Vision: A Sustainable Forest Ecosystems for the People, Nature and Economy
Mission: To conserve and manage Bhutan’s natural resources through the adoption of innovative technologies to ensure socio-economic and environmental wellbeing, while maintaining a minimum 60% of the land under forest cover for all times to come
Mandates:
- Manage and utilize Bhutan’s forests for sustainable production of economic and environmental goods and services to meet the needs of the people.
- Enhance long term sustainability of Bhutan’s biodiversity and ecosystem services through management of natural habitats including wetland.
- Sustainable forest management through effective application of science and technology including participation of local communities for socio-economic benefits.
- Forest landscape restoration for social, ecological and economic benefits through plantation programs.
- Forestry research to generate and disseminate scientific knowledge for enhancing forest and biodiversity management, supporting the implementation of ecologically sound policies.
- Periodic monitoring of natural resources and evaluation to ensure sustainable management and information dissemination.
- Ensure effective forest protection and enforcement for conservation of biodiversity.
Core Business Areas/ Core service areas:
1. Sustainable Forest Management
- Scientific forest management through extraction of forest resources from Forest Management Units (FMU), Local Forest Management Areas (LFMA) and working schemes.
- Forest resource allocation and utilization of timber and non-timber forest resources through seamless Online Forestry Services.
- Community based forest resource management by involving local communities through Community Forestry (CF) and Non-Wood Forest Product (NWFP) management programs including community-based forest enterprises.
- Forest landscape restoration through plantation programs (afforestation, reforestation, enrichment, etc.).
- Management of trees outside state reserved forest lands mainly in agriculture land through agroforestry and agro-silvo-pastoral programs.
- Reducing deforestation and forest degradation (Forest Fires, Pests & diseases).
- Facilitate and collaborate with relevant agencies in promoting ecotourism initiatives to boost local economy.
2. Nature Conservation
- Management of Protected Area (PA) network including Biological Corridors (BC) management plans, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) involving local communities.
- Promotion of sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities through ecotourism, Human Wildlife Conflict mitigation, Nature recreation, etc.
- Species conservation and monitoring for species persistence.
- Facilitate and collaborate in conservation and protection of wetlands as natural habitats for wildlife including RAMSAR sites.
- Reporting and compliance to international convention (CITES, UNCBD, UNESCO, SAWEN, etc.)
- Responsible for wildlife surveys, enumerations, and assessments.
- Management of wildlife habitats inclusive of grasslands, water holes and mineral licks
3. Forest Monitoring and Information
- Facilitate allotment of State Reserved Forest Land (SRFL) for public use (Forest Clearances for land substitute, exchange, kidu, and for any developmental activities (Online Forestry Services or OFS).
- Sole responsible for National Forest Inventory (NFI), National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), Forest Information and Resource Management System (FIRMS) and Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS)
- Effective monitoring of Forestry activities (Forest resource utilization, services) and enforcement of Forestry legislation (SMART, adjudication)
- Forestry information repository and dissemination.
- Monitoring of programs and activities to ensure quality and impact of the initiatives
- Enhanced climate resilience of the forestry sector (Reduce Emission from Degradation and Deforestation (REDD+), National Adaptations plans).
4. Forestry Research and Training
- Contribute to support science-based technologies by conducting field/action research and policy analysis in relevant areas.
- Mainstream scientific research findings into environmental policy and decision-making processes (publications and conferences).
- Provide training for current and future generations of conservation and environmental leaders, practitioners and academics (training).
- Facilitate enhanced training programs to existing staff of the Department including nature guides.
5. Delivery of forestry services and enforcement through Divisional Forest and Park Offices
Facilitate allotment of State Reserved Forest Land (SRFL) for public use (Forest Clearance for land substitute, exchange, kidu, and for any developmental activities).
- Facilitate allotment of State Reserved Forest Land (SRFL) for public use (Forest Clearance for land substitute, exchange, kidu, and for any developmental activities).
- Community-based Forest resource management through planning and implementation of activities including the facilitation in drafting and revision of CF & NWFP management plans, community-based forest enterprises, etc.
- Processing for approval of allotment of timbers, firewood, and NWFP for commercial purposes (OFS).
- Providing seamless services through Government to Citizen Services (G2C) within the stipulated turn-around-time (ToT).
- Enforcement of FNCA, 2023, FNCRR, 2023, and any other rules and amendments that may be endorsed by the Parliament and Cabinet.
- Monitoring of FMU, LFMA, CF, Plantation, and NWFP management plan prescriptions as per M&E framework including Bhutan METT+ (Monitoring Effectiveness Tracking Tool).
- SMART Patrolling
- Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.
- Identifying, Planning & Monitoring of PA and other Conservation Areas under DFO.
- Processing for approval of export and import of all forest products through OFS.
- Planning and implementation of plantation programs including sustainable logging
- Coordinate and planning for all forest fire and forest pest-related programs.
