BHUTAN National Action Program to Combat Land Degradation Final Draft, October 2009 Prepared with support from the United Nations Development Program and the Global Environment Facility 1 Table of Contents Administrative Map of Bhutan .............................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... viii Part A: Introduction and Country Context 1. Overview of the UNCCD .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 The Conception of UNCCD ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Objectives of UNCCD ........................................................................................... 2 2. NAP in the Bhutanese Context ........................................................................................ 2 2.1 The Rationale for NAP ................................................................................................ 2 2.2 The Importance of Combating Land Degradation ................................................................ 3 2.3 The Process of NAP Preparation .................................................................................... 4 3. Country Overview ....................................................................................................... 5 3.1 General Settings ........................................................................................................ 5 3.1.1 Geo-political Situation ...................................................................................... 5 3.1.2 Physiography .................................................................................................. 6 3.1.3 Climate ........................................................................................................ 6 3.1.4 Geology ........................................................................................................ 6 3.1.5 Demography .................................................................................................. 7 3.1.6 Economy ....................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Environmental Settings ................................................................................................ 8 3.2.1 Land Use and Cover ......................................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Water Resources ............................................................................................. 9 3.2.3 Biological Diversity ........................................................................................ 10 Part B: Existing Conditions for Combating Land Degradation in Bhutan 4. Policy and Legal Framework ......................................................................................... 12 4.1 Overall Development Policy Context ............................................................................ 12 4.1.1 Gross National Happiness Philosophy and Bhutan 2020 ............................................ 12 4.1.2 Environmental Conservation as a Constitutional Mandate ......................................... 13 4.2 Existing Policies and Strategies .................................................................................... 13 4.2.1 National Forest Policy ..................................................................................... 13 4.2.2 National Environment Strategy ......................................................................... 14 4.2.3 Bhutan Water Policy ...................................................................................... 14 4.2.4 National Urbanization Strategy .......................................................................... 15 4.2.5 Bhutan Sustainable Hydropower Development Policy .............................................. 15 4.2.6 National Disaster Risk Management Framework .................................................... 15 i 4.2.7 Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan .................................................................... 16 4.2.8 National Adaptation Program of Action for Climate Change ...................................... 16 4.3 Existing Legislations and Supporting Regulations .............................................................. 16 4.3.1 Forest and Nature Conservation Act 1995 ............................................................ 16 4.3.2 Mines and Mineral Management Act 1995 ............................................................ 17 4.3.3 Environmental Assessment Act 2000 .................................................................. 17 4.3.4 Road Act of Bhutan 2004 ................................................................................. 19 4.3.5 National Environmental Protection Act 2007 ........................................................ 19 4.3.6 Land Act of Bhutan 2007 ................................................................................. 20 4.3.7 Local Governments Act 2009 ........................................................................... 20 4.3.8 Waste Prevention and Management Act 2009 ....................................................... 21 5. Current Institutional Set-up .......................................................................................... 21 5.1 Central Government Agencies ..................................................................................... 21 5.1.1 Ministry of Agriculture ................................................................................... 21 5.1.2 Ministry of Economic Affairs ............................................................................ 22 5.1.3 Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs ................................................................. 23 5.1.4 Ministry of Works and Human Settlement ............................................................ 23 5.1.5 National Environment Commission .................................................................... 24 5.1.6 National Land Commission .............................................................................. 24 5.1.7 Gross National Happiness Commission ................................................................ 24 5.2 Dzongkhag and Geog Institutions ................................................................................. 25 5.2.1 Dzongkhag Institutions .................................................................................... 25 5.2.2 Geog Institutions ........................................................................................... 25 5.3 Non-Government Organizations/ Autonomous Agencies .................................................... 26 5.3.1 Royal Society for the Protection of Nature ........................................................... 26 5.3.2 Târâyana Foundation ...................................................................................... 26 5.3.3 Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation ................................................ 26 5.4 Corporations .......................................................................................................... 26 5.4.1 Druk Holding and Investments .......................................................................... 26 5.4.2 City Corporations .......................................................................................... 27 5.5 Institutes/ Colleges .................................................................................................. 27 5.5.1 College of Natural Resources ............................................................................ 27 5.5.2 Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment ................................. 27 5.5.3 Royal Development Training Center .................................................................. 28 5.5.4 Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic .............................................................................. 28 5.5.5 College of Science and Technology ..................................................................... 28 5.6 External Development Partners ................................................................................... 28 5.6.1 Asian Development Bank ................................................................................. 28 5.6.2 Austrian Government ..................................................................................... 28 5.6.3 Danish International Development Agency ........................................................... 28 5.6.4 European Community .................................................................................... 29 ii 5.6.5 Global Environment Facility ............................................................................. 29 5.6.6 Government of India ...................................................................................... 29 5.6.7 Helvetas ...................................................................................................... 29 5.6.8 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development ...................................... 29 5.6.9 Japan International Cooperation Agency .............................................................. 30 5.6.10 Netherlands Development Organization ............................................................. 30 5.6.11 United Nations Agencies ................................................................................ 30 5.6.12