Category: Biodiversity News

30^th May 2018: A seminar was conducted at the Samtse College of Education (SCE), Samtse on the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal (www.biodiversity.bt). The aim of the seminar was to create awareness on the ABS and Bhutan Biodiversity Portal to around 80 students (teacher trainees) and lecturers of the college.

The seminar provided insights into the ABS policy and procedures especially focusing on the academic researches on biological resources of Bhutan. The documentation of Traditional Knowledge associated with biological resources and Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) were highlighted as numerous studies on biological resources are being carried out by the college.

The newly upgraded features of the Portal were demonstrated along with discussions on biodiversity conservation and future collaboration. The upgraded features of the Portal included the inclusion of Dataset Features on aquatic biodiversity, Traits (characteristics of species), Map Module, and Data Upload & Download.

In addition, the impact of Invasive Plant Species were discussed as most areas under the Samtse Dzongkhag was highly infested with the Invasive Plant Species. The college was also provided with pictorial guide book on Invasive Plants of Bhutan among other field guides, in order to help the students identify and study on the invasive plants coming in through the Indian border. The seminar was jointly organized by the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) and the Samtse College of Education.

14^th May 2018: A Capacity building workshop ‘Webinar’ on ABS checkpoints was held on 14^th May 2018 at the Norkhil Boutique, Thimphu Bhutan to build the capacity of the officials of the designated ABS checkpoints. The webinar was attended by ten officials representing the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC), Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) and the Directorate Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, and Department of Intellectual Property (DoIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The webinar focused on the brief background on the Access and Benefit Sharing-Clearing House (ABS-CH), core functions of the designated checkpoints and the national mechanism that needs to be developed in Bhutan to track and monitor Bhutanese genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.

The webinar was organized by NBC in collaboration with ABS-CH, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat. The webinar is part of the series of capacity building workshops that NBC has organized to enhance the capacity of the officials of the designated checkpoints.

The National Biodiversity Centre in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund, UNDP Bhutan, National Environment Commission and Royal Society for Protection of Nature is organizing a celebration for International Biodiversity Day on May 22, 2018.

The theme for this year is “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity” to mark the 25^th anniversary of the International Convention on Biological Diversity and to highlight progress made in the achievement of its objectives at the national and global levels.

Biodiversity Day is a United Nations–sanctioned international day to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

The day will be celebrated with 180 students from high schools in Thimphu and Royal Thimphu College at the Centenary Youth Village Auditorium, Youth Center Division, Department of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Thimphu. The day will be divided into three segments:

1. BioBlitz

Students will be divided into groups to conduct biological surveys in the Thimphu Ecological Park led by science experts. This is a scientific project and can be categorized under citizen science. During the event, students will also be asked to take photographs of plants and animals and upload them to the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal (www.biodiversity.bt )

2. 2. Base Camp

A central hub consisting of activity stations and displays which the students can visit to learn about Bhutan’s biodiversity. Students will receive a card which will get stamped every time they complete an activity as follows:

1. Make your own herbarium – display with posters, herbarium specimens, microscopes with plant tissue, interactive display of invasive plants and flowers, opportunity for students to professionally mount a herbarium specimen.
2. Come walk with a snow leopard – interactive virtual reality display sponsored by WWF.
3. Contribute to science – Submit your biodiversity observation to the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal
4. Biodiversity quiz challenge
5. Wishing tree – make your wish for biodiversity conservation for the next 25 years.
6. Selfie booth – Click, hashtag and win!

When the card has been completed they will receive an International Biodiversity Day gift.

3. Official Program

The official program will be 1.5 hours long. The special advisor to the National Environment Commission, Dasho Paljor J. Dorji will be the Guest of honor. The official program is divided into three segments to represent past, current and future actions on Biodiversity. To represent the past actions on biodiversity, Dasho Paljor J. Dorji will give his personal reflections on the last 25 years of biodiversity action and Deputy Resident Representative UNDP, Thimphu, Mrs. Mrs. Niamh C. Smith will present UNDP’s perspective on “50 years of Partnership in Development and Conservation” while NEC will distribute its publication, “25 Years of Environmental Achievement”. The current actions on biodiversity will be presented by a number of engaging experts who will speak about their research in various field of biodiversity. Student speakers from the Royal Thimphu College will present youth perspectives on environmental and biodiversity conservation.  The National Biodiversity Centre will also launch some new publications namely,

1. Alpine Plants of Bhutan Himalaya,
2. Access and Benefit Sharing Toolkit for the Management of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in Bhutan,
3. A Pictorial Guide to Major Invasive Plant Species of Bhutan, and
4. National Biodiversity Centre Vision 2030.

Further enquiries

Mrs. Sangay Dema, Principal Biodiversity Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests

sangaydema@moaf.gov.bt

Mobile: 177 108 81

Mrs. Danielle Northey, Australian Volunteer, National Biodiversity Centre

daniellenorthey2017@gmail.com

Mobile: 175 884 21

The National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang, is pleased to invite applications from the interested Bhutanese nationals for the following post:

Sl No	Post	Category	No. of Post	Age Limit
1	Gardener at Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang	ESP	1	18-45

The applicants fulfilling the following criteria should submit an application to Adm. Section, NBC, along with the following documents, not later than 11am on 31/05/2018. The shortlisted candidate shall be contacted for an interview.

1. Employment application form (Annexure 4/1). Available in RCSC website
2. Valid Medical fitness certificate
3. Security clearance certificate
4. Citizen ID photo copy
5. NOC from parent office, if employed
6. Experience certificate if any

For further information, please contract @ 02-351417/351218 during office hours

NBC, Serbithang