Bhutan or the Thunder Dragon, with its thick forest cover and immense biodiversity, is called the ‘oxygen tank’ or the carbon sink of the world. Out of an area of 40,000 sq km, 72% is under forest cover. This ecosystem supports 7000 species of plants, 165 species of mammals, and 700 species of birds. No wonder it is one of the 18 biodiversity hotspots of the world.
The diversity can be explained by Bhutan’s wide range in altitude, topography, and climate. There are three climatic zones: sub-tropical, mid-mountain, and alpine. While the southern foothills get as much as 5000 mm of annual rainfall, the northern regions receive as little as 500 mm. Numerous streams originate in the mountains, becoming six rivers that flow into India.
The Royal Government of Bhutan is fully committed to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity. As early as 1964, Bhutan established two protected areas. In a major revamp In 1993, the country set up four national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, and one protected area covering 10513 sq km. Again, in November 2000, the government extended protection to a network of biological corridors, connecting key tiger habitats (with a population of 115-150 tigers). Now 35% of the country’s area is protected.
The government is determined to maintain a forest cover of at least 60 per cent with the cooperation of local communities. They face, however, many challenges like the fuelwood and timber needs of a growing population, smuggling of timber into India, and the entry of Tibetans who collect the valuable medicinal plants. Yet, Bhutan is a rare biologically diverse country that has an active programme of conservation. It may show the way to the rest of the world.
Afterword: This story is based on Johnsingh, A.J.T. and Deki Yonten, ‘Beautiful Bhutan’, Frontline, Vol. 21, No. 18, September 10, 2004, pp. 65-72.
In a world that is obsessed with growth, development, increasing population, etc., I am not sure whether Bhutan will be left alone. Man will learn his lessons through catastrophes and will start altogether reinventing his life thereafter. COVID 19 is one such example, which has thrown humanity out of gear. Do we need to wait for disasters to become responsible? The answer to this lies in understanding how to lead simple and sensitive lives, so that we bring down the pressure on our natural resources, creating sustainable livelihood options for one and all. We should all hope that Bhutan is left to itself in its determination of maintaining the forest cover, as it acts as one of the lung spaces to this world.