Category: Biodiversity News

A two-day workshop was organized on Biodiversity Statistics of Bhutan 2016 in Thimphu from 28^th to 29^th December 2016. This workshop on Biodiversity Statistics of Bhutan (BSB) is first of its kind to be held in Bhutan. BSB aims at creating a common platform to represent all biodiversity data obtained through collaboration with various relevant agencies in the country. It also aims to publish the first publication of BSB, which will consist of number of species of certain biodiversity groups such as plants, mammals, birds, molluscs, fungus, insect-fungus, invertebrates, fishes, invasive alien species, endemic species, globally threatened species and aquatic biodiversity. The publication will follow the taxonomic classification such as Internal Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), etc., hence all the species statistics will be classified and numbers validated. The statistics obtained will be based on the data or literature published till 2016 and henceforth, the publication will be updated annually. Workshop also focused on the discovery of new species to science as well as discovery of new records to Bhutan, which will also be incorporated in the BSB 2016. All the biodiversity and statistics relevant agencies will collaborate in data sharing and validating the latest updated numbers of species according to the taxonomic classification. Lead agencies and focal persons for each biodiversity group were identified to collect data and validate the current numbers and new discoveries. The workshop came up to collaborate and work together in publishing the first BSB 2016.

Workshop on BSB 2016 was organized by the National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang and was attended by various agencies viz. UWICE (Thimphu, Darla & Yusipang), NCD, JDNP, WCNP, JSWNP, FRMD, Khesar Gyelpo University of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, College of Natural Resources, Sherutse College, NPPC, National Statistics Bureau (NSB), National Mushroom Centre (NMC), National Fishery Centre, Haa, Department of Livestock, Department of Agriculture, WWF Bhutan, Bhutan Trust Fund For Environmental Conservation (BTFEC) and ICS, MoAF.

An awareness seminar on “National biodiversity conservation and sustainable program with special focus on access and benefit sharing (ABS) and the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal” was held at the Gaeddu College of Business Studies (GCBS), Gedu, Chhukha on 10^th November 2016. The seminar was mainly aimed at creating awareness on the biodiversity conservation and its importance targeting students and faculties of the business college. Thus, expanding the awareness and disseminating information to wider audience not just focusing on environmental related agencies and institutions. The awareness seminar is a part of seminar series which is conducted throughout the country by prioritizing relevant and important institutions.

The seminar covered various biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation initiatives in the country, an overview of the national and international conventions, protocols and legal framework on biodiversity such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, Access and Benefit Sharing Policy of Bhutan 2015 and the Access and Benefit Sharing regime adopted in the country.

Participants were also briefed on the different programs and activities carried out by the National Biodiversity Centre and other relevant agencies and, the existence and the importance of Bhutan Biodiversity Portal (www.biodiversity.bt). Bhutan Biodiversity Portal acts as an online biodiversity repository contributed by the biodiversity enthusiasts and citizen participations and it is also an online platform which is available to all interested national and international users.

With this kind of awareness programs, it is hoped that the students (future generations) will be more aware of their surrounding biodiversity and develop interest in conservation activities. In addition, the management of Gaeddu College expressed their interest to conduct such seminars to the new batch of students annually.

The seminar was organized by the National Biodiversity Centre and was attended by the faculty members and about 500 students of the Gaeddu College of Business Studies. The seminar was supported by Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund implemented by the National Biodiversity Centre in collaboration with UNDP Bhutan.

The new Honorable Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Dasho Rinzin Dorji during one of his familiarization tours also visited the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) on 16^th September, 2016.

NBC gave presentation on mandates, functions and the roles of the Centre followed by visit to laboratory facilities and to Royal Botanical Garden. The Honorable Secretary also offered platform to discuss issues and challenges faced by the Centre.

The Honorable Secretary was accompanied by senior officials from MoAF.

A seminar on the “national biodiversity conservation and sustainable program with special focus on access and benefit sharing” was held at the College of Natural Resources (CNR), Lobesa on 15^th September 2016. This is the third seminar that the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) has held at CNR and is part of the initiative to educate and broaden the knowledge of the academic institutions on the national as well as international developments in the field of conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity with special focus on Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism. It is hoped that the insight gained from such seminars will improve their interest and enthusiasm in the field of biodiversity conservation which in turn enable them to work more effectively in the implementation of biodiversity conservation and sustainable programs in the country.

The seminar covered various biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation initiatives in the country, an overview of the national and international conventions, protocols and legal framework on biodiversity such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, Access and Benefit Sharing Policy of Bhutan 2015 and Access and Benefit Sharing regime adopted in the country.  Participants were also updated on the importance of Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) and the inventory and documentation of Traditional Knowledge associated with biological resources.

The seminar was attended by the faculty members and about 85 students comprising from B.Sc Forestry (Nested), B.Sc. Forestry (In-service), B.Sc. Agriculture (In-service) and M.Sc. Natural Resource Management of the College. The seminar was supported through a project “Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund” implemented by the National Biodiversity Centre in collaboration with UNDP Bhutan.