Environmental research

NO CASH CO-FINANCING IN THIS PROJECT The Oleps are sub-ethnic group of the Monpas - believed to be the first inhabitants of Bhutan. They occupy the village of Rukha, under Athang Geog in Wangdue district. The Oleps have been hunters and food gatherers since time unknown and were on continuous move within the Black Mountain of Central Bhutan practicing tseri (slash and burn) cultivations. In 1982 the Royal Government settled them in the present day Rukha on the land belonging to the Monastic Body. However, Oleps couldn`t switch easily to farming or livestock breeding. This drove them to extreme poverty and hardship were food scarcity, malnutrition, low life expectancy and high infant mortality were a norm. Since 2005 with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Oleps have executed a trial project to introduce warm water fishery in Samthang, Lawa and Rukha villages. The project has proved to be a success with Samthang fishery supplying smoked fish (nga-do-tsem) to Thimphu on ad hoc basis. The proposed project is to expand the current trial production by increasing the volume of fishery ponds, draw additional water from bigger sources and supply the villagers with fuel efficient dryers and lights so as to have an overall improvement in the quality of life. The current practise of nga-do-tsem is not environment-friendly. They use lots of firewood and with the growth of population, the pressure on the forest would increase. The practise also poses some health hazard with people being exposed to lots of smoke that could ultimately lead to respiratory problems and other diseases. Another factor is the land degradation and scarcity of water. The villages do not have good water sources to irrigate their fields or to expand the fishery project. In fact ther is not enough water to irrigate the rice fields. Objective of the project: 1. To provide the community with environmentally friendly technology to reduce the dependence on firewood and the forest; 2. To support the community to control land degradation; 3. To alleviate poverty by providing opportunities for enhanced income and to improve overall quality of life through cleaner technology and capacity development. Activities of the project: 1. Supply and installation of solar lights; 2. Community Fishery - supply, transport and installation of dryers (fuel efficient);supply, transport and laying of polythene pipes; purchase and transport of fingerlings. 3. Capacity Development and training - Warm-water fishery; Modern production and packaging method; Repair and maintenance. Please see progress of the project in the Project Results

Bhutan