Sonam Wangchuk, Desuung Organization under HIs Majesty’s Secretariat, Bhutan

Bhutan is globally recognized for its environmental stewardship, mandated by Article 5 of its Constitution, which requires at least 60% forest cover in perpetuity. Guided by Gross National Happiness, over half the country is designated as protected areas and biological corridors, sustaining rich biodiversity within the Eastern Himalayas hotspot.

These forests support iconic species such as the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, red panda, Asiatic elephant, and greater one horned rhinoceros among others. The Himalayan black bear with its wide range across Bhutan play vital ecological roles as keystone species, supporting seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

However, Human Bear conflict is rising due to uncontrolled grazing expansion, forest resource use, infrastructure growth, and settlement encroachment. Crop losses, livestock depredation, and increasing bear mauling incidents threaten both livelihoods and conservation gains.

Between 2015 and 2019, 34 bear mauling cases were recorded at the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, with over 30 cases alone in 2020. Retaliatory killings, combined with bears’ low reproductive rates, threaten long-term viability.
Climate change further alters food availability and habitat use, potentially increasing conflict.

In response, Bhutan promotes coexistence through the Million Fruit Trees Plantation engaging Desuung volunteers to create buffer food zones near forest edges, with other supplementary programs from line agencies such as wildlife friendly farming, non-lethal deterrents, compensation schemes, and community awareness. Adaptive, climate-resilient strategies remain critically essential to safeguard bear populations and forest ecosystems.