Regional Consultation Meeting for Preparation of Bhutan’s First National Report on Nagoya Protocol

21 January, 2026: The fourth regional consultation meeting for national reporting and stakeholder engagement for preparation of Bhutan’s first national report on Nagoya Protocol was held on 21 January 2026 at Hotel Kingaling, Punakha. The meeting was attended by the local government representatives, officials from various agencies of Punakha, Wangdue and Gasa, along with the Program Director and team from the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC).

The meeting was formally opened by the opening remarks from the Program Director of NBC. Presentations were made on introducing the mandates and functions of the NBC. Key discussions during the consultation focused on conservation of traditional breeds, biotechnology applications, traditional knowledge (TK), and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) implementation in Bhutan.

Key sessions included presentations on the proposed reporting framework and methodology, as well as the draft National Report, to which the participants were asked to provide their valuable feedbacks and inputs for the improving the National Report. Participants actively engaged in group work sessions to identify issues, challenges, and opportunities in implementing ABS at the local and regional levels. The consultation also included reflection sessions, a quiz to reinforce understanding, and discussions on the way forward. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks, acknowledging the valuable contributions of all participants.

The consultation in Punakha is a part of five regional consultation meetings that will be conducted across the country to support the National Reporting process. Of these, three regional consultations have already been successfully concluded in Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Phuentsholing respectively. The concluding consultation will be held in Paro to ensure inclusive participation and comprehensive national inputs from stakeholders across Bhutan. The regional consultation marked an important step in ensuring an participatory approach toward the preparation of Bhutan’s first National Report on the Nagoya Protocol.