Zhemgang Division

Introduction

Divisional Forest Office, Zhemgang was established on July 28th, 2003, after separation from Bumthang forest division. The division head office is located within Zhemgang town.

Zhemgang Forest Division is located in the south-central part of the Kingdom covering the jurisdiction of seven out of eight gewogs of Zhemgang Dzongkhag encompassing a total forest area of 223,067.45 ha (2,230.674 sq. km). The elevation ranges from 120 m to 4480 m above sea level. Zhemgang Dzongkhag, when conducting the National Forestry Inventory, had 150 cluster plots of which 17 were inaccessible due to rugged terrain. The Divisional Forest Office also looks after the Biological Corridor Four (BC4) which is the largest BC in Bhutan covering more than 594.65 sq. km. Among all the BCs in Bhutan, BC4 is the most significant corridor that connects Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in the northwest, Phrumsengla National Park in the north and Royal Manas National Park in the south.

Zhemgang has the highest forest cover with 93.89% and a stem count of 384 trees in a hectare corresponding to the growing stock of 269.18 cubic meter per ha. Zhemgang Dzongkhag’s forest has an annual volume increment of 7.28 cubic meters per ha. Forests in Zhemgang Dzongkhag have more than 213.85 million established regenerations with about 477 different species in terms of its diversity. Zhemgang Dzongkhag’s forest is also home to numerous Non-Wood Forest Produce which are being utilized by the Khenrig Namsum (people of Zhemgang) since time immemorial for different purposes.  The following forest types are found within the division:

• Subtropical Forests.
• Warm Broadleaved Forests
• Cool Broadleaved Forests
• Chir Pine Forests.
• Alpine scrub and pastures.

Map of Zhemgang Forest Division

Vision:

To conserve and manage Zhemgang’s forest and natural resources to ensure socio-economic and environmental wellbeing thereby contributing to the constitutional mandate of maintaining a minimum of 60% forest cover for all times to come.

Mission:

To fulfill the people’s aspirations through different sustainable forest management regimes and conserving a healthy forest ecosystem for a progressive Dzongkhag.

Core Mandates

• Manage and utilize Zhemgang’s forests for sustainable production of economic and environmental goods and services to meet the needs of the people of Zhemgang.
• Enhance long term sustainability of Zhemgang’s biodiversity and ecosystem services through management of natural habitats.
• Sustainable forest management through effective application of science and technology including participation of communities for socio-economic benefits.
• Forest landscape restoration for social, ecological and economic benefits.
• Generate forestry data to develop scientific knowledge to enhance forest and biodiversity management to support implementation and ecologically sound policies.
• Periodic monitoring of forest resources and evaluation to ensure sustainable management and information dissemination.
• Delivering effective and efficient forestry services to the people unstintingly as per the forest Act and Rules.
• Ensuring that the implementation and enforcement of forestry/(other vested) rules, regulations and programs are in line with the plans and policies of the department.

Office Email address: dfozhemgang@gmail.com 

Office Phone Number: 03-741205/03-741221      

Postal Address: Post Box No. 394, Divisional Forest Office, Zhemgang                        

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ZFD2003                               

Departmental Website: https://www.dofps.gov.bt/zhemgang-division/

Contact Information:

1. Chief Forestry Officer – Mr. Tashi Wangchuk – email: tashiwangchuk@moenr.gov.bt 03-741221/17113920
2. Forest Monitoring and Information Section – Mr. Kado Dukpa – email: kado2015druk@gmail.com 17655780

                                                                        – Ms. Rinzin Tshomo- email: rinzintshomo@moenr.gov.bt 17736959

3. Forest Resources and Management Section- Mr. Jangchu Wangdi – email: jwangdi@moenr.gov.bt 17662857
4. Nature Conservation Section – Mr. Phub Dorji – email: phubdorji@moenr.gov.bt 17672447
5. Administration and HR Section – Ms. Leki Wangmo – email: lillyeshey4@gmail.com 17366095
6. Zhemgang Range Office – Mr. Tandel Zangpo – email: tandyl.zangpo@gmail.com 03-741136/17559998
7. Panbang Range Office – Mr. Tshering Wangdi – email: tsheringwangdi38@gmail.com 03-742014/17571747
8. Khomshar Range Office – Mr. Sherab Jamtsho – email: sherabjamtsho85@gmail.com 17559931
9. Wangdigang Forest Management Unit- Mr. Sonam Phuntsho- email: somfonso@gmail.com 03-741212/1781187

Organogram of the Division: 

Sections under the Division

1. Nature Conservation Section (NCS)

Terms of Reference

• Coordinate and implement wild flora and fauna surveys, assessments and research
• Review and provide technical support in preparation of conservation management plans including those of KBAs and HCVs
• Coordinate management, implementation and monitoring of conservation activities inside Biological Corridor 4
• Coordinate and implement wildlife habitat enrichment and improvement activities
• Protection and conservation of watershed & wetlands as natural habitats of fauna and flora
• Conduct and coordinate environmental education and conservation awareness outreach programs
• Coordinate and conduct biodiversity and socio-economic survey
• Coordinate and implement Integrated Conservation and Development activities
• Coordinate and lead programs related to human-wildlife conflict
• Develop and promote ecotourism products and facilities
• Maintain a biodiversity database of the division and come up with publications/scientific reports.

Important Keystone Species

Fauna – Royal Bengal Tiger, Golden Langur, Golden Mahseer, Red Panda, White Bellied Heron & Dhole

Flora – Sapria himalayana, Aquilaria malaccensis & Begonia species.

Biodiversity information of the Division:

2. Total Mammal – More than 40 species
3. Total Birds- More than 340 species
4. Total Butterflies- More than 245 species
5. Total Moths – More than 111 species
6. Total Orchids – More than 129 species
7. Total Flora species – More than 484 species
8. Total Mushroom species – More than 37 species
9. Total Fern species – More than 38 species
10. Total Herpetofauna – More than 41 species

2. Forest Resources Planning and Management Section (FRPMS)

Terms of Reference

• Scientific forest management planning and implementation for CF and NWFP
• Community based forest resource management through planning and implementation of activities in Community Forestry and Non-wood Forest Product management area.
• Provide technical support for preparation/revision of Community Forests Management Plan.
• Provide technical support for formation of NWFP Management and Marketing Group and formulation of its management plan.
• Facilitate and support the establishment of Private Forests.
• Compilation and submission of Annual monitoring and valuation reports of CF and NWFP groups
• Plantation and agroforestry programs
• Monitoring of Community Forest Networking Group and provide technical support
• Coordinate and lead the programs of Bermo Botanical Garden
• Forest Fire Management, technical backstopping and awareness program
• Forest Pest and Diseases management and control

 Approved Community Forests

Approved Non-Wood Forest Product groups

3. Forest Monitoring and Information Section (FMIS)

Terms of Reference

• Online Forestry Services (OFS).
• Online Government to Citizen Services (G2C)
• Forest Information Reporting and Monitoring System (FIRMS)
• Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)
• APA and Policy Works (Strategies, FYP, Progress reporting, etc.)
• Facilitate, coordinate and collaborate for effective and efficient utilization of forest resources.
• Timber Allocation and Utilization including facilitation activities with Wood-based Industries, natural resources pricing, timber disposal and utilization.
• Non-Wood Forest Produce Allocation and Utilization
• Compilation and submission of annual Monitoring and evaluation reports of FMU, LFMA and working schemes.
• Provide legal advice in compounding and settlement of forest offense cases and follow-up on forest protection and legal issues.

Approved Local Forest Management Areas (LFMA)

Wood Based Industries registered under the division

• Registered Sawmills

• Registered Furniture and Handicraft Units

Range Offices under the Division

1. Zhemgang Range Office
2. Panbang Range Office
3. Khomshar Range Office

Terms of Reference

• Enforcement of forestry acts & forestry rules.
• Issue permit & mark the timbers in favor of permit holders.
• Carry out timely patrolling to curb the illegal utilization of timbers.
• Carry out fishing patrolling & poaching.
• Maintain general accounts.
• Monitor & inspect on land encroachment, road construction, transmission, stone quarries. Surface collections and other developmental activities.
• Registration of offense and compounding the case as per the provision of the rules.
• Submit monthly, quarterly & annual reports to the Division

1. Zhemgang Range Office

The Range Office is located at Trong Gewog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag and covers Nangkor and Trong gewog respectively. The Range office is situated between the longitudes 90° 37′ 15.54”E to 90° 53′ 12.07”E and latitudes 27° 23′ 5.54”N to 27° 1′ 2.52”N with an altitudinal range from 274m to 4566m above sea level. The Range Office was established in 2003 and has a total area of 509.39 Sq. Km and caters services to 489 households.

Beat Offices under the Range Office:

1. Mangdechhu Beat Office
2. Tali Beat Office
3. Buli Beat Office

2. Panbang Range Office

The Range Office is located at Panbang, Ngangla Gewog under Panbang Dungkhag and covers Ngangla, Goshing and Bjoka gewog respectively. The Range office is situated between the longitude 90° 58′ 57.26’’E and latitude 27° 00 ‘30.17’’N with an altitudinal range from 150m 2416m above sea level. The Range Office was established in 2007 and has a total area of 610.11 Sq. Km and caters services to 867 households.

Beat Offices under the Range Office:

1. Goshing Beat Office
2. Bjoka Beat Office

3. Khomshar Range Office

The Range Office is located at Khomshar, Bardo Gewog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag and covers Bardo and Shingkhar gewog respectively. The Range office is situated between the longitudes 90°57’40.98’’E to 90° 50 ‘22.06’’E and latitude 27°22’50.11’’N to 27°00’09.98’’N with an altitudinal range from 410 m to 3587 m above sea level. The Range Office was established in 2012 and has a total area of 519.5 Sq. Km and caters services to 587 households.

Beat Offices under the Range Office:

1. Shingkhar Beat Office

Forest Management Unit

Terms of Reference

• Implementation of forest management plan (Operational inventory, cable line survey, road alignment survey, preparation of operational plan, rural/commercial marking/passing, monitoring of road construction/maintenance and illegal monitoring) etc.
• Enforcement of forestry acts & forestry rules.
• Issue permit & mark the timbers in favor of permit holders.
• Carry out timely patrolling to curb the illegal utilization of timbers.
• Carry out fishing patrolling & poaching.
• Maintain general accounts.
• Monitor & inspect on land encroachment, road construction, transmission, stone quarries surface collections and other developmental activities.
• Registration of the offenses and compounding the case as per the provision of the rules.
• Submit monthly, quarterly & annual reports to the Division.

Wangdigang Forest Management Unit

The Office is located at Trong gewog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag and covers Trong and Nangkor gewog respectively. The FMU falls between the longitudes 90°37’E to 90°45’E and latitudes 27°13’N to 27°20’N with an altitudinal range from 796 m to 4143 m above sea level. Wangdigang FMU was established in (1992-2018) and has a total area of 8759 hectares (Sershong, Boksar and Mithun Farm under Trong gewog).

The Wangdigang Forest Management Unit (FMU) has started its third management plan 2017-2026 to manage on a multiple use, sustainable basis for production of timber, fuel wood and other forest products and for conservation of watershed, wildlife and environment. The forest protection totaling 6639 hectares (75.80%) of the FMU are permanently dedicated for total protection of watershed, flora and fauna and soil stability.

Working Schemes under the Office:

1. Malaya Working Scheme was established in (2008-2015) Total Area: 602 hectares (Malaya, Buli under Nangkor gewog).
2. Kikhar Working Scheme – established in (2009-2022)   Total Area: 2460 hectares (Kikhar, under Nangkor gewog)