Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Phrumsengla National Park

The ESMP for Phrumsengla National Park (PNP) outlines mitigation strategies for five key activities planned for 2020: the construction of a range office and staff quarters, restoration of waterholes and salt licks, building a river protection wall, implementing combined zonation across 905 km2, and maintaining an in-situ Rhododendron Garden. The plan prioritizes waste management, worker health and safety, and the prevention of wildlife habitat disturbance. It mandates compliance with 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 regarding non-title land users and community consultation. Implementation is overseen by BFL focal persons and monitored through a tiered reporting system involving ESS consultants, the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), and WWF US.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is a 14-year initiative designed to improve the management of Bhutan's protected areas to increase climate resilience and maintain carbon neutrality by increasing forest and vegetative cover.
• Phrumsengla National Park (PNP) covers 905 km2 and serves as a 'linchpin' for Bhutan's Biological Corridor Complex (B2C2), protecting endangered species such as the Tiger, Red panda, musk deer, and Rufous-Necked hornbills.
• The ESMP identifies five specific activities for 2020 with associated budgets: construction of a range office (USD 95,620), restoration of waterholes and salt licks (USD 4,761), river bank protection (USD 3,500), combined zonation (USD 10,000), and maintenance of an in-situ garden (USD 33,000).
• To mitigate the impact of constructing the range office, the plan requires planting 5–6 trees for every 3 trees cut down and prohibits open defecation and the dumping of waste in water sources.
• The combined zonation activity involves demarcating four zones—core, multiple-use, buffer, and enclave—across 905 km2, including consultations with communities in Ura, Chumey, Shingkhar, Tsamang, Saling, Jaray, and Metsho.
• Maintenance of the 22-hectare in-situ Rhododendron Garden must avoid heavy machinery and soil excavation to minimize disturbances to the migration and breeding of wildlife such as barking deer, wild boar, and sambar.
• In cases of discrepancy between Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF’s Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP), the WWF SIPP prevails, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title land users for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.

APA

WWF International (2020). Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Phrumsengla National Park. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7aait29v9z_PNP_ESMP.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Phrumsengla National Park. 2020. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7aait29v9z_PNP_ESMP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Phrumsengla National Park |date=2020 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7aait29v9z_PNP_ESMP.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2020bhutan, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Phrumsengla National Park}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2020}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7aait29v9z_PNP_ESMP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }