COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Environment and Sustainable Development
- Encouraging farmers to improve livestock productivity through breed improvement and thus reduce the
numbers of livestock required to produce the same benefits. This will relieve grazing pressure in addition to
efforts to provide other sources of feed through fodder production and improved grazing systems.
- Implementing a conservation-oriented forest policy where the highest priority for forestry is conservation of
soil, water regime and climate. The aim of this policy will be to maintain 60% of forest cover. The sustainable
utilisation of forest resources will also be permitted once the necessary inventories and management plans
have been drawn up. Bhutan was among the first countries to formulate a National Policy on Community
Forestry and is in the process of developing suitable models to encourage communities to take part in the
protection and management of forest resources. The Forestry Department has also been responsible for
afforestation of degraded areas and had replanted over 18,000 hectares by the end of the 6FYP. This
programme will continue into the 7FYP and will focus more on community participation and public
awareness.
- Preserving Bhutan's rich endowment of biodiversity through an extensive network of 12 protected areas; 20%
of the country is under formal protection, although management of these areas is constrained by lack of staff
and hunting of wildlife has been banned (see Map 4.I Protected Areas). The viability of managing these areas
will be examined, to determine the benefits of re-delineating some areas to establish a network of protected
areas, covering 25% of Bhutan and representing a more comprehensive spectrum of species and habitats.
Management Plans for protected areas will be developed, and will incorporate utilisation of the natural
resources by local residents where appropriate.
New TechnologyNew Technology
- Ensuring that economic development is based on the growth of those sectors and productive activities with the
least negative impact on the environment. Much of the recent economic development has been based on
hydroelectric power generation, which is less likely to have negative impact on the environment than
development of heavy industry. The priority accorded to this sector will continue during the 7FYP, while
ensuring that further developments do not have a negative impact on the environment. Environmental Impact
Assessments will therefore be mandatory prior to the implementation of any new hydroelectric projects, as
well as all projects in other sectors of the economy.
- Adoption of new technologies which minimise any negative impact on the environment. As industrial
development is at an early stage and has thus had limited or no negative impact on the environment, Bhutan
can take advantage of new technologies being developed that are less environmentally damaging than those
developed and adopted by many other developing countries in previous years.
Social ServicesSocial Services
- Preparing a comprehensive family planning policy,
- Improved urban and town planning which will ensure provision of necessary infrastructure to improve public
health and the urban environment.
- Developing a new formal education system which will enhance the understanding of the importance of
sustainable development for Bhutan. The New Approach to Primary Education (NAPE) was developed for
Bhutanese children of primary age and is oriented towards using practical observations of the environment as a
teaching tool in all subjects. This approach will therefore greatly increase environmental awareness at an early
age. Other public awareness activities will be developed by the NES.
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