Nature in Bhutan

Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas and spans elevations of about 200 to 7,000 metres. Its natural environment includes subtropical landscapes in the south, mountain valleys, alpine pastures, glaciers, wetlands, agricultural landscapes, rivers, springs and lakes. The five main river basins are Amochhu, Wangchhu, Punatsangchhu, Mangdechhu and Drangmechhu; there are also five subsidiary basins. Forests form the dominant land ecosystem and cover approximately 70 percent of the country. The Constitution permanently sets a target of at least 60 percent forest cover. The protected-area network and biological corridors together protect more than 52 percent of the country’s land area. The Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan 2023 distinguishes, among other categories, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, strict nature reserves, botanical parks, biosphere reserves, critical watersheds, biological corridors and important wetlands. Protected areas may contain core, transition, buffer and multiple-use zones. Mining, quarrying and development projects are prohibited in core zones. Outside protected areas as well, wetlands, agricultural land and freshwater habitats are important for biodiversity. Bhutan documents more than 11,000 species, including over 5,390 seed plants, about 710 tree species, 129 mammal species, 736 bird species, 125 freshwater fish species, 3,511 insect species and at least 746 fungal species. Around 98 percent of documented seed plants are native. Well-known flagship species include the tiger, snow leopard, Asian elephant, Asiatic black bear, red panda, golden langur, white-bellied heron, black-necked crane and golden mahseer. The Bhutan biodiversity portal (Bhutan Biodiversity Portal) collects species observations, maps and documents and also allows contributions from the public. Protected and regulated plant and animal species are listed in Annexes II and III of the law; revised lists were published in 2025. There is no single overall nature authority. Key responsibilities lie with the forestry and park services department (Department of Forests and Park Services), including its Nature Conservation Division (Nature Conservation Division), the National Biodiversity Centre (National Biodiversity Centre), the hydrology and meteorology center (National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology), the Tourism Council of Bhutan (Tourism Council of Bhutan), and district administration (Dzongkhag) and park administrations. Forest products and non-wood forest products may be used in state-reserved forests only under an approved management plan and with the required permit. This includes timber, firewood, medicinal plants for Sowa Rigpa, fishing, genetic resources, bioprospecting and access to genetic resources. The department’s online system provides services for timber, non-wood forest products, their domestic transport, fishing, forestry clearances, research, import and export, and the international wildlife-trade convention (CITES). In 2023, 1,318 forestry offences were registered; illegal use, poaching and trade remain major risks. Nature-based tourism includes trekking, birdwatching, regulated fly-fishing, wildlife observation and community homestays. For many protected areas, the Park Permit is applied for online through the department’s system. The application includes, among other details, nationality, group size, travel dates, protected area, specific area, purpose and trekking route. A trekking permit is required for trekking in protected areas or security areas; licensed trekking guides as well as designated trails and campsites are part of the intended access arrangement. Persons under 18 require the accompaniment of a parent or legal guardian or written consent. Fees and processing times are not given as blanket figures on the cited online page and must be checked with the responsible protected-area office. Natural processes can endanger access and use. These include glacial-lake outburst floods, flash floods, landslides, windstorms, river erosion and droughts. More than 70 percent of settlements, infrastructure and agricultural land lie along the main drainage basins. In 2021, Bhutan had a total of 567 glacial lakes, 17 of which were classified as potentially dangerous. The cryosphere services division (Cryosphere Services Division) of the hydrology and meteorology center monitors glaciers and glacial lakes, conducts inventories and risk assessments, and provides warnings. General disaster protection belongs to another subject area; for access to nature, the relevant aspects here are the natural process, exposure, warning and access restriction. The National Biodiversity Centre operates a biodiversity interpretation centre, laboratories, gene banks and a herbarium at the Royal Botanical Garden Serbithang. The general public can visit these facilities without prior academic registration. Academic visits are possible with at least several days’ advance notice and are free for academic institutions; research institutions should also be contacted in advance. Environmental education is not yet fully coordinated institutionally. A national master plan for communication, education, public awareness and awareness-raising is still lacking; the biodiversity strategy envisages such a plan and its implementation by 2030. In rural areas, human–wildlife conflicts arise from crop losses, livestock attacks, safety risks and additional labour and prevention costs. Wild boar, monkeys, deer, elephants, bears and tigers are among the frequently mentioned conflict species. Depending on the area and situation, crop losses amount to about 19 to 43 percent of annual production, with an average of approximately 30 percent. Protective measures, deterrence, community solutions and management by protected areas are intended to improve coexistence. There is no nationally confirmed blanket compensation or insurance benefit; a national insurance scheme for crops and livestock is envisaged in the biodiversity strategy. Under Article 5(1) of the Constitution, every Bhutanese person is regarded as a trustee of the natural resources and environment. This entails a duty to protect the environment and biodiversity and to prevent ecological damage. Lawful access also depends on the zone, permit, management plan and, where applicable, a guide. Research, filming, rafting, fishing and CITES-related activities may require separate special permits.