Bio-diversity

The project aimed to promote sustainable livelihood of Bongo Communities in Gedu, through plantation and scientific harvesting of native Edgeworthia and Mulberry and Daphne. The bark of these species are used for the production of Bhutanese handmade paper. The Bongo communities who are aware of the depletion of the above mentioned resources, planned to mitigate this problem and with the assistence from Jungshi Paper Company and the Dzongkhag RNR Sector developed the proposal. The main objective of the project was: 1. to preserve and promote sustainable livelihood through plantation of native edgeworthia and mulberry; 2. to create awareness on the plantation and scientific harvesting of the raw materials; 3. Conserve private tsheri land into more sustainable land use through plantations with native edgeworthia, mulberry and daphne; 4. reduce the harvesting of the mentioned species by 50%; 5. Increase the household income of participating farmers by 20% percent through sale of harvesting materials. The objectives were realized in the following aspects: 1. created awareness on the plantation and about scientific plantation. Therefore, more farmers got interested enough to join the membership and carry out the plantation. The site visit report states that the plantations have increased; 2. private tsheri land into more sustainable land use through plantations - nurseries were raised and the saplings have been transplanted in private lands. 3. Reduced the unnecessary harvesting from the local forest. Although some of the objectives were realized, the marketing aspect is questionable. The Jungshi Paper Company as indicated in the proposal as the`ready market` have not been able to place demand for the harvested materials to be used in their company. Therefore the 20% income of the participating farmers has not been realized. We are yet to see the result further after a few more years of time.

Bhutan