Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation

Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) is celebrating every accomplishment of our grant recipient, Women Waste Recycler of Bhutan. BTF's Large Grants program supported the "SHE-Cycle Solutions: Women-Led Initiatives for Sustainable Waste Management" an initiative by Women Waste Recycler of Bhutan based in Gelephu. Currently, Women Waste Recycler Of Bhutan is hosting a summer camp at the Start-Up Center in Changzamtog with over 30 students from Thimphu and one from Trongsa. The participants are being trained on recycling, upcycling and repurposing to create useful products from plastic waste. 💚 To support our sustainable waste management dreams, a special request from us to our followers and well-wishers to donate the following items if they are of no use at your homes and offices: 📌plastic packets from products like milk power, surf, atta, maida 📌rice sacks/bags 📌old pillows, cushions, soft toys, and quilts You can drop them off at the BTF secretariat building gate or at the Start-Up Center in Changzamtog, Thimphu. For further inquiries or to arrange a pick-up, please contact Women Waste Recycler of Bhutan at 17577732.

We would like to congratulate the National Council (NC) for adopting the review report on "Satong and Gongtong" which was completed in June, this year, with support from Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF)'s Small Grants program. The chairperson of Good Governance Committee of NC, Eminent Member, Phuntsho Rapten, visited BTF to express gratitude, and to submit the review report to the BTF Management. 👉🏻 To access the report, you can visit our website's "Data & Resources" page by clicking the link below: https://lnkd.in/gv6Kx9VK

The project titled, “Establishment of Permanent Biodiversity Monitoring Plot for Education and Conservation Studies at Khaling-Kharungla” in Trashigang is a three-year project, supported by Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) as part of our Large Grants program. Executed by Sherubtse College faculty, the project aims to establish a permanent biodiversity monitoring plot in Khaling-Kharungla, Trashigang, to facilitate education and conservation studies. The inception activity of the project was carried out in April, this year, with focus on equipment use and field preparatory training to assess faunal and floral diversity. The participants gained familiarity with biodiversity assessment techniques, and methodologies for assessing different biodiversity groups were finalized. The training sessions also prepared the team for field surveys and biodiversity monitoring. Adaptation of methodologies ensures efficient data collection. The project lays the groundwork for robust biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts in Khaling-Kharungla. It highlights the role of academic institutions in scientific research and conservation initiatives. We wish Sherubtse College faculty, best wishes for successful implementation of this promising project for years to come. 📸 courtesy: Sherubtse College

𝕄𝕖𝕖𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞! ☕ They say, "Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate our surroundings". Meet Karma Yangzom, our office attendant, fondly known as "Ana Karma". She is a single-mother, hard-working, and one of the most dedicated employees of BTF Secretariat. We value your service to BTF, and we are grateful you make us feel at home by ensuring all our staff and guests are served tea and coffee. ☕ ☕ ☕

Proposal Call for BTF Large Grant Projects 2024-2025 Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) would like to invite project proposals under the following thematic areas based on objectives defined under BTF’s Royal Charter, the priorities set for the 13th Five Year Plan of the Royal Government and inputs received during the stakeholder consultation: 📌Thematic Area I: Biodiversity Conservation 📌Thematic Area II: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation 📌Thematic Area III: Environmental Research, Development and Education 📌Thematic Area IV: Enhancing Private Sector Development The project proposal should be based on the above thematic areas and should also address aspects of gender equality, and social and environmental safeguards, wherever relevant. The completed project concept template (available for download on website) should be submitted in hard copy to the office of BTF or via email as a single PDF document to [email protected] latest by 31st July 2024 before 5.00 PM (BST).

Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation family would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for receiving the recognition award from the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF) during their Silver Jubilee celebration. We are humbled and forever grateful to the YDF, and Her Majesty Gyalyum Tseyring Pem Wangchuck for inspiring us to work harder for greater conservation goals for Bhutan and our planet.

His Majesty The King visited the DSP Solar Initiative project site in Dechencholing on June 14, 2024. "The DSP Solar Initiative (DSP-SI), in its first phase, successfully commissioned a 250 kW rooftop solar power plant at the Centenary Farmers Market on May 29, 2023, and a 500 kW ground-mounted solar power plant at Dechencholing on June 9, 2023. Funded by the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC), these projects were completed at a benchmark cost of Nu 54,000 per kW capacity. Phase II includes an additional 2.1 MW ground-mounted PV system at Dechencholing, a 1.5 MW rooftop solar PV system at the Druk Gyalpo’s Institute in Pangbisa, and an expanded 200 kW rooftop solar PV system at the Centenary Farmers Market. The solar project at Dechencholing was test charged and commissioned on June 1, 2024. Currently, 40 De-suups are engaged in the project under the supervision of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the DSP Solar Initiative. The Project was initiated upon Royal Command with the objective to diversify the country's energy sources beyond hydropower, leveraging Bhutan's 12 GW solar potential. It is chaired by Dasho Bharat Tamang, member of the Privy Council, who has previously served as the MD of Bhutan Power Corporation. The DSP Solar Initiative aims to enhance Bhutan's energy security, showcase the country's leadership in environmental conservation, prove the technical and economic feasibility of solar power, and encourage its adoption by both public and private sectors. Additionally, it seeks to develop local expertise in the field through the De-suung Skilling Program." Script & Photo Courtesy: His Majesty's Facebook Page

𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘴 "For centuries, Bhutanese have lived in harmony with nature. The importance of natural ecosystem, and every aspect associated with nature is deep-rooted in Bhutan’s distinctive socio-cultural and religious situations. It is almost correct to say, our beliefs, superstitions, and a strong religious, traditional and cultural ethos associated with Buddhism played a significant role in conservation of our natural wealth. Buddhist values inspire a respectful attitude towards all living beings including insects, wild animals, streams, lakes and mountains. The positive side effects of the dark stories of demons and enchantresses guarding our mountains and caves, the beguiling stories of mermaids protecting sacred lakes and streams-- they all contributed to the safeguarding of our forests, mountains and natural resources." To read more, visit our News & Stories blog on our website: https://lnkd.in/dgmfS2as

𝕄𝕖𝕖𝕥 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞! 👩🏻💼 👩🏻💻 👩🏻 Women play an immensely important role in the conservation world. From contributing ground-breaking research, to upholding traditional local knowledge, women are often the frontline of preserving nature, and nurturing the communities around them. Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) takes a special pride in saying that half of our staff are women, and we value each of their contribution, from human resource, program to procurement. Meet our team: Kinzang Lhamo (HR officer), Phuntsho Choden (Program Officer) and Rinchen Wangmo (Procurement Officer). They joined BTF secretariat in 2014, and are our valuable employees since then.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) is pleased to invite proposals from eligible International Consultant (Individual) to provide consultancy services for Capacity Building of DAE and DAE applicants on meeting GCF accreditation standards and developing GCF related project proposal developments. 👉🏻 For details and ToR, please visit our website. 👉🏻For further queries contact Mr. Ugyen Tshering at 975-17643711 during office hours. Interested International Consultant may submit their proposals, addressed to the Managing Director, via email: [email protected]   🔔 Deadline for proposal submission is 20th June, 2024 (12PM).