Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve

The ESMP outlines mitigation strategies for three primary activities in the Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve: alpine meadow restoration, the construction of two reservoir tanks in the Thangdokha Watershed, and bio-engineering works at water sources. It identifies potential risks such as forest fires, masonry waste, and occupational health and safety hazards, providing specific mitigation measures and monitoring arrangements to ensure compliance with Bhutanese law and WWF safeguards.

• The project identifies three main activities for the period of January 2023 to June 2024: the restoration of alpine meadows at Chala, Nuptshonapatra, and Lolithang; the construction of two concrete water reservoir tanks at Lorithang water source and village top (Tshothang) in the Thangdokha Watershed; and bio-engineering works (including plantation and log check dams) at Larithang and Lungdokha water sources.
• Alpine meadow restoration is necessary because climate change and reserve management have led to encroachment by Juniper-Rhododendron Krumsholtz scrubs, making pastures inaccessible for livestock and wildlife and increasing grazing pressure on remaining areas, which causes patchy rill erosion.
• The Thangdokha community, consisting of 21 households, has faced an acute shortage of drinking and irrigation water since 2014, necessitating the construction of reservoir tanks and pipeline fixation to restore water supply.
• Potential environmental impacts associated with the planned activities include the risk of forest fires during prescribed burning, the generation of masonry and general waste by workers, and the risk of introducing invasive species during bio-engineering works.
• Social and health risks identified include worker fire burns during prescribed burning and general occupational health and safety (OHS) concerns during construction activities.
• The total budget for the three activities is Nu. 1,180,000, with Nu. 300,000 for alpine meadow restoration, Nu. 600,000 for reservoir tanks, and Nu. 280,000 for bio-engineering works; no separate fund for mitigation is proposed as costs are integrated into activity budgets.
• The ESMP mandates that in cases of discrepancy between the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP), the WWF SIPP shall prevail, particularly regarding compensation for non-title holders and community consultation requirements.

APA

WWF International (2023). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/33p0ci46ks_JKSNR_ESMP_2023.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve. 2023. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/33p0ci46ks_JKSNR_ESMP_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve |date=January 2023 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/33p0ci46ks_JKSNR_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 Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/33p0ci46ks_JKSNR_ESMP_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }