Environmental and Social Management Plan for Wangchuck Centennial National Park for 2026

The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Wangchuck Centennial National Park (WCNP) for 2026 focuses on the 'Improvement of alpine Meadows by clearing invading shrubs' activity. Categorized as a Category B project under the Bhutan for Life (BFL) framework, the plan identifies site-specific, reversible risks and outlines mitigation strategies to protect workers, biodiversity, and soil stability. The project, budgeted at Nu. 650,000, aims to expand grazing lands for yak-herding communities in Chokhor Gewog and preserve habitats for key prey species of predators like snow leopards and tigers.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is classified as a Category B project because potential adverse environmental and social impacts are "site-specific, reversible, and can be readily mitigated".
• For 2026, the specific activity requiring an ESMP in Wangchuck Centennial National Park is the 'Improvement of alpine Meadows by clearing invading shrubs', with a budget of Nu. 650,000 and a timeline from August to December 2026.
• The meadow improvement project targets 20 hectares in Chokhor Gewog, specifically in the areas of Dhurdrok, Tendrok, and Khangdrok, to benefit yak-herding households whose grazing lands have shrunk due to "the invasion of shrubs and unpalatable grass species".
• The project identifies four primary potential risks: worker health hazards (minor injuries), soil erosion on steep slopes, the accidental felling of trees, and the temporary loss of habitats for insects and birds dependent on shrubs.
• Mitigation measures include restricting chainsaw use to trained personnel, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), retaining 20 percent of shrubs to preserve habitats, and avoiding shrub clearance on steep slopes to prevent erosion.
• The ESMP mandates that the WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP) prevail over Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) legislation in cases of discrepancy, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.

APA

WWF International (2026). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Wangchuck Centennial National Park for 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2494/13.WCNP_ESMPY8_2026.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Wangchuck Centennial National Park for 2026. 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2494/13.WCNP_ESMPY8_2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Wangchuck Centennial National Park for 2026 |date=2026 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2494/13.WCNP_ESMPY8_2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2026environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan for Wangchuck Centennial National Park for 2026}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2494/13.WCNP_ESMPY8_2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }