Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 03

The ESMP for Biological Corridor 03 (BC-03) in Sarpang, Bhutan, outlines the environmental and social safeguards for two specific activities planned between January 2023 and June 2024: the construction of new ponds and enclosures at the Southern Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (SWRRC) and the maintenance of SWRRC staff quarters. With a combined budget of Nu. 3,600,000, the project identifies minimal environmental and social risks, primarily limited to waste generation and worker health and safety. The plan mandates strict adherence to both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP), with the latter prevailing in cases of discrepancy. Mitigation measures include waste segregation, the prohibition of underage labor, and the implementation of a worker grievance mechanism. Monitoring will be conducted through field visits and reports by BFL focal persons and ESS consultants.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is a 14-year initiative designed to improve the management of Bhutan's protected areas and biological corridors to increase climate resilience and biodiversity gains, while helping the country remain carbon neutral by increasing forest and vegetative cover.
• Biological Corridor 3 (BC-03) covers 407.06 sq. km, connecting the Pibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Royal Manas National Park, and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. It is characterized by tropical forests and supports diverse fauna, including barking deer, wild pigs, sambar deer, and elephants.
• Two specific activities are planned for January to June 2023 in Jigmeling, Sarpang: the construction of new ponds and enclosures at the Southern Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (SWRRC) to accommodate increasing numbers of reptiles (budget: Nu. 1,900,000) and the maintenance of four SWRRC staff quarters where timber has rotted (budget: Nu. 1,700,000).
• The project identifies minimal environmental and social risks, specifically citing waste generation (construction and general waste) and worker health and safety as the primary concerns for both planned activities.
• To mitigate risks, the ESMP requires waste segregation and disposal at designated Dzongkhag sites, compliance with BFL occupational health and safety guidelines, a prohibition on underage workers, and the establishment of a grievance mechanism for employees.
• The project operates under both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP). In cases of discrepancy—particularly regarding compensation for non-title land users and the extent of community consultation—the WWF SIPP provisions prevail.

APA

WWF International (2023). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 03. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/4kuh2xdg3h_BC3_ESMP_2023.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 03. 2023. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/4kuh2xdg3h_BC3_ESMP_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 03 |date=2023 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/4kuh2xdg3h_BC3_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 03}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/4kuh2xdg3h_BC3_ESMP_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }