Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Dorji National Park

The document outlines the environmental and social safeguards for specific 2024 interventions in Jigme Dorji National Park, including water recharge mapping, alpine meadow improvement, and office maintenance. It establishes mitigation measures for air pollution, waste, and worker safety, while aligning Royal Government of Bhutan laws with WWF's more extensive social safeguard policies.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is a 14-year initiative designed to secure biodiversity conservation, human well-being, and climate resilience in Bhutan, with specific goals to maintain carbon neutrality by increasing forest cover and enhancing the socio-economic wellbeing of local communities.
• In cases of discrepancy between national legislation and project safeguards, 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.
• Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) exhibits extreme topographical and climatic diversity, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 7,314 meters, supporting 1,434 species of vascular plants and 52 confirmed mammal species, including several endangered and vulnerable species.
• The park serves as a critical water tower for four major rivers—Pachhu, Wangchhu, Phochhu, and Mochhu—which support mega hydropower projects that contribute significantly to Bhutan's GDP.
• Planned 2024 activities include the implementation of nature-based solutions in Toedwang to revive deteriorating water sources, the clearing of unwanted shrubs in alpine meadows in Lunana and Soe to support yak grazing, and the maintenance of the Ruecheynna Park Range Office.
• The ESMP identifies primary risks for the 2024 activities as air pollution (dust), waste generation, and occupational health and safety, prescribing mitigation measures such as water-spraying on dry days, the use of designated waste disposal yards in Punakha dzongkhag, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• A multi-tiered grievance redressal mechanism is established, allowing stakeholders to report issues through the BFL-specific mechanism, the WWF Grievance Mechanism, or the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Independent Review Mechanism.

APA

WWF International (2024). Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Dorji National Park. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/25k5w1l2sy_JDNP_ESMP_2024.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Dorji National Park. 2024. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/25k5w1l2sy_JDNP_ESMP_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Dorji National Park |date=2024 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/25k5w1l2sy_JDNP_ESMP_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2024bhutan, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Dorji National Park}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2024}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/25k5w1l2sy_JDNP_ESMP_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }