Environmental and Social Management Plan for National Plant Protection Centre

The ESMP outlines the implementation of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation technologies, specifically portable electric fencing and bioacoustics devices, across six districts in Bhutan. It identifies potential environmental risks, such as e-waste and soil disturbance, and social risks related to occupational health and safety. The plan mandates adherence to both Royal Government of Bhutan laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures, with the latter prevailing in cases of discrepancy. Implementation is led by district administrations in collaboration with the National Plant Protection Centre, with a total budget of Nu. 1,598,000 for the specified activities.

• Wildlife damage to crops in Bhutan causes significant economic losses, with maize and paddy losses estimated at USD 4-5 million annually, and land fallowing resulting in losses of USD 13 million for wetland paddy and USD 44 million for dryland maize.
• The project plans to install portable electric fencing in the Orong and Lauri gewogs of Samdrup Jongkhar, the Yangtse and Boomdeling gewogs of Trashi Yangtse, and the Kurtoe and Khoma gewogs of Lhuentse to protect crops from elephants, boars, monkeys, and deer.
• Bioacoustics animal repellent devices will be installed in the Kurtoe and Khoma gewogs (Lhuentse), Chuzagang and Senggye gewogs (Sarpang), Sephu and Thedtsho gewogs (Wangdue Phodrang), and Nubi and Tangsibje gewogs (Trongsa).
• The primary environmental impacts identified for the project are the generation of solid waste and e-waste at camp sites and minor soil disturbance from digging holes for fencing poles.
• The project identifies occupational health and safety for workers as a key social impact, requiring mitigation through OHS information sessions, first aid kits, and compliance with worker health safety guidelines.
• The total budget for the planned activities is Nu. 1,598,000, and the document states that no separate fund for mitigation measures is proposed because the activities are small-scale and lack adverse impacts requiring dedicated funding.
• 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 provisions shall prevail, particularly regarding compensation for non-title land users and community consultation requirements.

APA

WWF International (2023). Environmental and Social Management Plan for National Plant Protection Centre. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/49ymoithrz_NPPC_ESMP_2023.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for National Plant Protection Centre. 2023. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/49ymoithrz_NPPC_ESMP_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for National Plant Protection Centre |date=January 2023 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/49ymoithrz_NPPC_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 National Plant Protection Centre}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/49ymoithrz_NPPC_ESMP_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }