The National Biodiversity Centre (NBC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and livestock (MoAL), is currently updating Bhutan’s fifth National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP). This plan serves as the national guiding framework for conserving biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of biological resources. As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Bhutan is mandated to update its NBSAP periodically.
The current NBSAP encompasses interventions across diverse fields, including biodiversity conservation, habitat preservation, land management, pollution control, climate change adaptation, biosafety, traditional knowledge preservation, urban planning, and agri-food sector. The plan has Benn developed through rigorous consultations and by a consortium of Technical Working Group (TWG) members from various agencies.
The NBSAP Secretariat has successfully conducted consultations, gathering feedback from stakeholders in the field offices across all twenty dzongkhags, including a separate consultation with the private sector and corporations. Now, the final national consultation has also been successfully completed on March 21st at Thimphu Deluxe. This crucial consultation brought together key decision-makers to review and provide feedback on Bhutan’s biodiversity targets, strategies and actions, outlined in the NBSAP.
The discussions and insights shared during this meeting are vital in ensuring that the NBSAP is well-aligned with national priorities and global biodiversity commitments. The feedback received will now be incorporated into the final version of the document, shaping the country’s strategic direction for biodiversity conservation.
