Environmental and Social Management Plan for Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training

The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT) outlines the mitigation strategies for the construction of a water filtration tank scheduled for October 2025 to March 2026. Categorized as a Category B project, the activity is expected to have site-specific, reversible impacts. Key environmental risks include dust pollution, construction waste, and habitat disturbance, while social impacts are deemed minimal. The plan mandates 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 regarding community consultation and compensation for non-title holders. Implementation will be managed by a BFL focal person and contractors, with a budget of Nu. 1,500,000. The document also details comprehensive occupational health and safety (OHS) standards and a multi-tiered grievance redressal mechanism involving local offices, WWF, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

• The construction of a water filtration tank at UWIFoRT is categorized as a Category B project because potential adverse environmental and social impacts are "site-specific, reversible, and can be readily mitigated".
• The project aims to address clean water shortages caused by a flash flood on August 5, 2024, which "critically compromised the existing water tank and plumbing". The new facility, budgeted at Nu. 1,500,000, will be constructed between October 2025 and March 2026 at Lamai Goempa, Choekhor gewog, Bumthang Dzongkhag.
• Identified environmental risks include dust pollution, construction waste, and habitat disturbance from excavation machinery. Mitigation measures include using windbreaks, enclosures, regular site cleaning, and avoiding heavy machinery to minimize impacts on the natural habitat.
• The project must comply with both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social Safeguards Integrated Policies and Procedures (SIPP). In cases of discrepancy, WWF's SIPP prevails, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.
• A multi-level grievance redressal mechanism (GRM) is established, allowing stakeholders to report issues via local gewog or forest offices, the BFL Project Coordination Unit (PCU), WWF's Project Complaints Officer, or the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Independent Review Mechanism.

APA

WWF International (2025). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7wmb2vsc4j_22.UWIFoRTs_ESMP_2025.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training. 2025. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7wmb2vsc4j_22.UWIFoRTs_ESMP_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training |date=2025 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7wmb2vsc4j_22.UWIFoRTs_ESMP_2025.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2025environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan for Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/7wmb2vsc4j_22.UWIFoRTs_ESMP_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }