Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan

Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan

Department overview
Formed	1952
Preceding Department	Department of forestry services
Type	Government Department
Jurisdiction	Royal Government of Bhutan
Headquarters	Tashichodzong, Thimphu, Bhutan
Minister responsible	Mr.Loknath Sharma
Department executive	Mr. Lobzang Dorji.[1], Director
Parent Department	Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
Child agencies	Nature Conservation Division Forest Resources Planning and Management Division Forest Monitoring and Information Division Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Forestry Research and Training
Website	www.dofps.gov.bt

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 manned 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 manned by the nationals.^[2]

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.^[3]

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

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.^[4]

"Sustaining Bhutan’s forest resources & biodiversity for the happiness of present and future generations"

"To conserve and manage Bhutan’s forest resources & biodiversity to ensure social, economic and environmental well-being, and to maintain a minimum of 60% of the land under forest cover for all times to come"

The Department of Forests and Park Services is composed of six functional divisions.

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.^[5] 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 or programmes under this functional division are as follows:

Functions the under Forest Protection section are;

1. Forest Litigation-functions
2. Forest Epidemics-functions and
3. Anti-Poaching

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

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

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

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.^[6]

1. Forest Management Planning Section
2. Inventory and Data Section
3. Monitoring and Implementation Support Section
4. Geographical Information System Section
5. Forest Demarcation Section

The Nature Conservation Division under the Department was established in 1992 to plan and implement conservation programs in the country.^[7] This division is the sole technical support provider to the protected areas.

1. Species Conservation and Monitoring Section (SCMS)
2. Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Section (NRES)
3. Protected Area Section (PAS)
4. Human Wildlife Conflict Management Section (HWCMS)

The Social Forestry and Extension Division under the Department was established in 1989 under the name "Afforestation Division".^[8]

1. Social Forestry Section
2. Plantation Section
3. NWFP Section

This Division was created on 25 May 2009 after the proposal for its creation in January 2009.^[9] The primary mandate of this division is to implement the watershed management program.

1. Rangeland farming section
2. Forest Section
3. Water and Climate section

^[10]

1. Survey and Eco-design section
2. Planning and product development section
3. Education and communication section

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 was established in April 1983 at Lamigoenpa in Lamai Goenpa Dzong which currently houses the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment^[11]

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.

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.

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

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

• 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)

2600m to more than 4000m above sea level

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

1. Bumthang Range
2. Chumey Range
3. Trongsa Range

1. Tang Beat Office
2. Tangsibji Beat Office
3. Nubi Beat Office

1. Dawathang FMU
2. Karshong FMU
3. Chendebji FMU
4. Rodungla FMU

1. Chamkhar Checkpost

66.7% 

1. Technical Section
   1. Resource Management Section
   2. Conservation and Protection Section
   3. Resource Allotment and Trade Section
   4. Research and Information Management Section

1. Administrative Section
2. Finance Section

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.

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.

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 Division

Sl. No	Name of Range	Location of Range Office	Gewogs covered	Beat offices under the Range
1	Gedu Range	Gedu near Gedu Divisional Forest Office	Bongo, Darla, Getana, Gelling, Metakha, Dungna and upper parts of Phuntsholing Gewogs	Darla and Kungkha Beat
2	Tshimasham Range	Tshimasham	Chapcha and Bjabcho Gewogs	Chapcha and Wangkha Beat office
3	Phuntsholing Range	Phuntsholing Main Town	Samphelling Gewog, Phuntsholing Gewog, Phuntsholing Thromde and Lokchina Gewog	Pasakha Beat Office

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

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

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

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

The Paro Forest Division is the forest division which caters to the various forestry services to the people of Paro and Haa Dzongkhags.

1. Timber & Technical Section
2. Planning Section
3. Monitoring Protection Section
4. Social Forestry & Wildlife Section

1. 1. Haa Forest Range Office
   2. Paro Forest Range Office

Range Offices Under the Samtse Division and their jurisdiction

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Samtse Range	Tading, Samtse, Phuntshopelri	Samtse
2	Tashicholing	Tashicholing, Pemaling, Namgaycholing, Tendruk	Samtse
3	Norbugang Range	Sangacholing, Norbugang, Ugyentse, Yoseltse	Samtse
4	Dophuchen Range	Denchukha, Dophuchen, Dumtoed	Samtse

Range Offices Under the Samdrup Jomgkhar Division and their jurisdiction

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Samdrup Jongkhar Range	Deothang, Gomdhar, Wangphu, Orong	Samdrup Jongkhar
2	Jomotsangkha Range	Lauri, Serthi, Langchenphu	Samdrup Jongkhar
3	Samdrupcholing Range	Martshalla, Samrang, Phuntshothang, Pemathang	Samdrup Jomgkhar
4	Nganglam Range	Chokorling, Decheling, Norbugang	Samdrup Jongkhar

Range Offices Under the Tashigang Division and their jurisdiction

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Radhi Range	Radhi, Phongmey, Bidung, Shongphu	Trashigang
2	Tashigang Range	Samkhar, Yangneer, Kanglung, Udzorong, Bartsham	Trashigang
3	Wamrong Range	Lumang, Thrimshing, Khaling, Kangpara	Trashigang
4	Tashiyangtse Range	Yangtse, Khamdang, Toetse	Tashiyangtse
5	Doksum Range	Ramjar, Jamkhar, Tongzhang, Yalang	Tashiyangtse

Range Offices Under the Sarpang Division

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Sarpang Range	Sarpangtar, Singye, Dekiling, Shompangkha, Hilley, Doban	Sarpnag
2	Gelephu Range	Gelephu, Jigmecholing, Sershong, Bhur, Chuzagang, Umling	Sarpang
3	Lhamoizingkha Range	Lhamoizingkha, Nichula, Deorali	Sarpang

Range Offices Under the Zhemgang Division

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Zhemgang Range	Trong, Nangkor	Zhemgang
2	Panbang Range	Goshing, Bjoka, Nangla	Zhemgang
3	Khomshar Range	Bardho, Shingkhar	Zhemgang

Mongar Forest Division is one of the 14 Territorial Forest Divisions situated in the eastern part of Bhutan. The Division was formally established in 1985.

In the initial phase Trashigang was also under Mongar Division. After establishment of separate Division for Trashigang and Trashiyangtse region, Mongar Division is entrusted with forest management responsibility of 17 geogs in Mongar Dzongkhag and 7 geogs in Lhuntse Dzongkhag and spans over an area of 2,323,54 sq.km.

1. Forest Range Offices
   1. Mongar Forest Range Office
   2. Lhuntse Forest Range Office
   3. Gyelposhing Forest Range Office
2. Forest Management Units
   1. Rongmenchu FMU
   2. Korrila FMU
   3. Lingmethang FMU

Mongar Forest division covers an area of 2,323,54 sq.km.

Latitude= 26°50’ and 28° 10’ N Longitude= 90° 46’ and 91°10’E

400 to 4000 meters above sea level.

• East= Trashigang Division
• West= Phrumsengla National Park
• North= Wangchuck Centennial National Park & Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary.
• South=Samdrup Jongkhar Division

• Sub-tropical broadleaved forest
• Chirpine forest
• Temperate broadleaved forest
• Bluepine forest

The Wangdue Forest Division was established in 1990 at Lobesa. It is one of the largest divisions in Bhutan at 5030.00 sq km.^[12] The Wangdue territorial forest Division is divided into various forest management units.

Range Offices Under the Wangdue Division

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Punakha Range	Tewong, Limbu, Talo, Chubu, Kabjai, Shengnana, Dzomi, Guma	Punakha
2	Lobesa Range	Barp and Toeb	Punakha
3	Wangdue Range	Phangyul, Kazhi, Bjena, Thedtsho, Nahi, Daga, Gase Tshowom, Gase Tshogom, Athang	Wangdue Phodrang
4	Nobding Range	Phobji, Gangtey, Dangchu and Sephu	Wangdue Phodrang

Range Offices Under the Thimphu Division and their jurisdiction

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Thimphu Range	Kawang, Chang	Thimphu
2	Khasadrapchu Range	Gene, Mewang, Dagala	Thimphu

Range Offices Under the Tsirang Division

Sl.No	Name of Range office	Gewogs Covered	Dzongkhags covered
1	Tsirang Range	Kilkhorthang, Dunglagang, Gosarling, Tsholingkhar, Tsirangtoe, Phuentenchu, Sergithang, Semjong, Rangthangling, Mendrelgang, Patshaling, Barshong	Tsirang

With its head office at Dagapela, the Dagana Forest Division was established formally on 8 November 2016.^[13]

This Forest Division with its two administrative range offices and two beat offices will cater to the services of the people.

Pema Gatshel Forest Division was established with its office inaugurated on 17 November 2016.^[14]

Two Range Offices, Pemagatshel and Nganglam along with three Beat Offices, one each at Dungmaed, Yurung and Nanong, and two Checkposts at Kherogompa and Nganglam will cater to the services of the people.

The IUCN defines a protected area as "an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means."^[15]

The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995 defines a protected area as an area, which has been declared to be a national park, conservation area, wildlife sanctuary, wildlife reserve, nature reserve, strict nature reserve, research forest, critical watershed or other protected areas.^[16]

Over the generations, Bhutanese have managed the forest resources in a sustainable manner. A network of protected areas have been designated by the government to further conserve the environment. Protected areas in Bhutan are in the form of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, conservation area and Biological corridors. Five national Parks, four wildlife sanctuaries and a strict nature reserve spreads over various places in Bhutan.

The area and coverage percentage of the protected areas according to the Forestry Facts and Figures, 2013 is shown in the table below.

Protected Area & Biological Corridors	Area in (km2)[17]	Percentage cover
Total Area Biological Corridors	3,307.14	8.61
Protected Area Network	16,396.43	42.71
Royal Botanical Park, Lampelri	47	0.12
Total PAs & BCs (including RBP)	19,750.7	51.44

Sl. No	Name of the Protected Area	Area(km2)	Existing Management Plan	Dzongkhags covered
1	Wangchuck Centennial National Park	4914	2012-2017	Bumthang, Gasa, Lhuntse, Trongsa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts
2	Royal Manas National Park	1057	2009-2014	Pemagatshel, Sarpang, and Zhemgang Districts
3	Jigme Dorji National Park	4316	2012-2017	Gasa, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts
4	Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park	1730	2014-2018	Sarpang, Tsirang, Trongsa, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang Districts
5	Phrumsengla National Park	905.5	2013-2018	Bumthang, Lhuntse, Mongar, and Zhemgang Districts

Sl. No	Name of the Protected Area	Area(km2)[17]	Existing Management Plan	Dzongkhags covered
1	Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary	1520.61	being revised	Lhuntse, Mongar, and Trashiyangtse Districts; contains the former Kulong Chu Wildlife Sanctuary
2	Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary	334.73	non operational	Samdrup Jongkhar District
3	Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary	268.93	2012-2017	Dagana and Sarpang Districts
4	Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary	740.6	2007-2012	Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar Districts

Sl. No	Name of the Protected Area	Area(km2)[17]	Existing Management Plan	Dzongkhags covered
1	Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve	609.51	2012-2017	Haa and border with Samtse District

Bhutanese established biological corridors in 1999. During the establishment of the biological corridors in the country, there were 12 corridors covering a total area of 3,660 km².^[18] The biological corridors in Bhutan was declared as a "Gift to the Earth from the people of Bhutan" by Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck.^[19]

Currently, the total area covered by the eight biological corridors is 3,307.14 km². The corridors have been numbered from 1 to 8 in order to manage them effectively.

Biological corridors with their area and Districts covered^[20]

Biological Corridor Number	Connects	Area(km2)	Dzongkhags covered
BC 1	Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve - Jigme Dorji National Park	149.75	Haa and Paro
BC 2	Jigme Dorji National Park - Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park	275.95	Punakha, Thimphu and Wangdue Phodrang
BC3	Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary - Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park - Royal Manas National Park	376.61	Sarpang and Tsirang
BC 4	Royal Manas National Park - Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park - Phrumsengla National Park	501.9	Zhemgang and Trongsa
BC 5	Royal Manas National Park - Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary	212.13	Pema Gatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar
BC 6	Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary - Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary	160.38	Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang
BC 7	Phrumsengla National Park - Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary	79.22	Lhuntse and Mongar
BC 8	Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park - Wangchuck Centennial National Park - Jigme Dorji National Park - Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary / Northern Corridors	1840.13	Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, Bumthang and Lhuntse

The Biodiversity Action Plan, 2002 named a number of areas outside the protected areas system that are of great conservation value and require some special regulations and management interventions to ensure protection from potentially intrusive activities. These areas are multiple use areas which does not need to be under the management of the Wildlife Conservation Division.^[21]

The Phobjikha Valley which lies towards the western side of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park is one of the largest high-altitude wetlands of Bhutan. It is one of the most important wintering habitats for the vulnerable Black-necked Cranes.^[22]

The developmental activities in Bhutan has been increasing year by year. Developmental works increased and the demand for timber resources equally increased. In order to cater to the ever-increasing commercial demand for timber resources and for the rural purposes, the Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan has identified forest areas from where timber are harvested scientifically according to their management plans. The management plans were prepared by the department inline with the Forest Management Code of Bhutan, 2004. Bhutan currently has 23 areas identified as production forests. Currently there are 17 functional Forest Management Units and 6 working schemes.^[17]

The majority of the Bhutanese population live in the rural areas where they rely heavily on the forest resources for their basic needs. Forests provide them with products and services in the form of firewood, timber, fodder, foods, medicine, leaf litter, water for drinking and irrigation and some forests are highly revered as home of local deities. These local forest users can be resource managers.

His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck in 1979 said that "The participation of the local community is the key to conservation and utilisation of forest resources".^[23] This led to the starting of community forestry in Bhutan as government supported programme. In 1995, Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Chodon Wangchuck stated that "Community Forestry builds on existing local knowledge and traditional forest, management systems and develops means to devolve management responsibility for forest areas to the people that actually depend on the forest for their sustenance.^[23] "

The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan(1995) and the revised Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan(2003) provides legal basis for community forestry in Bhutan. Chapter IV of the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan (2006)deals with the Community Forestry.^[24] Dozam Community Forest was the first Community Forest established by the Department and as of 2013, there were 529 community Forests in Bhutan.^[17]

Dzongkhag wise distribution of Community Forests in Bhutan(as of June 2013)^[17]

Dzongkhag	Number of CFs	Area(Ha)	Number of CFMG (Households)
Bumthang	16	1879.89	529
Chukha	33	2455.7	1196
Dagana	14	1178.04	522
Gasa	7	452.46	168
Haa	15	1448.85	458
Lhuntse	21	1372.43	645
Mongar	25	5295.4	1622
Paro	25	4090.28	1463
Pemagatshel	32	2396.03	1548
Punakha	37	3258.22	1258
Samdrup Jongkhar	33	4612.32	1831
Samtse	33	2382.99	1307
Sarpang	26	2189.93	979
Thimphu	21	2749.63	837
Trashigang	43	7936.42	2388
Tashiyangtse	17	1780.46	814
Trongsa	22	2587.48	788
Tsirang	33	5093.95	2142
Wangdue Phodrang	52	3907.96	1554
Zhemgang	24	2595.23	1007
Grand Total	529	59663.67	23106

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research is a government based research training institute under the Department of Forests and Park Services of Bhutan.^[25] Currently the institute is housed in the Lamai Gonpa Dzong which was built in 1887 by the first King of Bhutan, His Majesty Ugyen Wangchuck when he was 25 years old.

• List of protected areas of Bhutan
• Wildlife in Bhutan
• Black-necked cranes in Bhutan
• Forestry in Bhutan
• List of Hot Springs and Mineral Springs of Bhutan

• Department of Forests and Park Services
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Archived 2020-03-18 at the Wayback Machine
• Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment