Bay-Langdra Heritage Forest Site

Bel community members with the forestry officials

On dated 30^th May 2016, the team from Nature Recreational Ecotourism Division, Wangdue Forest Division together with the Dzongkhag Forestry Sector, Wangdue visited to Bel village under Kazhi Geog, Wangdue Dzongkhag mainly to conduct ground consultation with the public of Bel regarding the declaration of Bay-Langdra as Heritage Forest sites. As such, Bay-Langdra under Wangdue Forest Division is one of the six-piloted sites identified as national Heritage Forest during 2015-2016.   

Bay-Langdra Ney

Heritage Forest is a forest surrounding cultural, religious or historical sites with significant ecological and cultural values that are under increasing threat from anthropogenic pressure. The declaration will be primarily to protect and rehabilitate degraded forest areas around monasteries, religious or spiritual sites, important monuments, lakes, critical watersheds, etc. Heritage forest could be one of the models for conservation and management undertaken by the community in addition to the many natural resources managed by the communities in the country.  

Overall objective;

1.Protect and rehabilitate degraded forest ecosystems around monasteries, religious and spiritual sites, important national monuments, lakes, critical watersheds, etc. 

2.Serve as one of the models for conservation and management of natural resources undertaken by the community  

3.Ensure continuous supply of critical ecological services like watershed protection, carbon sequestration, regulate local climate, and improve water quality, conservation of biodiversity and many others.

4.To consider the management of heritage forests as one of the strategic options under REDD+ strategy and action plan for conservation and sustainable management of natural resources