Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Visits the National Biodiversity Centre

Thimphu, Bhutan-27 August 2026: Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, paid his last official visit to the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) in his capacity as Secretary, concluding a distinguished five-year tenure with the Ministry. The Program Director and staff of NBC warmly welcomed him to the Centre and presented an overview of NBC’s progress and plans under the 13th Five-Year Plan, including the progress made under the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Bhutan- the primary national tool used by countries to implement the international goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Over the past five years, NBC has made significant progress in strengthening Bhutan’s biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation programs. Key achievements include:

• Enactment of the Biodiversity Act of Bhutan 2022 and the Biodiversity Rules and Regulations 2023;
• Strengthening of the National Plant and Animal Gene Banks;
• Documentation of over 140 new biodiversity records and species new to science and to Bhutan;
• Advancement of bioprospecting and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), resulting in the development of 19 ABS products;
• Preparation and launch of the Fifth National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, through the GEF Early Action Support and Umbrella Support Projects, implemented by UNDP Bhutan, making Bhutan one of the first few countries to submit the action plan and;
• Submission of Bhutan’s First National Report on the Nagoya Protocol, which received strong international recognition.

One of the highlights of the visit was the launch of the Bhutan Biodiversity Specimen Repository, a digital platform developed to strengthen the documentation, verification and long-term management of Bhutan’s biological specimens and associated data, supporting National Target 9 of NBSAP, which states that “By 2030, ensure that information and knowledge related to biodiversity are available and accessible” 

Reflecting on these accomplishments, Dasho Secretary commended the Centre’s staff for their dedication and encouraged NBC to build on this momentum. He urged the Centre to continue innovating, expanding its bioprospecting and ABS initiatives, and to explore new frontiers in biodiversity-based enterprises that can create economic opportunities, improve community livelihoods, and contribute to national prosperity.

In response, NBC reaffirmed its commitment to translating Dasho Secretary’s guidance into concrete and measurable action. The Centre committed to further strengthen its conservation and sustainable utilisation programmes while remaining accountable, innovative, and outcome-driven in the years ahead.

Although this marks Dasho Secretary’s final official visit to NBC in his current role, the Centre looks forward to his continued association and extends its best wishes for his good health, happiness, and success in the meaningful journey ahead.