Bio-diversity

The project will benefit local people of Dagala, a remote geog under Thimphu Dzongkhag. Owing to its alpine ecosystems and transhumant pastoralists, the area serves as a rich reservoir of Bhutanese highland bio-cultural diversity. The geog does not have access to motorable roads and electricity. The natural environment houses some extraordinary alpine biodiversity including the Blue Poppy and many medicinal plants and wild flowers. Mammals prevalent in the area include Himalayan Black Bear, Wolf, Common Leopard, and Tiger. This is evident from frequent incidences of yak depredation by predators like leopard and tiger. The area is also home to rich avifauna including the Monal Pheasant. The area has numerous beautiful high altitude mountain lakes ranging from smaller ones to fairly big ones. It is a popular Trekking route for the tourists and popularly known as Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek. Many lakes are sacred with deep reverence to religious and mythical tales and hence the area is also a place of pilgrimage for many Bhutanese nationals. Yak herding is the main livelihood of the people. Total yak holdings ranges from 40 heads to over 200 heads, with an average holding of about 80 heads. The Dagala people lead semi-nomadic lives following typical transhumant migration systems. During the summer they congregate on the grazing grounds of Labatama and Watsachen, and disperse in three different directions during winter, to areas above Chapcha, Dagana and Chamgang/Dochula. There are about 44 households, 24 permanent houses at Geytala and Dungdro & 20 semi-permanent houses in Wangdro. Although a popular trek for both nationals and tourists, tourism does more harm than benefits to the local communities. While tourism does not bring any monetary benefits to the locals, the trekking crew, particularly the porters destroy the indispensable roofing materials and lift the precious fuelwood stored by the locals. Resource scarcity and long term sustainability is therefore a big issue. This project aims to explore alternative roofing & fuel wood through corrugated galvanized iron (CGI) sheets that will improve livelihoods of the Dagala communities as well as ensure resource conservation and sustainability. Furthermore, permanent roofing and alternative resource options will give locals more time to engage in other income generating activities like eco-tourism which is a huge potential for the area. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the local stewardship of Dagala s alpine ecosystems. Specifically the project aims at; - Reducing pressure on fir trees that are used as shingles for roofing - Reducing pressure on Rhododendron shrubs used for fuel wood - Ensure equitable sharing of benefits from ecosystem services such as tourism through community-based trail and campsite management

Bhutan