Evaluation of management effectiveness of Bhutan's protected areas: Perspectives of policy makers, park staff and residents

Thinley Choden

doi:10.60867/00000164

Protected areas (PAs) in Bhutan are central to achieving global biodiversity commitments and the national conservation strategy, yet sustaining ecological outcomes depends on effective governance, social legitimacy, and long-term financing. This thesis examines Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) in Bhutan, focusing on the operationalisation of PAME framework within a distinct geographic, cultural, and institutional context. For this PhD thesis, a qualitative research design was adopted, combining document analysis, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions conducted across eight PAs. National and PA-level perspectives were captured through interviews with policymaking officials and park staff and focus group discussions with park resident participants. Findings from study one showed that the PAME framework provided a structured and widely recognised foundation for planning, monitoring, and management. PAME assessments were dependent on the international donors and experts and internally challenged by threats such as illegal activities and human-wildlife conflict. In study two, it was found that Bhutan’s geographic complexity, including rugged terrain, remoteness, and extensive transboundary landscapes, posed persistent challenges for management effectiveness. These constraints are also more evident in transboundary PAs, underscoring the importance of strengthened cross-border cooperation. Sustainable financing played a critical role in enabling the addressing of these challenges. The Bhutan for Life, a permanent financing mechanism, has improved financial predictability for conservation operations and long-term planning. Study three found that cultural norms and conservation ethics strongly reinforced the legitimacy of PAs. Despite this foundational value, park resident engagement remained predominantly consultative, with limited opportunities for shared decision-making. Weak coordination across administrative scales, limited feedback loops, and variability in leadership continuity constrained the translation of PAME assessment findings into action. More formalised co-management arrangements emerge as critical for strengthening social legitimacy and improving long-term management effectiveness. The fourth study showed that across all PAs, the sustained improvements in PAME depend less on technical tools or financing alone and more on strengthened governance arrangements, institutional capacity, and embedded learning processes. Taken together, the findings from this thesis provided evidence that strengthening governance arrangements, inclusive participation, and sustainable financing mechanisms are essential for improving PAME in Bhutan. However, there are limitations due to the sampled PAs and park residents. Future research can build on this work by incorporating comparative cross-country analyses and longitudinal assessments to better understand how governance, financing, and community engagement influence long-term conservation outcomes.

Evaluation of management effectiveness of Bhutan's protected areas: Perspectives of policy makers, park staff and residents

Files and links (1)

Abstract

Details

Metrics