Assessing the Contribution of Bhutan’s Community Forest Program to Sustainable Development: Case Studies from Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary

Lekey Chaida

Bhutan’s Community Forest (CF) program, established in 1995, is a key component of the country’s strategy for sustainable management of natural resources, aligning with the principles of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Although the program has since expanded to now comprise 823 Community Forests (CFs) covering 130,407.35 hectares, questions and concerns remain about its contribution to sustainable development across social, economic and environmental dimensions/pillars and domains. To address these questions, this study develops and applies a rapid assessment tool based on a binary scoring system across ten sustainability indicators or domains, to evaluate the performance of four case studies: Pemathangka, Jampani Fakchuthang, Devithane and Monmola Panshing Zehung Phendey Community Forests. All four case studies are located in the Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary (JWS). Findings revealed mixed performances, Pemathangka CF performing exceptionally well, scoring the highest in governance (social), equitable benefit-sharing (economic), and sustainable forest management (environmental). Jampani Fakchuthang and Devithane CF are demonstrating commendable results, particularly in environmental conservation, though challenges such as limited timber resources and financial transparency persist. Monmola Panshing Zehung Phendey CF performs less well, with weak monitoring and unresolved conflicts affecting its performance. Key strengths of Bhutan’s CF program include its sustainable development goals of decentralised forest governance, livelihood support, and biodiversity conservation. However, this study shows institutional capacity gaps, restricted commercialisation opportunities, and inconsistent monitoring, highlighting the need for policy reforms. A structured assessment tool is proposed to guide evidence-based decision-making for CF management plan extensions and interventions. Recommendations to enhance the CF program’s long-term sustainability include strengthening institutional capacity, expanding income-generation opportunities, improving monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing. This study highlighted the CF program’s potential as a driver of sustainable development, while emphasising the need for improved adaptive governance and community empowerment to ensure continued success.

Assessing the Contribution of Bhutan’s Community Forest Program to Sustainable Development: Case Studies from Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary

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