Hon’ble Lyonpo’s meets forestry officials of Wangdue Forest Division

On the day of November 29^th, 2014, His Excellency Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests visited the Wangdue Forests Division on his way back from visit to Royal Orchard at Kamechu under Wangdue Dzongkhag. During the time, His Excellency kindly granted an audience to the forestry officials of the Division with close interaction. Meanwhile, the Chief Forestry Officer of the Division presented the status of forestry offense and “why offense cases in Wangdue Territorial Division is high comparing to rests of the Division” and also highlighted the major challenges & burdens faced by the field staff while carrying out their duties. The CFO pointed out that Wangdue Division is one of the biggest Territorial Division in Bhutan covering an area of 5030.00 square kilometer. Similarly, the Division is delivering services to the clients of 26 Geogs of Punakha and Wangdue. He presented that, with rapid increase in population and ongoing two mega hydroelectric projects contributed substantial growth of offense cases comparatively. The CFO said that, many people knowingly carryout illegal activities despite of considerable advocacy efforts put by the Division in tackling offense cases.

Many Range Officers expressed their concern regarding the submission of false statement and accusing forestry officials to the higher authorities when they are apprehended and penalized. As expressed by the Wangdue Range Officer, the problem with the defaulter is that they like to be right and sometimes will defend ideas to the death rather than admit they’re wrong. He said that, simply because they cannot be proven wrong, does not make them right and most of the tricks of logic and debate refute questions and attacks, but fail to establish any true justification. One of Range Officer said that, they do not expect to be a legal expert; all of them comply with the rules and regulations and seek advice from their manager. He also stated that, they have a responsibility to conduct in a manner that complies with rules and regulations, which would help minimizing future illegal activities.   

Another official pointed out that, the trend on misuse of Rural House Building Timber is keeping on increase as per the offense statistics maintained by the Division for 2011-2014. He expressed that, many people have not been utilizing the timber fully for the purpose for which it was allotted therefore there is a strong needs to review the subsidized timber allotment policy and rationalize the system. He also expressed that; the clients desire to dispatch surplus timber to another endpoint with so many futile excuses and this may be one of the ambiguities letting misuse happen.  

As such, Wangdue Division is potential area for sand quarry supplying 25000 truckloads of sand annually. Beside, two mega hydro power projects fall within the Division inviting lots of illegalities. The Dzong reconstruction project is another task which is in full swing, the 10 stone quarries approximately 352.88 acres are all into operation, the leased out 478.44 acres of SRF land to PHPA I and II and other business entities, 6 wood based industries and 13 furniture houses are all under operation, most of the areas in this Division are prone to forest fire, 2 Forest Management Units under operation and Wangdue Division is one of the Cordyceps growing areas of Bhutan.