Bio-diversity

Farmer group existing in Tsamang geog covering the villages of Tsamang and Banjar have had consultative meetings with officials from Thrimshingla National Park. The park has been planning and implementing`Integrated Conservation and Development Programmes` for the last five years. There is sense of enthusiam from the community and an inherent sense of trust towards the park. The park is in a position to rally additional support and there is great opportunity for this grass root community organizations to be self sustaining. The park is currently implementing the LINKPA (Linking and Enhancing Protected Areas) project which is jointly funded by the UNDP GEF, WWF and RGoB. Over the last few years, the park has gained considerable experience in community mobilization, fostering partnerships and project management. The farmers of Tsamang and Banjar rely heavily on the nearby forests for their timber, grazing, energy and water needs. Fuelwood use is high due to lack of efficient cooking stoves. Changing Climate Change coupled with over grazing and high resource extraction has let to degradation of watersheds and subsequent drying up of water sources, affecting biodiversity as a whole. The project aims to address these problems by initiating community consultations, capacity building and implementation of relevant strategies through appropriate activities. The obective of the project is the following: 1. To conserve the biodiversity within the park; 2. To rehabilitate the watercatchment which has dried up; 3. To reduce fuelwood consumption by pilot testing the biogas technology. The project activities includes the following: 1. Community Consultations; 2. Farmers training on watershed management; 3. Plantation and restoration of degraded areas; 4. Drinking water supply restoration; 5. Farmers` training on livestock management; 6. Formation of Dairy Cooperative; 7. Promotion and installation of biogas plants; 8. Consultations between stakeholders. Progress Report: The following project activities were completed: 1. Community Consultations with Tsamang and Banjar village; 2. Farmers Training on livestock management; 3. Training on Book Keeping and Record keeping for the key project representatives; 4. Farmers Training on Group Concept Training and Formation of Farmers` Group (Dairy Cooperatives) 5. Farmers Study Tour. Problems and difficulties: Need various stakeholders and takes time in different stages of activities for the actual implementation of the project and extends beyond the project workplan. Request for revision in project duration or activities (if any). Yes, the TGT have requested for project duration and accordingly have amended the MOA and uploaded in the Database.

Bhutan