Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 6

The ESMP for Biological Corridor 6 (BC 6) outlines the environmental and social safeguards required for habitat restoration activities planned for 2020. BC 6, covering 270.80 km² and primarily consisting of forest, connects the Sakteng and Jomotshangka Wildlife Sanctuaries. Planned activities include the restoration of 1 hectare of lowland grassland and 2 hectares of salt licks and waterholes. The plan identifies potential risks such as forest fires, poaching, and conflicts with local communities over the removal of fences around waterholes. Mitigation measures include controlled burning, community consultations, and religious offerings to appease local deities. Implementation is managed by BFL focal persons and monitored through field visits and reports to the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) and WWF.

• Biological Corridor 6 (BC 6) covers a total area of 270.80 km², with 99.28% (268.86 km²) consisting of forest cover, specifically cool broad-leaved and fir forests. The corridor connects the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in the north to the Jomotshangka Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
• Despite its official declaration in 1999, BC 6 currently lacks a management plan or any form of conservation implementation, and local communities are largely unaware of its existence.
• Planned activities for 2020 include the restoration of 1 hectare of lowland grassland (budgeted at USD 3,000) and the restoration of 2 hectares of salt licks and waterholes (budgeted at USD 4,761.9).
• The restoration of waterholes presents specific social and cultural risks, including potential conflicts with communities over the removal of unauthorized fences and the disturbance of lakes revered as holy.
• To mitigate cultural impacts, the project will perform religious offerings and rituals to obtain consent from local deities and conduct consultations with local leaders (Gup) and communities.
• The project identifies a risk of increased poaching as waterhole restoration creates hotspots where animals gather, which will be mitigated by constructing waterholes in low-poaching areas and increasing patrolling.
• 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 will prevail, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.

APA

WWF International (2020). Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 6. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/88rqtevw1m_BC6_ESMP.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 6. 2020. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/88rqtevw1m_BC6_ESMP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Bhutan for Life Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 6 |date=2020 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/88rqtevw1m_BC6_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 Biological Corridor 6}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2020}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/88rqtevw1m_BC6_ESMP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }