Environmental research

Jampani Shedra was established in 1993 by Lama Pema Ugyen Namdrol. The Shedra is located in Jampani village under Jomotshangkha Dungkhag, Samdrup Jongkhar district. Since its establishment, the Shedra has become important Buddhist institution providing good learning opportunities for those children who are not able to attend a formal education. The Shedra also caters to the religious needs of the Jampani village and the nearby communities under Jomotshangkha Dungkhag. It has currently 65 monks and 20 nuns. However, there is no formal support from the Government and everything is being managed by monks and the nuns themselves through various supports. One of the biggest problems of the Shedra is collecting firewood for cooking meals for the nuns and monks. The consumption of firewood has steadily increased over the years because of the increasing numbers of the monks and nuns. Burning huge amount of firewood has also posed environmental threats in terms of carbon emission. Currently, the Shedra consumes three truckloads of firewood in a month. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore alternative energy source of energy such as biogas technology and install fuel efficient stoves to reduce the carbon emission. Bamboos are widely grown in Jomotshangkha like in other part of southern Bhutan. However, there was a natural death of Bamboos in recent years due to some diseases. Today, bamboos have become very scarce resource and this has put additional pressures on forest. Bamboos are not only used for constructing houses, but it is used for other purposes such as prayer flagpoles. In order to revamp the bamboos, the Shedra proposes to plant locally grown bamboos in the Shedra s campus as well as in private lands, who are interested in bamboo plantation. The Shedra also proposes to plant teak, champ trees, pine and other local trees with an objective to reduce pressures on the community forests. Teak and champ are locally fast grown trees which have high economic value. Plantation of tress will also help the Shedra and the community members in generation additional incomes as well as promote sustainable use of community forest. The Shedra has 20 nuns as already mentioned above. Although the nuns have a dormitory, there is no proper toilet for them. In the absence of a proper toilet, nuns have a difficult time to maintain good hygiene. Through SGP project, the Shedra also proposes to protect Phakchu Lakes, which are also facing natural death due to fast encroachment to its catchment areas by human beings as well as due to global warming. Phakchu Lakes are very scared for the communities of Jomotshangkha and they are believed to be Jomo Ani Aunu s lakes. It is said that Jomo Ani Auni had 108 lakes located in Jomotshangkha region. But all of these lakes have been dried up over the years for reasons unknown to the local people. The two lakes at Phakcu are the only ones that have been survived. Besides, the historical importance, these lakes are main source of drinking water for the wild animals living with the big forests of Phakchu. The above project activities proposed under SGP will be implemented by Jampani Shedra involving the community members and other interested partners. Most of the project sites are located within the Shedra campus, except two Phakchu lakes, which are about three kilometers away from the Shedra.

Bhutan