Bio-diversity

Role of Women in Environmental Conservation implemented by Phuentsholing Women`s Association (PWA) in Chukha Dzongkhag to create awareness and cleaning campaigns amongst the Phuentsholing residence. Phuentsholing falls under Chukha District, which is located on the Southern foothills, adjoining the international border with the Indian state of West Bengal. It is home to approximately 40,000 inhabitants. This area is threatened by landslides, flood and small scale industries polluting the environment including the human activities. The Phuentsholing Women`s Association was formed in 1999 as a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization aiming to create awareness on environmental values among the local people and involve them in the work of creating a clean and healthy environment as one of their objectives as an NGO. The project carried out the following activities: 1. involved local people, especially women and youth by providing workshops and seminars to develop skills and knowledge for campaigning and created awareness on the environmental values; 2. created mass awareness on health and hygiene and the impact of clean environment to have clean water and fresh air for maintaining good health and long life. 3. Organized environmental education workshops and street demonstrations. Through the above activities, the PWA created awareness amongst the Bhutanese communities on the importance of clean and healthy environment. It also involved in organizing other activities such as cultural, social and games and sports to encourage the local stakeholders in participating in the works of sustainable developments. On December 16, 2005 along with representatives from UNDP GEF SGP, Sectoral Heads and PWA inaugurated the project "Role of Women in Environmental Conservation" in Phuentsholing, funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme. During the inauguration, the working committee handed over ten numbers of dust bins made of wire mesh to the City Corporation, Phuentsholing. On 22nd July 2006, the PWA in collaboration with city corporation, Phuentsholing conducted cleaning campaign. All the students from various schools, shopkeepers, and the local people participated in the campaign cleaning their respective areas. 22 students from Phuentsholing Lower Secondary School had been nominated as "Field Monitors" for collecting plastic bottles from residents of Phuentsholing. The main objective of the campaign was to involve and encourage the youths to take full participation and being responsible in keeping the environment clean. This activity was carried out during the`Sundays.` On 28th July 2006, the PWA, executive members and the working committee members conducted a workshop on "Environmental Education." All sector heads, students, local women and women from organizations participated in the event. During this event, guest speakers from different organizations like Health, School, Residents and City Corporation , Phuentsholing were invited. The Managing Director of M/s Bhutan Beverages graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Permanent metallic Sign Board reading the Four R`s of Waste Management was erected in the Park in Town. The Clean Up Campaign included cleaning drains, gathering and disposing wastes, and cutting grass within the core area of phuentsholing town. The city officials said that apart from raising awareness on a clean environment, the campaign was held to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

Bhutan