Environmental research

Chokyi Gyatsho Institute uses over 168 full grown trees as fuel wood for cooking causing huge biodiversity loss and damage to environment in addition to accelerating climate change through emission of green house gases. The continued use of fuel wood for cooking is unsustainable and will have immense negative effect on environment contradicting the national development philosophy of Gross National Happiness. The Forest Resources Potential Assessment 2004 (FRPA 2004) has forecasted a fairly balanced scenario of estimated demand-potential production of timber and fuel wood for the country as a whole from 2005 to 2014. However, major problem will be the spatial distribution on of wood production and demand in the country. FRPA 2004 suggests that dzongkhags in the eastern region and with high population density are likely to face wood deficits. Thimphu, Trashigang, Mongar, Trashi Yangste, Pemagatshel, and Samdrup Jongkhar dzongkhags are likely to be most affected by wood deficits. Therefore, there is concern that in the wood-deficit dzongkhags wood demand may be met from ad hoc sources. Extraction of wood from such sources could lead to unsustainable extraction of wood causing forest degradation and biodiversity loss. As highlighted in the Biodiversity Action Plan of Bhutan 2009, there is an urgent need to reduce unsustainable use of fuel wood by initiating other environment friendly energy sources for cooking in institutions like Chokyi Gyatsho Institute considering the massive use of fuel wood annually. Further, the project will take initiatives on organic vegetable production to improve nutrition intake of the monks and rain water harvesting to address water shortage and improve health and sanitation of institute and locality.

Bhutan