CNR Forestry Students Visit NBC for Academic Exposure

On 11 September 2026, the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) welcomed 30 first-year students of the B.Sc. Forestry Programme from the College of Natural Resources (CNR), Royal University of Bhutan, for an academic exposure visit. The students were accompanied by Mr. Ngawang Gyeltshen, Module Tutor, and Mr. Nythri Tshering, Programme Leader.

The visit was organized as part of the academic requirements of Forest and Systematic Botany (BOT101) to complement classroom-based learning with practical exposure to biodiversity conservation, plant genetic resources, herbarium science and biodiversity management.

The programme began with an institutional presentation on the National Biodiversity Centre, providing the students with an overview of NBC’s mandate, programmes, research activities and its role in the conservation and sustainable utilization of Bhutan’s biodiversity.

An awareness session on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was also conducted to familiarize the students with the principles of accessing biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, as well as the importance of fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation. The session also covered Material Transfer Agreements (MTA) and biopiracy, highlighting the need for proper procedures, documentation and responsible access to Bhutan’s biological resources. These topics were among the academic areas proposed for the students’ visit.

Following the presentations and awareness sessions, the students were taken on guided visits to relevant facilities of NBC, including the Royal Botanical Garden, which serves as a living repository of Bhutan’s botanical diversity, and the Biodiversity Interpretation Centre. The visits provided them with practical exposure to the different approaches used for the documentation, conservation, research, and management of biological diversity and plant genetic resources.

The academic exposure enabled the students to connect theoretical concepts learned in the classroom with practical biodiversity conservation activities and provided an opportunity to interact with professionals working in biodiversity research and conservation. The visit was intended to promote meaningful experiential learning and strengthen students’ understanding of the role of national biodiversity institutions in conserving Bhutan’s biological resources.

Such academic engagements between the National Biodiversity Centre and the College of Natural Resources contribute to strengthening knowledge exchange and developing the practical understanding of future forestry professionals in biodiversity conservation and sustainable management.