Monday, August 22, 2022

Bhutan’s Rotting Treasure-trove II

If some one were to ask me if Bhutan is in a state of scraping the barrel, I would say - we are not. If this question were to be repeated end next year, I wouldn’t know how to answer it. But there is no doubt that we are into tough times. And tough times call for tough decisions, and moving away from conventional logic that obviously hasn’t worked. It calls for diversification of thoughts – even more important, diversification of viewpoints.

The following Kuensel report of 10th October 2020 is indication that some diversification of thoughts had indeed come to pass. The fact that it has not been followed through in the past two years since, points to the fact that true to character, we remain Bhutanese to the core.

An encouraging Kuensel report dated October 2020 - that which remains buried and forgotten

We exported wood products worth Nu 0.35 billion in 2015 but imported over six times more wood worth Nu 2.60 billion. This for a country sitting atop a huge timber reserve is an indefensible act, almost bordering on criminal when viewed against the background of the many economic woes we face as a country and people.

An expanding and overstocked forest is a serious threat to biodiversity conservation and wildlife habitats, a cause for mega-fires, and is known to dramatically change hydrology (e.g. decrease groundwater recharge and stream flow). Further, economic impact of revenue from forestry is often felt most at the local level and is a great employment generator, thus inherently inclusive and green economy.

The hydropower revenue was Nu 20 billion (USD296 million) in 2016 which was 13.48 percent of GDP. Technically speaking, forestry has tremendous potential to be the bigger growth driver than hydropower.

Dr. Phuntsho Namgyel
Forest Analyst
April 16, 2018

Our own homegrown forest analyst Dr. Phuntsho Namgyel authored two brilliant papers in the Kuensel, related to the potential of our forests. Both the numbers and science behind his thoughts are rock solid. And yet, his brilliance remains largely ignored - although from the above Kuensel report, it appears to have triggered a “way forward” report by the Department of Forests. But indications are that the report remains shelved and gathering dust in some obscure corner of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Please read Dr. Phuntsho Namgyel’s thoughts at the following:



Punatsangchu Hydropower Project I is surely headed for total closure.

It is unlikely that Kholongchu Hydropower Project will ever happen, given so many factors that go against it.

Hydropower as a source to generate electricity is now old hat around the world - more efficient energy sources have edged out hydropower - as being more costly and environmentally destructive.

We should now look to our abundant forests to rescue us from economic doom. They have the potential to save us, while at the same time, help improve the quality of our forest stand.

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