Nature Conservation Division
Nature Conservation Division (NCD) is one of the five Functional Divisions under the Department of Forests and Park Services. The Division was established in 1992 and it is the focal agency for the conservation of biological diversity and management of protected areas.
Vision: Maintain an ecologically resilient network of conservation areas through an integrated approach including social, economic and cultural diversity in the face of emerging challenges.
Mission: Strengthen conservation of biological diversity through effective management of the protected areas system for the harmonious co-existence of people and nature.
Core functions
- Manage the natural heritages of Bhutan through assessment of existing protected area networks and identifying key conservation areas when required.
- Safeguard biological diversity and enable thriving population of flagship species.
- Ensure healthy wildlife and enable harmonious co-existence between nature and people by managing the human-wildlife conflict incidences.
- Connecting people with parks and enhance benefits of conservation through equitable participation and sustainable utilization of natural resources.
Principle Mandates
- Manage the natural heritages of Bhutan by providing technical support to all the protected areas.
- Assess the functioning of existing protected area networks and identify key conservation areas as and when required.
- Assess the impacts of developmental works to natural environment in protected areas for issuing forestry clearances.
- Safeguard the biological diversity by coordinating national inventory and regular monitoring programmes.
- Enabling thriving population of flagship species through development and implementation of strategic action plans.
- Develop strategic plans to mitigate the incidences of human-wildlife incidences and identify means to compensate the losses incurred by communities to wildlife.
- Respond to wildlife rescue calls in the locality and train field offices for similar action in their locality.
- Explore alternative livelihood needs of the local people living in and around the protected areas, who are dependent on the resources in these areas.
- Participate in cross-sectoral events such as firefighting, cleaning campaign, plantation.
- Be a part of global community in safeguarding the biological diversity.
