Bio-diversity

Many bamboo artisans during the 1976 migrated from Kheng Dogar to Norbuling, Pemaling and Tashi Phug villages under Gelephu Drungkhag (Sub-Division of a District). These people were used to making bamboo handicraft and continued their craft even after migrating to the new villages. The land is stony and not so fertile. The project will benefit 35 households in the three remote villages. Although the people have maintained the skill of making bamboo handicraft, they find it difficult to sustain their skills and production too is becoming difficult due to restriction of bamboo raw materials collection by the Forest Department. Secondly, the Yula and cane collection places are quite far and in difficult terrain. Thirdly, the bamboo and cane has become a very rare material in the nearby forests. While the main work is farming, the production of bamboo items are usually done during the morning and evening by the artisans to supplement their income. If the raw materials are easily available and improved tools facilitate and enhance the production there is a great potentiality for more production and the number of artisans in these villages will increase. Moreover, the youths who are unemployed currently have the potential to be engaged productively. Therefore, the Bangchung Tshogpa (BT) is a community-based organization (CBO) has been found very potential to resource the income generation of the villagers with reviving the bamboo handicraft products. The project will not only be limited to reviving the traditinal art but will also expand its capacity in terms of production, modern technology and improvise methods and skills. Project Objectives: The long term objective of the project is to conserve the local natural resource as well as revive and develop the age old traditional bamboo handicraft in enhancing the income generation thereby eradicating the poverty of the rural people. The immdiate objectives are: 1. To conserve the biodiversity of cane and bamboo; 2. To regenerate the depleting raw materials and harvesting them sustainably; 3. To revive the art of dying the handicraft products with plant dyes as was done traditionally; 4. To link biodiversity conservation to income generation; 5. To ease the burden on women in Yula collection from the forest; 6. To provide an opportunity for rural youths and retain them in the village itself if possible. Project Activities: 1. Plantation of Raw Materials; 2. Nursery Raising; 3. Plantation of Dye plants; 4. Fencing of Nursery and Plantation Area; 5. Awareness Workshop; 6. Formulation of a management plan; 7. Exchange Trip with Monpas; 8. Procurement of Tools; 9. Production of Handicraft; 10. Creation of Revolving Fund; 11. Construction of Store. The Nursery of Cane and Bamboo has been established. The regeneration of bamboo in nearby forests has not been successful due to insufficient knowledge of both forest officials and community people. They have been contemplating on whether the death of the rhizome is because of the lack of rain after the plantation or because the new shoots were already quite long. they have spoken to the people of Pangbang where plantations under similar climatic conditions have been successful, and the reason behind the death of the rhizomes could be the late plantation season, hence the community is planning to carry out plantation activities two weeks earlier than last year. The Forest Officials also are keen to help the communities with different techniques such as water basins around the roots of the bamboo rhizome etc. There is also a risk of loosing younger generation from the community due to urban development plan in Gelephu and other places. However, the youth member of Tshokpa expressed that the lack of skill for handicraft making was one of the main motivations to volunteer as the office bearer in the project. The products are not of high quality, however, with the use of better tools and exposure visits at the later stage of the project, the quality of the products may improve.

Bhutan