Environmental and Social Management Plan

The 2026 ESMP for Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) outlines mitigation strategies for two primary activities: the improvement of waterholes at Jatsho, Rimchu Top, and Kewana, and the restoration of 12 hectares of alpine meadows at Tsharijathang, Shingchela, and Magathang. Categorized as a Category B project, the BFL initiative focuses on maintaining carbon neutrality, enhancing community well-being, and protecting biodiversity. The plan mandates strict adherence to WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP) and national laws, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, occupational health and safety, and the use of prescribed burning for meadow restoration. Monitoring will be conducted by Range Officers and the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) to ensure compliance and the disbursement of funds.

• 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 ESMP specifically targets the improvement of waterholes in three locations: Jatsho, Rimchu-top, and Kewana.
• The plan includes the restoration of 12 hectares of alpine meadows at Tsharijathang, Magathang, and Shingchela to combat the encroachment of rhododendron shrubs caused by rising temperatures and melting glaciers.
• In cases of discrepancy between national legislation and project requirements, the WWF’s Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP) prevail, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.
• Prescribed burning is the primary method for restoring alpine meadows, and it must strictly follow the "Use of Prescribed Burns in High-Altitude Rangeland Areas: Standard Operating Procedure (2025)" to mitigate risks of air pollution and accidental fire spread.
• The project identifies specific wildlife species that benefit from waterhole restoration, including the barking deer, serow, goral, sambar deer, Asiatic black bear, and wild pig.
• Tsharijathang is highlighted as a critical conservation area because it is the "principal summer habitat of Bhutan’s National Animal, the Bhutan Takin".
• The ESMP mandates a grievance redressal mechanism (GRM) allowing stakeholders to report issues via letter, phone, or verbally to gewog or forest offices, as well as through WWF and GCF independent review mechanisms.
• The budget for the 2026 activities is Nu. 300,000 for waterhole improvement and Nu. 900,000 for alpine meadow restoration, with ESS mitigation costs integrated into these activity costs.

APA

WWF International (2026). Environmental and Social Management Plan. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2493/14.JDNP_ESMPY8__2026.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan. 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2493/14.JDNP_ESMPY8__2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan |date=2026 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2493/14.JDNP_ESMPY8__2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2026environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2493/14.JDNP_ESMPY8__2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }