Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 3

The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Biological Corridor 3 (BC-3) outlines the safeguards and mitigation strategies for the Bhutan for Life (BFL) project. Focusing on the Tsirang Dzongkhag area for 2020 and 2021, the plan addresses activities such as the improvement of salt licks, waterholes, and lowland grassland restoration. It identifies potential risks including waste generation, worker health and safety, and increased poaching, providing specific mitigation measures and monitoring frameworks. The document also details comprehensive occupational health and safety (OHS) standards and worker accommodation requirements to ensure compliance with both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF International's social and environmental policies.

• The Bhutan for Life (BFL) project is a 14-year initiative designed to maintain Bhutan's carbon neutrality by increasing forest and vegetative cover, enhancing community socio-economic wellbeing through climate-informed resource management, and strengthening the management of the Protected Area System (PAS).
• Biological Corridor 3 (BC-3) covers 376.60 km² across the Sarpang and Tsirang districts, with 90% of the area in the Sarpang Forest Division and 10% in the Tsirang Forest Division. The area is characterized by broadleaved forests (76.48%), with key species including barking deer, wild pigs, samber deer, elephants, and critically endangered birds like the White Bellied Heron and Rufus Necked Hornbill.
• Planned activities for 2020 and 2021 in the Tsirang Dzongkhag include the restoration of five waterholes and five salt licks at Alubari, Sikaridara, and Mukterchok, and the restoration of lowland grasslands at Katley-kalikhola to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
• The ESMP identifies specific environmental and social risks, such as waste from excavation, worker health and safety hazards (including snake and insect bites), and the risk that waterholes and salt licks may become gathering spots that increase poaching.
• To mitigate poaching, the plan requires constructing waterholes in areas where poaching is limited, increasing patrolling by park authorities, and installing camera traps, with a budget of US$ 639 for five camera traps for each of two offices.
• The project adheres to both Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) laws and WWF's Social and Environmental Risk Management policies; where the two differ, WWF's standards prevail, particularly regarding the eligibility of non-title holders for compensation and the requirement for extensive community consultations.
• Comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards are mandated, including the provision of personal protective equipment (helmets, gloves, boots, and reflective vests), strict noise limits (no more than 85 dB(A) for 8 hours), and detailed requirements for worker accommodation, such as a minimum of 1 meter between beds and separate facilities for men and women.

APA

WWF International (2021). Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 3. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/8ib7btbwxw_BC3_Tsirang_ESMP_2021.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 3. 2021. https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/8ib7btbwxw_BC3_Tsirang_ESMP_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 3 |date=2021 |url=https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/8ib7btbwxw_BC3_Tsirang_ESMP_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2021environmental, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Environmental and Social Management Plan for Biological Corridor 3}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2021}, url = {https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/8ib7btbwxw_BC3_Tsirang_ESMP_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }