In the Media
REDD+ implementation in Bhutan
April 28, 2012
Business Bhutan
The focal person for Reducing Emission from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) program for Bhutan, Tashi Samdrup, of the Watershed Management Division, speaks to Business Bhutan reporter Dawa T Wangchuk about REDD+ program in the country. According to him there is potential to cultivate REDD+ in Bhutan as Bhutan’s unique selling point is the high forest low degradation country combined with a long history of nature conservation and good environmental governance.
With the Bali action plan from COP13 on REED+, Bhutan has the opportunity to gain from an international REED+ mechanism specifically under such provisions that recognize concrete actions to reduce deforestation, sustainable management of its resources, conservation and enhancement of carbon stock. Accordingly, Bhutan will adopt a phased program of implementing REED+ in securing its ecological and economic benefits while being mindful of the safeguards in minimizing collateral damages or related policy and program externalities.
Two agencies are pivotal for the development of REDD+ within the Bhutanese government system. The Watershed Management Division at the implementation level and the other is the National Environment Commission Secretariat which is the advisory body at the policy level. WMD is setting up a REDD+ technical committee and a national advisory committee for implementing the REDD+ scheme in Bhutan. At this juncture we are in the process of developing a National REDD+ strategy, so the implementation mechanism requirements will be clearly reflected in the National REDD+ strategy.
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Keywords: Asia, Bhutan, Forest, policy, Readiness, REDD