Environment, Ecology & Climate Change
Bhutan is an ecological wonder and a carbon negative country. This is attributed to the deep reverence our people have for the natural environment and the emphasis of pursuing a sustainable approach to development. Our people understand well the interdependence of nature, spirituality, culture and people.
The country is committed to keep 60% of her land under forest cover while it is currently under an impressive 80% forestry coverage and increasing rapidly. While many parts of the world have suffered from alarming deforestation rates, the forestry cover in Bhutan has actually increased in the last decade. The near intact environment here in Bhutan is a result of the enlightened leadership and the strong traditional beliefs, these influence environmental conservation and preservation.
The geographical location and topographical extremes are also responsible for its diverse flora and fauna. The vegetation varies over very short distances ranging from tropical broadleaf forests to alpine shrubs and lush meadows. Bhutan is home to such exotic mammals as Takin (a large, musk-ox-like animal), Black necked Crane, Golden Langur, Royal Bengal tiger, snow leopards and red pandas. Bird species range from the highly endangered white bellied heron to the vibrant satyr tragopan.
Bhutan is home to over 5500 types of plants, over 200 species of animals (mammals) and more than 770 species of birds. In addition, Bhutan’s rich flora includes rare endemic orchids and over 50 species of Rhododendron, and a huge variety of medical plants, which is sustainably used in traditional treatments.
As a result of its ecological diversity, Bhutan is regarded as an environmental champion and has been declared as one the ten global “hot spot for ecological diversity” by the United Nations. Many ecologists believe that Bhutan represents the last best chance for the conservation in the eastern Himalayas, a region considered of critical importance to global efforts to conserve biological diversity. We are also proud to be the first nation in the world where our fellow citizens have a constitutional obligation to preserve the environment.
At this point in time when strange atmospheric conditions pose a number of problems and challenges to the future of our planet, i just hope that more world leaders, organizations, communities and people start taking notice of climate change and do their bit, before the impact becomes irreversible. After all, we do not have a spare planet.
