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July 13, 2019
Is Bhutan recognized as one of the top ten global biodiversity hotspots?
The straight answer is No.
Unfortunately, we see this being said again and again, in conferences as well as in our media. If we look deeper in the world of literature, Bhutan was never recognized as a stand-alone biodiversity hotspot but just as part of Eastern Himalayas, in the10 global hotspots concept of 1988.
But hold on, before we get too excited about being recognised as biodiversity hotspot, let’s know the term “biodiversity hotspot.” Biodiversity hotspots are defined as those large regions containing exceptional concentration of plant endemismand experiencing high rates of habitat loss. At present, there are 36 identified biodiversity hotspots in the world, which according to the published scientific literatures, is just 2.3% of Earth’s land surface, but home to around 50% of the world’s endemic plant species and 42% of all terrestrial vertebrates.
Existence of biodiversity ‘hotspots’- a bit of history
In 1988, a British Environmentalist Norman Myers published “Threatened Biotas: ‘Hot Spots’ in Tropical Forests” in “The Environmentalist” wherein he proposed ten localities in the tropical forests by virtue of their floristic richness and deforestation rates. Myers called these ten localities as “hotspot” areas, thus, giving ‘birth’ to the concept of biodiversity hotspots. A year after the publication of Myers’ paper, the concept of hotspots was adopted by Conservation International as the guiding principle of investments. It was a “perfect” concept to function as conservation “blue-print” as we have many to protect but with little money.
In Myers’ proposed ten localities of hotspots of 1988, Bhutan featured in the Eastern Himalayas hotspot together with Nepal, neighbouring states of northern India and continuous sector of Yunnan Province in south-western China. For Bhutan to be included in the Eastern Himalayas hotspot, Myers cited A.J.C Grierson and D.G. Long’s “Flora of Bhutan” published in 1983, which estimated 5,000 plant species of which, 750 were estimated to be endemic to the Eastern Himalayas. While Flora of Bhutan provided a much needed information on “exceptional concentration of plant endemism,” Caroline Sergent and teams’ paper of 1985, titled “The forests of Bhutan: a vital resource for the Himalayas?” provided the information on “experiencing high rates of habitat loss” (re-visit the definition of biodiversity hotspots). Their paper informed that increased commercial felling to build saw and ply mills; extension of the road networks; and forest regeneration failure due to un-enclosed livestock herding, as the identified threat to conservation.
Similarly, in 1990, Myers published another paper titled “The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis,” and in this paper, he identified another eight such areas, four of which were in the tropical forests and four in Mediterranean-type zones. This took total hotspots in the world to 18.
Fast-forward, in 2000, Myers and team published yet another paper titled “Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities” in Nature. This time, the paper identified 25 hotspots and unlike earlier years, four vertebrate groups: mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, were included in addition to vascular plants, which was the only indicator in the earlier hotspots listing. The new classification put Bhutan in the Indo-Burma hotspots, which was, then, one of the nine identified leading hotspots.
In 2005, an additional analysis was undertaken by almost 400 specialists around the globe and brought the total biodiversity hotspots to 34, which was subsequently increased to 35 after adding the “Forest of East Australia.” This reappraisal classified the Indo-Burma as two hotspots: Indo-Burma and Himalaya (Bhutan is in the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot). The latest addition came in February 2016 when the “North American Coastal Plain” was recognized as the Earth’s 36thhotspot. This means, there are 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world now.
The “fact”
It is a mistake to “glorify” (if one may like to use this word) Bhutan as one of the 10 global hotspots when hotspot is not necessarily a good thing. Let me reiterate that Bhutan was in the Eastern Himalayan hotspot of 1988 and currently we are in the Himalaya hotspot. Bhutan was never, and not a stand-alone hotspot and definitely not the top 10 global biodiversity hotspots.It appears that we just looked at the first part of the definition of hotspot: ‘concentration of plant endemism’ and began to get excited about hotspot and started to ‘label’ Bhutan as top 10 global biodiversity hotspots. We should be careful that the definition of hotspot also carries negative connotation: ‘experiencing high rates of habitat loss.’ While, we may have higher concentration of plant endemism, it is hard to believe that we seem to embrace even ‘experiencing high rates of habitat loss’, when proudly proclaiming to be a biodiversity hotspot country. Let’s be clear that biodiversity hotspot is not as “glossy” as many of us seem to picture it.
Now, where should we be proud of?
The answer is our biodiversity. We are still one of the biodiversity rich countries in the world and addition of new species to science from Bhutan is a testimony to that. From 2009 to 2017, Bhutan added 31 new species of flora and fauna to science. The new species added to science were 16 species of plants; four moths; four molluscs; one dragonfly; three fish; one stonefly and two beetles. A story on it was covered by BBS on 20 May 2019. According to a recently published “Biodiversity Statistics of Bhutan 2017” by National Biodiversity Centre, Bhutan is home to 11,248 species. This is quite a diversity for a small country like ours.
However, are we bio-diverse enough to feature in the top 10 bio-diverse countries in the world?
In 2016, Mongabay published an article titled “The top 10 most biodiverse countries.” The ranking was undertaken through a weighted index using five groups for animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles; and one group for plants: vascular plant. For obvious reason (country size), Bhutan could not even feature in the list of top 50 Earth’s most bio-diverse countries. However, when the same article looked at biodiversity on per unit of area basis to ensure that small countries are not left out, Bhutan could feature in rank 12 on the list of Earth’s most bio-diverse countries. In-case some of you are wondering, Brunei; Gambia; and Belize featured in the top three bio-diverse countries in the world on per unit of area basis.
Now what?
Bhutan may not feature in the list of top 10 bio-diverse countries in the world, yet we are probably the only country in the world where the Constitution of the country requires us to maintain at-least sixty percent of our area under forest cover for all times to come. We are probably the only country to have ‘raised our hands’ in 2009 at UNFCCC COP 15 and delivered a declaration titled, “Declaration of the Kingdom of Bhutan – The Land of Gross National Happiness to Save Our Planet”, wherein we committed to keep absorbing more carbon than we emit. Today, a decade after the declaration, we are proudly walking with our heads held high, knowing that our forests is absorbing more carbon than we emit. We are probably the only carbon negative country in the world.
Similarly in 2013, Ida Kubiszewski, a professor at the Australian National University and a team of scholars estimated that the value of ecosystem services provided by our forests to be about USD 15.5 billion/year. They also estimated that more than 50% of the total benefits from our ecosystem services accrue to the people outside Bhutan. This should be enough reason for all Bhutanese to be proud of, as we are contributing the much needed ecosystem services by our virtue of preserving our natural resources, which of-course was meticulously crafted by our beloved monarchs. We have always been a donor country of the most essential “intangible” goods: ecosystem services.
Do we live in a special place?
The currently recognised Himalaya hotspot, where we are in, overlaps the “boundary” with three other hotspots: Mountains of south-west China; Indo-Burma; and Mountains of central Asia. Our location in the Himalaya hotspot, which shares boundaries with these three biodiversity hotspots of the world signifies that we are indeed in a unique place on Earth. Unique because it signifies that our area has exceptional concentration of the endemic species but it is also a concern, as it signifies that our area is experiencing higher rate of habitat loss.
Bhutan may not even feature in the list of top 10 biodiverse countries in the world, but we live in a special place. We live in a country where the importance of co-existence is taught through Thuen-Pa-Puen-Zhi. We live in a country where the six signs of longevity: Tshering Namdruk, features biodiversity with fresh-water. We live in a place imbued with stories of the existence of mythical Mi-goe; Me-chum; Chu-drey; and many other fabled creatures. Our ancestors knew the importance of biodiversity; long before the term biodiversity was coined. We are probably the only place on Earth, where tigers and snow leopards share habitat.
We should be proud that we are one of the biodiverse countries in the world and that we don’t have conservation ‘islands’ unlike other countries, for our protected areas are well connected with biological corridors.
Contributed by
Sangay Wangchuk
Researcher at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment Research, currently studying at the Charles Sturt University, Australia
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January 9, 2020
Choki Wangmo
Prime Minister’s Office wrote to the education ministry yesterday telling them to start work on bringing down the admission age to five years beginning this academic session.
Despite hassle on the admission age, last month, Lyonchhen said the government was looking into the policy on the age criteria for admission into pre-primary (PP) to ensure that the age aligned with the National Service (Gyalsung) that would be instituted by 2022.
According to the annual education statistics 2018, enrolment in primary education was 92,298, out of which 63.4 percent enrolled at the right age (six years old) of primary education, while 3.4 percent were under-aged.
Underage students are those who have not attained six years, as per the ministry’s criteria for PP enrolment.
Last year, upon Prime Minister’s request, admission of 890 underage pre-primary students (below 5.5 years) in public and private schools across the country was reconsidered by the ministry.
Meanwhile, many social media users appreciated the move and some are awaiting timely enforcement of the policy. One woman on Facebook wrote: “I am excited and thankful to the government for this decision.
I am waiting for the ministry to circulate the letter to individual schools so that we can start processing the admission for kids as admission to school has been closed.”
However, a number of them raised concerns about the limited infrastructure to accommodate the students.
Another user noted that the young students won’t be able to handle the burden of learning at an early age. Some parents said that the decision caused inconvenience to them as they had already registered their children in the early learning centres. “We have paid the fees, even.”
“I just hope that the decision is not to derive short term political gains but would have tangible benefits for the individuals and the education system,” a Facebook user wrote.
The officials from the education ministry were not available for comments.
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January 9, 2020
… conducts 55 ear surgeries in its 8th ENT camp
Tshering Namgyal | Mongar
A mobile medical team from Thailand treated 538 ears, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient department cases from the eastern region and few from Thimphu and Phuentsholing in Mongar regional referral hospital.
In the eight ENT camp held on January 7 and 8, 55 ear surgeries were also conducted.
A 15-member team called ‘Thai Medical Friendship Mission to Bhutan’ is a part of the rural ENT foundation in Thailand. The members are volunteers from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Rajavithi Hospital, Phyathai hospital, Sriraj hospital, Prince of Sonkla University and Bumrungrad international hospital.
Although the camp was scheduled from January 6 to 9, roadblocks because of snow delayed the programme.
The team coordinator, Dr Paniree Charusripan, who is an ENT specialist and an associate professor with the Department of Otolaryngology in Chulalongkorn University, said otitis media (perforation of eardrum and discharge of puss), cerumen infection (ear wax) and meningitis (eardrum infection) and hearing loss at the young age were common problems.
She said cold weather especially in winter that causes nose block and runny nose followed by bacterial infection cause it.
Dr. Paniree said the camp was conducted to help Bhutan reaching its ENT services to the needy ones until Bhutan is well equipped with ENT specialists. “The team is keen on continuing its service until it reached the state where Bhutan doesn’t need the assistance.”
She said they are glad that the number of cases is decreasing every year.
The first ENT camp was conducted in 2008.
An ENT specialist of the national referral hospital, Dr Sonam Jamtsho, said the Thai medical team has benefitted Bhutan in providing ENT service. Bhutan has only five ENT specialists or surgeons as of today.
He said it was difficult for the national team to cover all ENT cases during ENT camp conducted in the regional referral hospitals conducted quarterly. “The Thai ENT experts have helped us.”
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January 8, 2020
…for gainful employment and talent-hunt
Younten Tshedup | Gelephu
The courtyard of Losel Gyatsho Academy in Gelephu is bustling with noise and excitement. In this crowd of over 100 students are the future actors, movie directors, dancers, singers, and painters.
Over the next two weeks, the participants would undergo basic training on filmmaking, dancing, singing, painting and sketching, among others under the programme, Art for People.
Borne out of a vision to nurture a culture of performing arts in a society that has limited scope for artists, Art for People programme started as an initiative of two like-minded individuals who harboured a passion to create a platform for individuals to hone their innate interest and talent in the performing arts.
One of the founders, Chand RC, said that educating the youth out of the content-driven classroom-learning was important. “If children are academically inclined, their doors are open for many opportunities. But what about those children who are not academically inclined?”
He said for those thousands of graduates and out of school youth who are not cut out for the civil service, private enterprises or other businesses, a platform needed to be provided to carry forward their lives.
As a filmmaker, Chand RC said that the realm of performing arts had enormous potential that could shape the youth into self-confident, disciplined, responsible, and caring individuals capable of making a positive impact in their communities.
“Art for People acts as a medium for people to express through performing arts and also open up a sustainable career opportunity for them.”
He said that although the film industry in the country is in its nascent stage, it has prospects for those with talents.
“There is a huge untapped potential of talent among the young Bhutanese. Given an opportunity, they can be at par with any youth in the world today,” he said. “We just need to provide them with the right path to channelise this energy. And this is what our programme is aiming for.”
He added that, “Art is not solely created for the aesthetic sake; art is a powerful tool that can initiate personal reflection, raise collective awareness and it may even inspire social change.”
Another founder, Tshering Dema, said that most of the Bhutanese artists today are self-made with no proper training and guidance. “Our youth have the skills but they lack in techniques. We are trying to provide them with a platform where they can explore their talents and potential.”
As an educationist, she said most of the parents expect their children to listen to them and act accordingly. “This makes the child grow up in a culture that makes them dependent on instructions and they cannot think on their own.”
She said that most of the time parents don’t even realise the kind of potential their kids have. “Some of the kids have talents of very high level, which with proper training and guidance could actually be in the international market.”
If the programme goes well, Tshering Dema said that their idea is to develop a full time course in performing arts. “Today, we live in a society where people perceive performing arts as a hobby and a part time job. We want to change this.”
Chand RC said that seeing the massive impact of the programme on the participants and community, Art for People Foundation aspires to develop into a full- fledged contemporary performing arts center, the first of its kind in the country.
“We aspire to become a pioneer institute in the country that provides holistic performing arts education and help nurture the creative talents among the youth.”
One of the participants, Rinchen Drukpa, said that he wants to pursue acting as a career. “Despite all the challenges we have today in our film industry, I want to become an actor for the sheer love for this art,” he said.
He said that the industry could grow if the present language barrier is broken. “Today, we only have Bhutanese watching our movies. We can have global audiences if we explore the opportunities because the quality of movies we produce are very high.
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January 11, 2020
Neten Dorji | Trashiyangtse
Trashiyangtse, is known for hewing Dapa(wooden bowl). However, only few people in the dzongkhag can narrate the history of its origin.
The art is long associated with people of two gewogs in Bumdeling and Yangtse.
Today, there are more than 40 artisans in Trashiyangtse. But not all are known to be skilled artisan. The master artisan, Shagzop, made their livelihood through wood turning over four generation.
Most of the Shagzops are descendants of renowned master artisan Pema Norbu, who died around 1968. Today, his seven grandsons, Tenzin Jamtsho and Jangchub, are said to revered artisan in the Dzongkhag.
Tenzin Jamtsho, 66 and his brother Jangchu, who inherited the skills from their ancestors are the fourth-generation artisans.
Tenzin Jamtsho was busy making Dapa at his workshop above Trashiyangte town. He completed making coarse bowl to give a rough shape. “This is what my father did after inheriting the skill from my grandfather Pema Norbu. My grandfather learned from his father Lobzang,” he added.
He claimed that Shagzo become popular after his father exported both skills and products to other dzongkhags.
What makes the product more expensive is the pattern, locally called Dzab that is decorates the burr. Tenzin Jamtsho knows the names of all the patterns that comes with the burr.
Tasochenma or the pattern of Horse teeth is considered the most expensive, followed by Woogthra or the pattern of Owl feathers. Likewise, the Meri chenma(flame patterned), Phozab (Large stripes), Mozab(Small Stripes) are considered as common Dzab.
Seven to eight-inch diameter of highly figured wood burrs or Dzab, fetch enough money to buy a decent car costing approximately Nu 700,000. “We don’t see much highly featured Dzabs today, it is rare now,” he said.
Lacquer gives the appealing finish to the product and makes the patterns elegant. The lacquering process have to wait until the end of June and there is a window until September. It requires enough humidity and temperature to dry.
In the past, Jangchu said they used to harvest milky sap from a tree (seyshing) and store in containers. Today most in the business use imported Japanese lacquer.
For Dzab or patterned burrs, a minimum of 12-13 coatings of lacquer has to applied. Normal burrs require about seven coatings.
With dwindling source of wood burrs, today, Shagzops employ burr hunters in places like Wangduephograng, Chukkha, Dagana and Haa. According to Shazogpa, theailing outgrowths of woods are also bought from Merak and Sakteng in Trashigang, and West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
One of the Shagzops said that, to prevent over harvesting of burrs, forestry division allow cutting only two matured trees per year by a Shagzop with trade license. “Getting trade license is long process,” Jangchu said.
He said that people extract the materials to make Dapas from Rhododendron arboretum, Eaglewood (Aquaria malaccenisis), Walnut, Oak, Lyonia Ovalifolia, Myrica esculent, wild Avocado, Maples and Alders.
Meanwhile, the local products in the showroom in Trashiyangtse range from traditional bowls such as Geylong Zheycha and Draphor (both used by monks), Gophor (small bowls with lid), Bayphor (Tibetan bowl), Pa-Dapa (large Dapa used as meat containers), Phob (cup), Tsamder(used for serving snacks), Lhungzedand Karma-Lhungzed (begging bowls), Nyey shan phob(Silver hatched cup) to modern wine cup and beer mug.
Working conditions, according to many artisans have however improved with modern electric motors, sand paper and imported lacquer replacing traditional tools.