Bhutan
EDUCATION
Diploma in Forestry
Natural Resources Training Institute - Lobesa (BHUTAN)
PG Diploma in Forestry,
Australian National University (AUSTRALIA)
Australian National University (AUSTRALIA)
TEACHING
- Community forestry and its impact to rural livelihoods in Bhutan to SFS students
- Resource person for the directed research (DR) to SFS students
- Social forestry course to forestry certificate trainees at UWICE, Bhutan
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Member of Royal Society for protection of Nature (RSPN), Bhutan since 1998
FACULTY PROFILE
I am a Bhutanese and by profession I am a forester. I joined as a civil servant under the District Forestry Sector of Bumthang, central Bhutan in August 1996 right after I graduated from the Natural Resources Training Institute (NRTI). From 1996 till October 2009, I served as a District Forestry Officer in two districts – Bumthang and Trongsa – working closely with rural communities promoting social forestry activities primarily community and private forestry, and other conservation works such as watershed management and forest fire protection. As the Forest Act and Rules of Bhutan were fairly new in mid 90s, I was also actively involved in organizing awareness campaign for rural public and school children. Besides, in 1999 I have also implemented community watershed management project in one of the remotest communities – Shingneer – of Bumthang District with the financial assistance of GEF/Small Grant Programme under UNDP Bhutan. In 2004, I was nominated by the Department of Forests (now known as Department of Forests and Park Services), Bhutan to undergo graduate diploma in forestry at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Further, I was awarded the Endeavour Scholarship by the Australian Government in 2008 to do my Master Degree in Forestry. After completing my master degree in 2009, I joined the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE), Bumthang District, central Bhutan which is relatively new but leading research institute in respect of environment and conservation in Bhutan. I currently work under the Sustainable Forestry Department in the Institute carrying out research and also teach the Social Forestry Module to the Forestry Certificate Trainees at the Institute.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Some of the key research programmes I am involved currently are Study of Sacred Groves of Bhutan, and Impacts of Community Forestry in Bhutan. Sacred groves are a traditional inheritance of many cultures worldwide that have recognized conservation value but many have been lost due to lack of recognition and development pressures. In Bhutan, their existence is likely to be increasingly threatened by growing development pressure and lack of understanding and knowledge of their conservation value. A recently conducted pilot study by UWICE has shown that illegal harvesting and developmental pressures are indeed some of the threats challenging the continued existence of sacred groves in Bhutan. Currently there exists no baseline data or comprehensive national survey of sacred groves in Bhutan, no systematized information on their ecological value and very little information on their socio-cultural and religious aspects. Thus, there is urgent need for the comprehensive study and documentation of sacred groves in order to understand their status and conservation values. With the aim to contribute to poverty reduction in Bhutan, community forestry (CF) programme has gained momentum since early 2003 and CF number has been increasing rapidly. Well, looking at the number of CFs established, it is encouraging that the Government is now seriously involving local communities in forest management. However, how these CFs benefit local people and to what extent this programme contribute to poverty reduction is still unclear. Thus study of socioeconomic and ecological impact of CF in Bhutan is indispensible for further improvement and maximization of benefits from CFs.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
The research conducted at SFS field centers is designed to answer key questions related to critical and related social and environmental problems and to provide our hosts with detailed and accurate information for decision making and action. Faculty and student research projects are linked to the Center’s five year research plan, which defines an overarching research directive. Prospective SFS students, please note that the range of projects offered by faculty will vary from semester to semester. These should be discussed with the faculty after your arrival at the centre.
Projects prior to SFS
Implemented watershed management project at Shingneer village which is one of the remotest villages of Bumthang District. The project was funded by the GEF/Small Grant Programme of UNDP Bhutan. This one year project was accomplished in 1999-2000. The main aim of this project was to protect and rehabilitate the critical water sources of the Shingneer community and more importantly to create awareness on the importance of forest conservation among the community people.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Endeavour Scholarship Award Holder to undergo master degree at the Australian National University, Australia, 2008.
PUBLICATIONS
Technical Publications Phuntsho, S. and Sangye, M., 2006. Entire Rural Wood Supply from Community Forestry: A Challenging Mission. A Series of case Studies on Community-Based Forest and Natural Resources Management in Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu. Available from: http://www.moa.gov.bt/moa/downloads/downloadFiles/MoADownload8rs722nk.pdf
Dorji, S. and Phuntsho, S., 2007. Timber Sales from Community Forests is Possible: A Case Study on two Community Forests from Mongar and Bumthang. A Series of case Studies on Community-Based Forest and Natural Resources Management in Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu. Available from: http://www.moa.gov.bt/moa/downloads/downloadFiles/MoADownload6nq10470ie.pdf
Phuntsho, S., 2011. Forests, Community Forestry and their Significance in Bhutan, In Phuntsho, S., Schmidt, K., Kuyakanon, R. S. and Temphel, K. J. (eds) Community Forestry in Bhutan: Putting People at the Heart of Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu.
