National Forestry Policy

This Policy aims at sustaining the shape and health of Bhutan's forests over the long term, so they keep representing 60 % of the land. Its objectives are to 1) sustainably produce economic and environmental goods and services to meet the long term needs of society through active and sustainable management of Bhutan's forests. This includes active management of Government Reserved Forests inside as well as outside Forest Management Units, 2) maintain species persistence and ensure long term sustainability of Bhutan's biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural habitats through a network of protected areas (including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation areas, botanical parks, nature reserves and biological corridors) with other parts of the forest landscape also managed to deliver positive environmental outcomes, 3) Bhutan's forested watersheds actively managed to achieve sustainable rural livelihoods and to produce a reliable supply of high quality water for domestic use, irrigation and hydro power production, 4) Rural communities able to meet the majority of their timber demands from their own community forests, and derive economic benefits from the sustainable management of their forests through sale of forest products and services, 5) An economically viable and efficient forest based industry, utilising both wood and, aimed at adding value, and 6) Organisational and institutional reforms carried out and managerial, technical and administrative capacity developed to implement strategies and achieve all policy objectives.