Special Lecture: Assessment of Conservation Priorities for Bhutan

Date: 23rd March 2023
Time: 3:00-4:00 P.M. (ICT/GMT+0700 Bangkok Time)
Venue: S101 SERD Building, AIT, Thailand

The Department of Development and Sustainability is pleased to invite you to the Special Lecture titled Assessment of Conservation Priorities for Bhutan  by Former Environment Secretary of Bhutan.

Introduction

Bhutan, located in the Eastern Himalayas, practices Gross National Happiness philosophy, which considers environmental conservation as a key pillar for sustainable development goals. The country’s conservation success is driven by the strong political will and visionary leadership of the Bhutanese king, Buddhist perspectives on nature, and strategic enforcement of strict internal regulations. Bhutan is an active member of the international community and implements various Multilateral Environment Agreements. Despite being one of the 36 global terrestrial hotspots for biological diversity, Bhutan has dedicated over 51% of its territory as a protected area network and more than 70% of its land under forest cover, demonstrating its exemplary commitment to protecting the planet despite its small size and economy.

Speaker

Dr. Ugyen Tshewang, Former Environment Secretary of Bhutan.

Bio

The Department of Development and Sustainability is pleased to invite you to the Special Lecture titled Assessment of Conservation Priorities for Bhutan  by Former Environment Secretary of Bhutan, Dr. Ugyen Tshewang, a highly experienced ecologist, conservationist, development scientist, manager, and writer with over 30 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, ecology, and environmental protection. He has a PhD in natural science and has published several books and scientific papers in international journals. Dr. Tshewang has led and coordinated numerous environmental protection and biodiversity conservation projects, including the development of environmental assessment guidelines for various industries. He has vast experience in administering environment assessment laws, supervising mitigation measures to reduce adverse impacts, and executing environment clearance with environmental terms to ensure sustainable project management. Dr. Tshewang has also supervised environmental management plans for hydropower development projects and monitored the impacts of projects on the state of the environment. He has experience in national coordination and providing guidance to achieve environmental protection. Dr. Tshewang recently conducted an assessment of the state of the environment in Bhutan and the conservation priorities for threatened, under-represented, rare, and endemic species of wild animals and plants and their corresponding impacts on ecosystems. He is the longest-serving Environment Secretary in South Asia and has made significant contributions to environment protection and biodiversity conservation in Bhutan and the region, serving as a national focal for several international environmental conventions.