Biodiversity in Bhutan: a Preliminary Synthesis
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Biodiversity in Bhutan: A preliminary synthesis Andrew N. Gillison Center for Biodiversity Management P.O. Box 120, Yungaburra Queensland 4884, Australia Email: [email protected]; [email protected] www.cbmglobe.org 12 September 2012 Part I Introduction and background 1. Executive summary 1.1 Report structure This four-part report first reviews the status of biodiversity in Bhutan and its institutional linkages. As part of the input to a developing Dynamic Information Framework (DrukDIF) for Bhutan, the report then describes how rapid natural resource appraisal including land cover/land quality/land use and quantitative biodiversity assessments was undertaken in the prospective geogs and how this might be expanded to include protected and other areas. The remaining sections outline achievements in training and capacity building and the results of a biodiversity survey using state-of-the-art methodology along an extensive elevational and land use gradient throughout one of Bhutan’s major watersheds (the Wangchhu). For survey logistic and other, environmental reasons, results are presented in three ‘elevational’ sections (Part II ‘A’ 2600-4600m, Part III ‘B’ 1200- 3600m, Part IV ‘C’ 200-1200m). Tables summarizing data from all three surveys and analytical outcomes are to be provided in a separate report (Part V) to help esablish a systematic framework for further biodiversity assessment and conservation in Bhutan especially with respect to the the developing DrukDIF. Four technical reports previously completed for NSSC, DoA, MoA and supported by funding from DANIDA and the World Bank form much of the basis of the present synthesis report compiled independently by the Center for Biodiversity Management. 1.2 Bhutan as a global biodiversity ‘hot spot’. Bhutan is one of the top ten Global hotspots that include the ‘Himalayan’ hotspot. Although this report confirms high levels of biodiversity, systematic country-wide surveys are needed to fill obvious gaps. 1.3 Biodiversity, shifting cultivation, land degradation and sustainable land management (SLM) World Bank/GEF sponsored studies in other countries identify predictable linkages between biodiversity, soil fertility and land management practices. In Bhutan current land management is strongly crop-centred taking little account of broader interacting elements of the natural resource. It is assumed, for example, that shifting cultivation or tsheri is environmentally degrading. Although not rigidly enforced, Bhutanese law now precludes this practice. Preliminary results from this report and from other tropical and sub-tropical developing countries indicate that while tsheri can be potentially harmful, under appropriate management tsheri type land use can and often does improve levels of biodiversity. Thus removal of tsheri-based land use, may in certain cases contribute to an overall loss of biodiversity and species habitat. Similar concerns expressed by Bhutanese researchers, warrant a controlled study of biodiversity response to this form of land use. 1.4 Biological corridors and protected areas Bhutan has embarked on a visionary approach to establishing a connected network of habitat-based areas that will facilitate the free movement of key biota throughout the country. When finalised, such a network will enhance survival of biota under conditions of climate and land cover change. However, available reports suggest the location of corridor boundaries relies mainly on intuitive appraisal by experienced wildlife biologists. A review of selection criteria indicates that a more detailed science-based 1 approach is needed to locate boundaries based on a systematic national baseline survey that should also consider transboundary biodiversity conservation. 1.5 Transboundary biodiversity conservation initiatives Bhutan forms an integral part of the Eastern Himalayan biological complex in which range distributions of many key biota transcend national boundaries. Because effective, sustainable management of biota requires an understanding of their environmental determinants, management vision that extends beyond national boundaries would have a long term benefit. Within Bhutan, biodiversity management tends to be restricted to a national perspective despite a clear acceptance by Bhutanese practitioners of the potential benefits of transboundary management. At the time of writing, only WWF-Bhutan in concert with ICIMOD in Nepal, appears to be actively pursuing a ‘transboundary’ conservation line. A review of range distributions of key taxa, including the ‘flagship’ mammals, as well as certain sub-alpine and lowland plant assemblages, suggests a broader vision is indicated, supported by clearly defined inter-governmental policy intervention. 1.6 Institutional linkages and the Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan The primary institutional link is the Ministry of Agriculture that, together with a Biodiversity management Board (BMB), oversees biodiversity related research via the NCD, the NBC and the sustainable land management project (SLMP) within NSSC. Whereas initial activity in establishing a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and an Integrated Biodiversity Information System (BIBIS) was closely associated with NEC, this association now seems seems to have lapsed with NEC focusing increasingly on biosafety issues. Some rationalization of overlapping mandates in biodiversity conservation between NBC and NCD is indicated. Apart from NCD forest inventory, ongoing field botanical collections by NBC and ex-situ gene-banking, only two NGOs (RSPN and WWF-Bhutan) are actively concerned with biodiversity assessment and management beyond forest boundaries. 1.7 Need for systematic baseline information framework Sustainable management of both agro-biodiversity and naturally occurring taxa demands an understanding of the response of biota to varying environmental conditions. The most effective models of plant and animal response (including agricultural productivity) will be those with access to data and information acquired from the widest ranging environments. Unlike any other Asian country, Bhutan has access to vegetational gradients that span an extraordinary altitudinal range (150-5,500m) as well as an extensive hierarchy of drainage, geomorphological and land use systems that provide an unusually robust framework for acquiring key baseline data and information. With the exception of remotely sensed data, and current herbarium records, access to published biodiversity related data is extremely limited. There is a clear need for the systematized acquisition of new baseline data for biodiversity and related land management that can be readily accessed across sectors. 1.8 Methodology and training A standard (VegClass) recording protocol for rapid natural resource appraisal coupled with biophysical gradient-based sampling procedures was used to carry out a biodiversity 2 baseline survey along an elevational gradient (200-4600m) in one of Bhutan’s major watersheds - the Wangchhu. The well-established methodology has been applied successfully in both developed and developing countries and provides a unique set of biophysical data relevant to policy decision-making. The same methodology formed the basis for an intensive training course for 15 trainees from a range of Bhutanese institutions. The course was complemented by in-field training during the biodiversity survey of the Wangchhu watershed. 1.9 Biodiversity findings and related input to the DrukDIF In addition to vegetational atributes, the VegClass recording protocol includes physical environmental elements that are relevant to adaptive management supported by routine soil sampling and analyses at each baseline site. Integrated multidisciplinary surveys in other countries indicate potentially useful linkages between these kinds of data and hydrological models (VIC, DHSVM). While plant species alone provide limited possibilites for coupling with such models, vegetation structure and plant functional types (PFTs) offer useful prospects via their ecophysiological linkages with water use and physical interaction with the movement of water through a landscape. The field surveys were able to identify certain vegetation structural and soil-based elements that have the potential to complement both hydrological and crop modelling parameters. Through multiple, connected geospatial layers, the baseline data acquired from on ground surveys have provided a new and potentially useful platform in DrukDIF that will facilitate dissemination and exchange of science-based data as well as an improved information base for adaptive land management. Preliminary geospatial modelling based on the survey data highlight areas of actual and potential distribution of key species. 1.10 Conclusions While diversity is likely to remain high across Bhutan, improved management procedures combined with systematic country-wide baseline surveys will lead to a greatly improved understanding of key ecosystem drivers and contribute significantly to both national and international awareness of this rich resource. Conservation management will benefit from a more outward looking policy-driven, transboundary approach. Additional capacity building through training and direct involvement with the design and implementation of much needed baseline surveys will generate self- sufficiency. The outcomes from the field surveys have already established a significant biophysical database that, via DrukDIF, will facilitate the construction of a national database. The data and information acquired in