressed his there is 418 stalls at present chairmanship of Hon’ble The meeting also highlighted appreciation for the and they have 24 staff to Lyonpo, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, its annual progress such as concerted efforts of CFM manage the CFM efficiently. Minister for Agriculture and the operation of CFM for six management for setting He added that the CFM is Forests. Also present were days a week (Wednesday to up