Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan

Background The Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan which was founded in 1952 is responsible to protect, conserve, utilize and manage the forestry resources of Bhutan. It was one of the oldest government departments in Bhutan. During the inception of the Department back in the 1950s, the department has been staffed by the foresters from India. This was due to the lack of trained personnel from Bhutan at that time. As of now, the Department is fully staffed by the nationals.

History The Department of Forests and Park Services was established in 1952 under the name "Department of Forests" which was before the starting of the FYPs in the country. In 1961 the Department was under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Forests.

In the early 1980s, the Department was put under the Ministry of Agriculture during a reorganisation exercise by RCSC based on cadre system.

Forestry policy and Legislation Bhutanese have always been endowed with rich renewable resources. Majority of the people in Bhutan reside in the rural areas of the country. These section of the country rely heavily on the forest resources for their livelihood. Until the 1960s the people in Bhutan made use of the forest resources in their vicinity without much interferences from the Government.

Vision and mission

Vision "A Sustainable Forest Ecosystems for the People, Nature and Economy"

Mission "To conserve and manage Bhutan’s natural resources through the adoption of innovative technologies to ensure socio-economic and environmental wellbeing, while maintaining a minimum 60% of the land under forest cover for all times to come."

Functional Divisions The Department of Forests and Park Services is composed of four functional divisions.

Forest Protection and Enforcement Division (FPED) The Forest Protection and Enforcement Division, the then Forest Protection & Land Use Section (FPLUS) was formed sometime in 1991 as one of the oldest Functional Divisions under the Department. It was renamed to FPUD in 2000.

The objective of this division is to ensure forest protection, sustainable management & utilization of land & forest resources.

Sections/Programmes Sections or programmes under this functional division are as follows:

Forest Protection Functions the under Forest Protection section are; Forest Litigation-functions Forest Epidemics-functions and Anti-Poaching

Forest Utilization This is the main section under the functional division which ensures to maintain uniform allocation of Natural Resources sustainably throughout the country.

Forest Landuse This section oversees the appropriate use and allocation of the state reserved forest lands properly in line with the existing Acts, Rules and regulations.

Forest Fire Management This section oversees the various activities pertaining to the prevention and minimizing of forest fire in the country.

Forest Monitoring and Information Division (FMID) The forests resource management division under the DoFPS ensures the sustainable management of forestry resources of Bhutan. Scientific management of Forest is done through the establishment of Forest Management Units. The division was renamed to FRMD in 2000 from Forest Resource Development Division.

Sections Forest Management Planning Section Inventory and Data Section Monitoring and Implementation Support Section Geographical Information System Section Forest Demarcation Section

Nature Conservation Division (NCD) The Nature Conservation Division under the Department was established in 1992 to plan and implement conservation programs in the country. This division is the sole technical support provider to the protected areas.

Technical Sections under the NCD Species Conservation and Monitoring Section (SCMS) Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Section (NRES) Protected Area Section (PAS) Human Wildlife Conflict Management Section (HWCMS)

Social Forestry and Extension Division (SFED) The Social Forestry and Extension Division under the Department was established in 1989 under the name "Afforestation Division".

Sections under SFED Social Forestry Section Plantation Section NWFP Section

Watershed Management Division (WMD) This Division was created on 25 May 2009 after the proposal for its creation in January 2009. The primary mandate of this division is to implement the watershed management program.

Sections under the Division Rangeland farming section Forest Section Water and Climate section

Nature Recreation and Eco-tourism Division (NRED)

Sections under the NRED Survey and Eco-design section Planning and product development section Education and communication section

Territorial Divisions The forests which are outside the jurisdiction of the protected areas are being managed through the 14 territorial forest divisions located at various places in the country. Prior to 2016, there were only 12 territorial forest divisions.

Bumthang Forest Division

Background Bumthang Forest Division was established in April 1983 at Lamigoenpa in Lamai Goenpa Dzong which currently houses the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment

Prior to the establishment of this territorial forest division, in the 1970s forestry activities in the Bumthang Dzongkhag were carried out by a forestry beat office which was housed in a private house at Joak near Jakar Lhakhang with the headquarter at Sarbang Forest Division. The beat office was under the Trongsa Range then.

Before the creation of Mongar forest division in 1985, this territorial forest division has been looking after Zhemgang, Mongar, Lhuntse, Trongsa and Bumthang Dzongkhags. With the creation of Zhemgang Division on July 28, 2003, this division handed over the Trongsa and Zhemgang Dzongkhags to the Zhemgang Forest Division.

Significance Besides being one of the busiest territorial forest divisions in the country, the territorial forest division is also a home to some of the very important species of wild flora and fauna.

For instance, the national animal Bhutan Takin, Raven, Blue Poppy and the Cypress are found in the areas which fall under the jurisdiction of Bumthang Forest Division.

Vegetation Cool Temperate Forest with mostly Blue Pine forests and other conifers Sub-alpine Alpine Scrub

Area Coverage This territorial forest division spans over an area of less than 67,0652 acres.

Bordering areas North: International Boundary with China East: Phromrong ridge (Phrumsengla National Park) West: Yotongla ridge(Zhemgang Division’s boundary) South: Zuri Kertsho (Zhemgang Division’s boundary)

Altitude Range 2600m to more than 4000m above sea level

Administration

Divisional Headquarters The Divisional Headquarters is located at Badthpalathang, about 500 meters away from Chamkhar town.

Forest Range Offices Bumthang Range Chumey Range Trongsa Range

Forest Beat Offices Tang Beat Office Tangsibji Beat Office Nubi Beat Office

Forest Management Units Dawathang FMU Karshong FMU Chendebji FMU Rodungla FMU

Forest Check Posts Chamkhar Checkpost

Forest Coverage 66.7%

Sections Technical Section Resource Management Section Conservation and Protection Section Resource Allotment and Trade Section Research and Information Management Section

Administrative and Finance Sections Administrative Section Finance Section

Gedu Forest Division

Background In the year 1985, Sub-Divisional Forest Office was opened at Gedu in the old site office of Bhutan Logging Corporation (BLC) and later new Divisional office was constructed and Gedu Territorial Divisional Forest Office was established in the year 1988.

Area Coverage Gedu Territorial Forest Division covers entire Chukha Dzongkhag (11 Gewogs) and have total area of 1,991 km2 (769 sq mi). Gedu Territorial Forest Division is gateway for import and export of Forestry products and is also the commercial and financial hub of Bhutan.

Range and beat Offices There are three Range offices (Gedu, Tshimasham and Phuntsholing) and Five beat Offices (Chapcha, Wangkha, Darla, Kungkha and Pasakha Beat Office) under Gedu Territorial Forest Division. + Range offices, their jurisdiction and Beat offices under Gedu Forest DivisionSl. No Name of RangeLocation of Range Office Gewogs covered Beat offices under the Range1Gedu RangeGedu near Gedu Divisional Forest OfficeBongo, Darla, Getana, Gelling, Metakha, Dungna and upper parts of Phuntsholing GewogsDarla and Kungkha Beat2Tshimasham RangeTshimashamChapcha and Bjabcho GewogsChapcha and Wangkha Beat office3Phuntsholing RangePhuntsholing Main TownSamphelling Gewog, Phuntsholing Gewog, Phuntsholing Thromde and Lokchina GewogPasakha Beat Office

Sections

Technical Section Coordinate and correspond on behalf of Division. Monitoring of Plantation activities of Division and reporting to SFED. General Patrolling to curb illegal activities. Maintain records of timber supplied to other Dzongkhag and special allotment made for Dzongs, Lhakhangs, etc. Update and maintain proper record of timber supplied Dzongkhag wise, Gewog wise and for other purposes. Prepare and maintain report on the type and number of timber supplied for commercial purpose. Coordinate, prepare and Renew management Plan for FMU. Issue clearance for Land/Transmission & Road construction, etc. Maintaining record of forestry clearance issued for Land allotment ( Kidu, substitute), lease, transmission & telephone lines, Road, etc. Preparation and submission of quarterly/annual report of Land/Transmission and Roads. Maintain records of Stone and sand quarry. Correspondence and maintain records of Wild life and NWFP. Preparation and Maintaining of Quarterly/Annual report for timber extracted by NRDCL form outside FMU like from transmissions lines, working Schemes, etc. Provide back up of important information to the Division as and when required. Verification of field reports submitted by Range offices.

Social Forestry Section

Administration Planning and preparation of five year plans and annual plan for the Division. Maintain and update service records and process promotion and training of staffs. Maintain record of all fix assets, stores (equipments, furniture) and stationeries including permits books of the Division and Ranges. Coordinate and correspond on behalf of the Division in both Dzongkha and English Conduct advertisement/tender/quotation/procurement of store items, etc. Process, verify and maintain proper record of rural house building timber, firewood, fencing poles, flag poles, etc.

Accounts Section Overall financial management of the Division Timely preparation and submission of monthly accounts to the Department of Public Accounts Coordinate and monitor the collection and deposit of revenues by Ranges. Preparation and submission of annual budget timely. To coordinate tendering and procurement process Prepare and submit financial report to the data manager. Provide back up of important information to the Division as and when required.

Data Management Section Timely preparation and submission of monthly, quarterly, annual and any other reports to the Forest Directorate. Provide timely and accurate data to Forest Directorate with prior consent of section heads As a data manager up date and maintain Division’s data base. Realization of GRF lease rent annually.

Divisional Forest Office, Paro The Divisional Forest Office (DFO) is the forest division which caters to the various forestry services to the people of Paro and Haa Dzongkhags.

Sections Timber & Technical Section Planning Section Monitoring Protection Section Social Forestry & Wildlife Section

Administration

Forest Range Offices Haa Forest Range Office Paro Forest Range Office

Samtse Forest Division

Administration