Conservation of Biodiversity in Bhutan - Essay Example

Conservation of Biodiversity in Bhutan Biodiversity conservation is one of the most important issues faced by the modern world. Although the world has joined hands to solve the problems related to biodiversity extinction, I would like to represent the case of the country, Bhutan, before the world. According to the CIA World Fact Book (2006), the official name of Bhutan is the “Kingdom of Bhutan”. In local language the country is called “ Druk Gyalkhap” or in short form “Druk Yul”. Bhutan is a small country located in the eastern Himalayas in Asia, and is landlocked by India from the south, east and west and China from the north. The country is half the size of Indiana (USA) and has the area of 47,000 sq. km. According to the July 2006 census, the present population of Bhutan is 2,279,723. The most recent population growth rate estimated is about 2.1%, which is likely to double by 2016. In 2003, the GDP of Bhutan was estimated to be $ 2.9 billion and the per capita income was estimated to be $1400. Due to slow economic growth, population increase and dependence on agriculture the country is rated among the poorest and least developed nations of the world. Approximately 80% of the population is associated with agriculture for employment. According to Lungten Norbu (2004) there is no disparity between the rich and poor in Bhutan. As he states that the rapid quality assessment carried out in Bhutan in 2000 showed that the average income per person per day is as low as Nu 40 which is less than $1 per person per day. According to the Planning Commission report quoted by Norbu (2004) the “household income is significantly less in the rural areas (Nu 33) than in urban areas (Nu 70).” Bhutan depends a lot on foreign aid for its development. According to a report published in The Khatmandu Post (March 30, 1999) India has financed the first two five year economic development plans of Bhutan. At the same time it has also financed its security forces and the entire cost of Chuka Hydal power plant. India has also helped Bhutan with its imports and exports. Bhutan is one of those countries where monarchy prevails. Due to some major reforms in the past the absolute monarchy has now taken the shape of democracy. According to the CIA World Fact book (2006), since 1972, the chief of the state is King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Since September 2005 the head of the state is the chairman of the Council of Ministers Sangay Ngedup. The monarch nominates the Council of Ministers or the cabinet members for a period of five years. The nomination of the ministers is also approved in the National Assembly. There is also a Royal Advisory Council whose members are also nominated by the monarch. Like in other parts of the world, the monarchy in Bhutan is hereditary but the democratic reforms adopted in July 1998 has given the National Assembly the power to remove the monarch with two third majority vote. There are no legal political parties in Bhutan and as such no written constitution. Buddhism and Hinduism are two prominent religions in Bhutan with 75% people practicing Lamaistic Buddhism and 25% practicing Indian and Nepalese influenced Hinduism. Buddhist doctrines have a major role in shaping the policies of the country, in particular, the policies related to the biodiversity conservation. Being one of the least developed countries of the world, Bhutan faces some health problems due to the shortage of proper health facilities and well-nourished food. According to the CIA Fact book the life expectancy of Bhutanese people at birth is 54.78 years (males=55 and females=54). The infant mortality rate is 98.41 deaths per 1000 live births. It is believed that protein energy malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia are the principal health problems and are the main causes of a great number of underweight children in Bhutan. As is mentioned in the CIA Fact book (2006), the total land area of Bhutan is 47,000 sq. km of which the total irrigated land area is 400 sq. km. Approximately 8% of the land area is considered suitable for agriculture. Approximately 45% of the GDP comes from the agriculture and forest sector. The major crops include rice, corn, root crops, citrus, fruits and food grains. Forest occupies a major portion on the Bhutanese land. Approximately 72% of the country is forest. Nature being an essential part of the Buddhist religion, the forest thus holds an important place in the lives of the Bhutanese people. As such the Bhutanese government is careful in making policies that assure the preservation of the forest. Bhutan’s primary trading partner is India and its major exports include timber; agricultural products such as apples, oranges, potatoes and spices that include cardamom. As is mentioned by Norbu (2004) Bhutan’s Vision 2020 gives preference to biodiversity preservation over economic prosperity. At the same time the government is making efforts to improve the health and medical infrastructure of the country. A significant improvement has been observed which is evident from the gradual increase in population every year. According to the 2003 survey the population growth rate is 2.1%. If the population continues to grow with the same pace, it can be assumed that in the year 2016 the population of Bhutan will be approximately 2.8 million. The GDP is increasing at a steady pace. From the present GDP and growth rate it can be assumed that in 2016 the GDP of Bhutan will be approximately $4.8 billion and the per capita income approximately $1700. Although the country is making slow progress, still the world can see that the standard of living is gradually improving. The increasing population is a growing concern for a country that gives primary importance to nature conservation. It will act as an economic burden for the country as more land; food, health facilities and jobs etc. will be needed for the people. For this reason it is very important that the population growth is controlled and economy is strengthened so that the country is able to meet the future needs of the people and at the same time conserve its biodiversity. According to the Biodiversity Action Plan (2002) Bhutan is a country rich in biodiversity and as such a major portion of the land is covered with natural forest. The Bhutanese government and people are very active in preserving the biodiversity of their country. Nature is an essential part of their religion and as such preserving it becomes their religious obligation. Although Bhutan is a small country but it has made its valuable contribution towards biodiversity by signing the Convention on biological diversity. As a result of which a comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan has been chalked out for Bhutan. There are approximately 5,500 species of vascular plants, more than 770 species of avifauna and more than 165 species of mammals. Major biomes in Bhutan vary from sub tropical in the south, temperate in the interior and alpine zone in the north. The forest is the natural habitat of a number of animals and species which includes elephants, tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic buffalo, pygmy hog and the rare golden langur in the subtropical forest; snow leopard, blue sheep and takin in the temperate forests and the alpine meadows in the north. Bhutan is called as one of the ecological wonders of the world and is considered as the “hot spot” for biodiversity conservation. Approximately 26% of the country is under the protected area management system. Furthermore, additional 9% of the area has been declared as the biological corridors that connect all the protected areas. There are some more conservation areas that are meant for the conservation of important conservation sites outside the formal protected areas. In total, approximately more than 35% of the country in under some form of conservation management. The government is making great efforts to protect the ten protected areas of the country. For this reason an extensive programs has been established for the protected areas, which include four National Parks, Forests, four Wild Life Sanctuaries and nature reserves. Approximately 26% of the area is well protected due to the policies adopted by the government. As per the policies of the government approximately 90% of the forest area is well protected as the government pledges to keep 60% of the country under forest cover. Due to the successful policies the Bhutanese government is able to protect 5500 species of plants and 175 species of mammals, which is the prime objective of the Convention. Biodiversity conservation is an important subject in Bhutan and as such great importance is given to it. The Buddhist doctrines with respect to nature are mentioned in the Biodiversity Action Plan (2002) according to which the Buddhist believe that the forests, mountains and the rocks are the natural abode of the spirits. At the same time their religion gives respect to the entire living things in the world. As such it becomes important for the Bhutanese people to save their forests, which are a natural habitat of hundreds of species of plants, birds and animals. According to Thinley (2005) “the second most important reason to protect biodiversity in Bhutan is the fact that approximately 90% of the people live in rural areas and their health and happiness depends upon the natural environment around them. At the same time their livelihood depends directly or indirectly on the natural environment that gives them food, medicine and other materials. Preservation of biodiversity helps in keeping the ecological balance. At the moment global warming, population increase and urbanization of the rural areas threaten the biodiversity in Bhutan”. Thinley (2006) further states “the latest report of the department of geology and mines shows that the depletion of the ozone layer and the melting of the glaciers could have harmful effects on the biodiversity in Bhutan”. Hence, it becomes important to protect the rich biodiversity of our country. Keeping in mind the above points, which highlight the need to preserve the rich biodiversity, the government of Bhutan believes that the resolution which calls for the protection of 20% of its land against development would be greatly beneficial for the country which is already protecting more than 20% of its land. If the UN adopts the resolution, it can be suggested that the Bhutanese government should continue to adopt the mid path approach which ensures biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic growth. The government should continue to give primary importance to the biodiversity and for this purpose exchange of experts and technology, as is mentioned in the Convention is essential. A number of economic gains such as through ecotourism, carbon trading or bio prospecting can be achieved which can help the government solve the economic problems of the growing population. Population growth must be seriously controlled which can otherwise become a big problem. Biodiversity conservation has become the need of the world in the twenty first century. Its importance has been recognized at the international level. The government of Bhutan acknowledges the important role biodiversity plays for the well being of humans all over the world. Humans depend upon other life forms for survival. Its conservation is important for the smooth functioning of the ecosystem and for the continuous flow of its benefits to the people individually and collectively. Loss of biodiversity would lead to poor health, less food, lower economic gains and worsening of social relations. The government of Bhutan is of the view that biodiversity should be protected both locally and globally. It is for this reason Bhutan fully endorses the resolution that calls for the protection of 20% of the land in each country. According to the IUCN Publication (2004) the 10% target is not sufficient if we keep in mind the pace with which the world is witnessing the biodiversity extinction. “ Protection of only 10% of earth’s ecosystems could make at least half of all terrestrial species vulnerable to anthropogenic extinction in the near future, based on the species-area relation, under which a 50% loss of species is assumed to occur after a 90% lost of habitat area.” It is for this reason the government of Bhutan believes that the proposed resolution is an appropriate way to protect biodiversity globally. The Kingdom of Bhutan therefore agrees to vote in favor of the resolution. MAP OF THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN (Source: CIA Fact Book 2006) LOCATION OF BHUTAN IN ASIA (Source: http://kaladarshan.arts.ohiostate.edu/maps/bhutan.html) References: Barber, Charles Victor. “Designing Protected Area Systems for a Changing World”, Securing Protected Areas in the face of Global Change. IUCN Publications (2004) retrieved on October 19, 2006 from http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/pubs/pdfs/securingpas/IUCN%20Securing%20Protected%20Areas%20Part%202.pdf CIA- The World Fact Book, “Bhutan”, Updated on October 5, 2006. Retrieved on October 19, 2006 from http://www.cenimar.com/factbook/country.jsp?countryCode=BT Conference on Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan- Bhutan (2002) Retrieved on October 19, 2006 from www.biodiversityasia.org/country_info/Bhutan/bt-nbsap-01-p2-en.pdf Lungten, Norbu. “Nature Conservation and Biodiversity for poverty reduction- case of Bhutan”, Proceedings of the Workshop Forests for Poverty Reduction: Opportunities with Clean Development Mechanism, Environmental Services and Biodiversity. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, (2004) Retrieved on October 19, 2006 from www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae537e/ae537e0n.htm The Khatmandu Post. “Indo-Bhutan Trade and Transit Agreement”, March 30, 1999. Retrieved on October 19, 2006 from http://www.geocities.com/articlesonbhutan/indobhutan_pages/indobhutantrade.htm Thinley, Jigmy Y. “Rethinking Development- Local Pathways to Global Wellbeing”, Second International Conference on Gross National Happiness, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada (2005) Retrieved on October 19, 2006 from http://www.gpiatlantic.org/conference/conference.shtml Read More