Environmental policy and administrative management

Soe Gewog is one of the remote Gewogs under Thimphu Dzongkhag located in northwest of the country. The Gewog lies at the altitude of 3400meters to 6700 meters above the sea levels. The Gewog shares the boundary with China in the north, Paro in the south and west and Lingzhi Gewog in the east. The 70% for the area is covered with the mountains. The Gewog consist of 28 households with the population of 255 as per the 2010 census. People in the Gewog are nomads and their main income is livestock rearing. Yak population in Soe Gewog is 1724 and 200 plus horses as per the 2012 livestock census. Yak and the horses are the main livestock reared in the Gewog as other livestock are not feasible due to the climatic condition. Other than the livestock activities they do cordycep collection and transportation of tourist pony seasonally. As in other high altitude area of Bhutan, there are land degradation and deforestation taking place. The human and livestock population increases every year on the limited land which is of great concern. The improved technologies could not be implemented in the Gewog to overcome the problems due to the lack of income of individual farmers. The increasing number of unproductive yaks, more consumption of fuel wood, no improved pasture and fodder trees, human wildlife conflict and increased illiterate population are the main cause of land degradation and deforestation. Land degradation is an increasing problem in many parts of the world. Success in fighting land degradation requires an improved understanding of its causes, impact, degree and acquaintance with climate, soil, water, land cover and socio-economic factors. Therefore, land degradation assessment is a primary goal in a decision support system for reversing degradation. Soe Gewog lies in the alpine region where most of the Gewog area is located in the rangeland. Rangeland in Bhutan is known as Tsamdro which means a free grazing land at the altitude of 3000 to 5000 meters above the sea level. It provides niche habitat for rich biodiversity of flora and fauna which are endemic and endangered. The Gewog is one of the least developed Gewog and the settlement is nomads. People in this area depend fully on livestock for their day to day life. Thus alpine and sub-alpine meadows are the most important ecological type supporting the livelihood of mountain communities by providing most of the grazing grounds for yaks and wild herbivores. Also, besides providing high value and biologically diverse resources such as Cordyceps, rangelands are headwaters of the main river systems and accommodate important watershed functions. The population of human settlement and livestock is increasing immensely every year. Shortage of fodder and pasture land for yaks and mules, lack of alternative fuel and sources of energy, resulting in rapid depletion of nearby forests and vegetation cover. More over, the awareness of local communities and partners about land degradation impacts through overgrazing of the highland areas are very poor and there is poor participation of locals in conservation activities On the other hand, the wild life like Blue Sheep, Takin, Marmut etc are multiplying their population as the area falls under the park. These increasing populations compete on the limited land for the grazing and other necessary elements for their living which leads to over grazing and finally the land degradation. With the importance of rangelands management land degradation popularity in recent years and in the wake of climate change being a reality, there is a need to develop appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures for sustained production and management for enhancing the livelihoods of the mountain communities. The objective of this project is to: 1. To control the grazing competition on the limited land with proper management of the natural pastureland. 2. Improved Pasture land development and alpine fodder tree plantation to reduce overgrazing and control degradation. 3. Introduction of improved breed species to reduce the unwanted livestock population. 4. Improve the livelihood of the people from livestock production to reduce the impacts on the fuel wood and thus reduce deforestation. 5. Introduction of bio-briquette processing, home solar lighting system and improved gas stove to reduce deforestation. 6. Training and study tour for community on land degradation and overgrazing impacts.

Bhutan