Environmental and Social Management Plan for Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026

The 2026 Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary focuses on the restoration of Dungtsho Lake. Categorized as a Category B project under the Bhutan for Life (BFL) initiative, the plan identifies potential risks such as habitat disturbance, the spread of invasive species like Acorus calamus, and seasonal interference with migratory waterbirds. It outlines specific mitigation measures, including scheduling work outside peak breeding seasons (March-July) and implementing strict waste management. The plan also details occupational health and safety standards for community contractors and establishes a monitoring framework involving BFL focal persons and the Project Coordination Unit (PCU).

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is classified as a Category B project because potential adverse environmental and social impacts are "site-specific, reversible, and can be readily mitigated."
• The primary activity planned for 2026-2027 in the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is the cleaning of Dungtsho Lake, with a budget of Nu. 500,000 and a timeline from October to December 2026.
• Dungtsho Lake is an ecologically important wetland habitat for waterbird species such as Mallards, Mergansers, Kingfishers, and White-breasted Waterhens, but it is currently threatened by "bushes, invasive aquatic plants, sediment deposits, and debris."
• To protect migratory and resident waterbirds, the ESMP requires that lake cleaning and construction be scheduled "outside the peak migratory and breeding seasons (March-July)".
• The plan identifies the invasive aquatic plant Acorus calamus as a risk; mitigation requires that the disposal of such material into "nearby ponds, streams, wetlands, or into the wild should be strictly prohibited."
• The project will employ 10-15 local individuals through community contractors, and a separate budget of Nu 20,000 is allocated specifically for the implementation of ESMP mitigation measures.
• The Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary covers 1534.24 square kilometers across Trashiyangtse, Lhuntse, and Mongar, with over 70 percent of the area being forested.

APA

WWF International (2026). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2500/7.BWS_ESMPY8_2026.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026. 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2500/7.BWS_ESMPY8_2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026 |date=2026 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2500/7.BWS_ESMPY8_2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2026environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan for Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, 2026}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2500/7.BWS_ESMPY8_2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }