NEWSLETTER A bi-monthly publication of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forests RNRVol. XXXII Issue No. 145 www.moaf.gov.bt July-August 2012 Inside Bhutan’s flora diversity richer by one 3rd Council Meeting more plant for RNR Research Ugyen Tshering/ICS Photo by Choki Gyeltshen, NBC Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS), National biodiversity Centre (NBC), Wildlife Conservation Division (WCD), and two visiting scientist Stig Launching of the English–Dzongkha bi- Dalstrom and lingual dictionary of RNR Thomas Hoeijer terminologies by the Hon'ble during their recent Minister, MoAF orchid expedition Pg 4 in Merak and Sakteng. Stig Dalstrom Street Theatre Show/ is a botanical Drama on Food Safety illustrator, an experienced orchid The new record of Bulbophyllum species taxonomist while Thomas Thimphu, 20 June 2012: encountered in Sakteng Hoeijer works at The Earlier this month, the record Wildlife Sanctuary. Bergius Botanical garden, of Barn Owl entered the The new record of Stockholm. His interest is in ornithological database of Bulbophyllum species a tropical plants with a focus Bhutan as new species of new Orchid plant never on orchids and aroids. bird in the country. Now recorded in the Country According to Ngawang couple of weeks later, it is was chanced upon by Gyeltshen of the biodiversity section of WCD, the Artist performing at the yet another entry with new 7-member team consisting of Clock Tower, Thimphu record of Orchid species representative from Sakteng epiphytic Bulbophyllum was Contd. on page 2 Pg 6 Second RNR Off-site Meeting Trapped wild boar rescued Ugyen Tshering/ICS discuss and finalise the zero address, His Excellency said draft 11th plan of the RNR that when planning for the Paro,12-13: The second sector for submission to the 11th FYP, we should come annual RNR Off-site Gross National Happiness up with clear strategies meeting attended by Commission and to discuss in terms of how, where Hon’ble Lyonpo, Dasho key and emerging policies and when the plan would Secretary and all heads of and strategies. be executed. Lyonpo also departments and agencies The two-day Off-site informed that the government with representation from meeting was chaired by had already decided the all the key decision makers Trapped Wild Boar the Hon’ble Minister for theme for the 11th FYP to be was held successfully at Agriculture and Forests, “Rural prosperity and urban Pg 13 Hotel Zhiwaling in Paro. Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema wellbeing.” The meeting was held to Gyamtsho. In his opening Contd. on page 2 2 July-August 2012 RNR NEWSLETTER Bhutan’s flora diversity richer by one more plant Contd. from page 1 Orchids of Bhutan by Dr. remains largely unexplored gradient. Field data were D.B Gurung, College of and those areas especially collected using Trimble sighted at 27ᵒ23’ 55.847’N Natural Resources, Bhutan inaccessible to human are Juno SC handled GPS using and 91ᵒ48’00.518’E at an was done. yet to be explored for high data dictionary with basic altitude of 1792masl. The But as of now, the team significance biodiversity,” He information of the site and sighting was made in the could only determine the said. “WCD will place strong the species. warm broadleaved forests genera of the orchid as focus in 11th FYP in new The same orchid survey inside the designated orchid Bulbophyllum. When asked species documentation.” team also accompanied the trail. The location in which what will be done further, The orchid survey in SWS Biological Corridor team the new sighting was made Ngawang responded, “We’ll was carried out beginning and trekked from Nahi is also part of Jonkhar be doing further expert 23 May this year basically in Wangduephodrang till Community Forests. determination which will as part of Biodiversity Dochula in Thimphu. Live “We could instantly help us pinpoint the species inventory for enhancing samples and herbarium of determine in the field itself of the new orchid.” He went orchid conservation in the the undetermined species that it was a new record,” on to say that because of lack sanctuary. The park so far during the exploration Ngawang said adding of such data, the distribution has recorded 55 species of was collected to grow in that it was done with the of this particular orchid in Orchids prevalent in their Royal Botanical garden two experts in the team. the world is unknown. jurisdiction. It increased to and National Herbarium at However, further literature WCD Chief Forestry 68 species with addition of Serbithang for identification review of referring to Officer, Sonam Wangchuk 13 more species from the and preservation. Orchids of Bhutan by N.R. said that there are many orchid exploration survey. So far, Bhutan has Pearce and P.J. Cribb, Royal opportunities for recording The team used existing recorded approximately 370 Botanical garden, Edinburgh, of new species of both foot trail as transect line species of Orchid excluding UK published in 2002 flora and fauna species in without defined interval the one recently documented and another publication of the country. “Bhutan still along the altitudinal by the team. Second RNR Off-site Meeting Photo by Choidup Zangpo, ICS Hon’ble Lyonpo, Dasho Secretary and heads of departments and agencies Contd. from page 1 of their individual eleventh In the recent past, RNR that not only concerns the His Excellency added five year plan. After each sector has made tremendous Ministry but also reflects that the RNR sector presentation, the discussion progress towards fulfilling the interest, expertise and primarily responsible for was held whereby the house these mandates. experiences. The initiatives rural development will commented and suggested The second RNR off-site will be given the renewed have to take on a heavier on the plan in order to make meeting has been convened impetus to help RNR sector responsibility. “So, we have it better. at a critical stage when the realise its objectives and goal to come up with new and Ministry reviews the past in the next FYP. innovative ways of dealing According to the press 10thplan and at the same Organised by the Policy with challenges,” he said. release by the Policy and time conceptualises the new and Planning Division of the During the next two days Planning Division (PPD), the 11th plan for the sector. Ministry, the second RNR of the meeting, different RNR sector is mandated to In the 11th plan, the press Off-site meeting was held departments and agencies help alleviate rural poverty, release mentions that the in Hotel Zhiwaling in Paro under the Ministry of ensure food and nutrition Ministry of Agriculture and just as the first RNR Off-site Agriculture and Forests security and contribute to Forests (MoAF) is taking on meeting which was held presented on their zero draft sustainable rural livelihood. board a number of initiatives from 9-10 June last year. RNR NEWSLETTER July-August 2012 3 Bhutan’s first Woman Dzongdag Ngawang Pem, the Chief officer in Home Ministry’s Photo by Choidup Zangpo, ICS Human Resource Officer of administration and finance the Ministry of Agriculture division. From 1995 – 1997 and Forests has been she has undergone Indian appointed as the Dzongdag Administrative Service (governor) of Tsirang course (IAS) at Lal Bahadur Dzongkhag, making her the Shastri National Academy of first woman Dzongdag in the Administration (LBSNAA) country. in Mussoorie, India. She She received her completed her Master’s of appointment from Public Policy (Development His Majesty on the Administration) from recommendation of the Australian National Prime Minister, Lyonchhen University (ANU), Canberra Jigmi Y. Thinley, based on in 2006. On returning in nominations of the Royal 2006, she served as the Chief Civil Service Commission Human Resource Officer in as per Article 2, section 19 the Ministry of Home and (q) of the Constitution of the Cultural Affairs for four Kingdom of Bhutan. years. In July 2010 she was From Kanglung in transferred to the Ministry of Trashigang, Ngawang Pem Agriculture and Forests and graduated from Sherubtse served as the Chief Human College with a Bachelor of Resource Officer prior to Arts degree in 1993. She her present appointment as joined the civil service in Dzongdag. February 1994 as a trainee Ngawang Pem, Dzongdag, Tsirang Bhutanese student bags Medal of Academic Honour Ugyen Tshering/ICS with 79.22% and also won Nepal and Vietnam who are a total of six Bhutanese the proficiency certificate pursuing undergraduate as students studying,” Nima Nima Norbu a Livestock award in the academic year well as masters’ degrees in Norbu said in his email personnel has received 2004. Upon completion of other faculties. Besides, the response. a Medal for Academic his training from there, he university also has students The medal was awarded Honours from Maejo had served under Chukha from China, Taiwan and by university president University in Thailand for Dzongkhag in remote places Indonesia who are there commemorating Teacher’s excelling in his studies in the like Lokchina, Dungna and for internship program or Day on 28 June 2012. undergraduate program by Darla in the interest of the under the student exchange According to him, he says topping GPA (Grand Average public and nation. During program. that hard work never betrays Point) 3.54 in his major of his 7 years tenure as an When asked about the and receiving such an award studies in the academic year extension agent, he had number of Bhutanese always encourages him to 2011-2012. initiated many livestock students in the university, take extra pains in working Nima, who used to activities benefitting farmers “With two more in other hard. be working under the in cash income generation. faculties, the university has Department of Livestock, In an email interview, Ministry of Agriculture and Nima Norbu said he availed Forests, is undergoing a a consumer loan from the Passion fruit seedlings for sale Bachelors degree in Animal Bank of Bhutan to upgrade Science majoring in Dairy himself.