Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 07

The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Biological Corridor 07 (BC-07) in Bhutan outlines the mitigation strategies for the construction of a Divisional Forest Office in Mongar and the development of a golden mahseer fly fishing ecotourism site at Yangbari. The document provides a baseline of the area's biodiversity, including 307 plant species and 276 bird species, and details the socio-economic conditions of 193 resident households. It specifies mitigation measures for waste, dust, noise, and worker safety, ensuring compliance with both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP). Implementation is managed by the BFL focal person in the Mongar Division, with a total project budget of Nu. 14,200,000.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project aims to maintain Bhutan's carbon neutrality by increasing forest and vegetative cover and enhancing the socio-economic wellbeing of communities through climate-informed natural resources management.
• Biological Corridor 07 (BC-07) exhibits high biodiversity, containing 307 plant species across 103 families and 276 documented bird species, including the endangered pallas’s fish eagle.
• The corridor's vegetation is dominated by broadleaf forest, which covers approximately 70% of the area, followed by mixed conifer forest at 16%.
• The plan identifies two primary activities for 2023-2024: the construction of a new Divisional Head Office in Mongar Town (budgeted at Nu. 10,000,000) and the development of a high-end golden mahseer fly fishing ecotourism site at Yangbari (budgeted at Nu. 4,200,000).
• Potential environmental and social impacts for both projects include waste generation, dust, and risks to worker health and safety; mitigation measures include prohibiting open defecation, restricting construction hours to 7am—7pm, and providing personal protective equipment.
• In cases of discrepancy between Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF’s Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP), the WWF SIPP will prevail, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.

APA

WWF International (2023). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 07. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1516i94wjg_BC7_ESMP_2023.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 07. 2023. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1516i94wjg_BC7_ESMP_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 07 |date=7 January 2023 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1516i94wjg_BC7_ESMP_2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2023environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 07}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1516i94wjg_BC7_ESMP_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }