Bhutan Ecological Society

29/07/2026

The BES successfully convened its 8th Board Meeting and Board Retreat on 27–28 July at Gangtey Palace, Paro.

The two-day retreat provided an opportunity for the Board and Secretariat to reflect on the Society's progress, review the 2025 annual update and 2026 work plan, discuss programme priorities and revenue forecasts, approve key agenda items, and exchange ideas on the future direction of BES.

The meeting concluded with the Board's directives and endorsements, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening environmental conservation and sustainable development initiatives across Bhutan.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our Board Members for their invaluable guidance, leadership, and continued support.

29/07/2026

Proud to be part of the Mountains to Mangroves initiative, the BES is working alongside regional partners to promote nature-based solutions for a more climate-resilient future.🍃

21/07/2026

𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The BES and Motithang Higher Secondary School (MHSS) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 21, 2026, establishing a collaborative partnership to support MHSS's Golden Jubilee celebrations through meaningful environmental education and action.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering students as environmental stewards by creating opportunities for learning, leadership, and community engagement.

Together, BES and MHSS will implement a range of initiatives, including tree planting and campus greening campaigns, waste management and sustainability awareness programs, educational talks, and interactive student engagement activities.

As part of this collaboration, BES will design and implement agreed environmental programs, provide technical expertise and resource persons, and support awareness and outreach initiatives in close partnership with the school.

We look forward to inspiring the next generation of environmental champions while celebrating MHSS's remarkable 50-year legacy of education and service.

21/07/2026

BES is committed to supporting the Mountains to Mangroves initiative in advancing evidence-based restoration through the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas.🌱🌿

13/07/2026

𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

The BES, in collaboration with the National Biogas Program under the Department of Livestock, Royal Government of Bhutan, piloted the prefabricated Sistema Biogas technology in Chhaling Gewog, Mongar. 27 Sistema Biogas systems have been piloted across nine districts, demonstrating the technology's potential in different parts of the country.

The initiative aimed to help rural households reduce their dependence on LPG by converting livestock waste into clean cooking gas and nutrient-rich organic fertiliser.

Sonam and his family of three members now use only one LPG cylinder a year. Previously, they had to purchase a refilled cylinder every four months at Nu 950 per cylinder.

Read more at: https://kuenselonline.com/news/pilot-of-sistema-biogas-technology-cuts-lpg-reliance-in-chhaling-gewog

12/07/2026

Ongoing plantation season in Dogar Gewog, Paro, Bhutan, driven by the BES under our Mountains to Mangroves initiative. 🌱

09/07/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐧'𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲

The Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) was honoured to welcome the Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Lyonpo Tshering, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations Authority (CSOA), along with officials from the CSOA, for a familiarization visit to the Society.

During the visit, BES presented its mandate, strategic priorities, and updates on its key programmes and projects, highlighting its work in ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, renewable energy, and community-based conservation that are benefiting both the environment and rural communities across Bhutan.

The Hon'ble Lyonpo commended BES for its impactful work and nationwide reach, recognizing the important role of civil society organizations in supporting Bhutan's sustainable development. Lyonpo also reaffirmed the importance of aligning our efforts with His Majesty The King's vision for a resilient, prosperous, and environmentally sustainable Bhutan. The guidance and encouragement reaffirm our commitment to working closely with communities, partners, and stakeholders in contributing towards this shared national vision.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Lyonpo and the officials from the CSOA for taking the time to visit the Bhutan Ecological Society, for their valuable insights, and for their continued support and encouragement. We look forward to strengthening our collective efforts in safeguarding Bhutan's rich natural heritage while improving the livelihoods of communities across the country.

25/06/2026

𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚

The BES, under the project “Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan (WERELIS–Bhutan),” in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and with financial support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, organized a series of exposure visits for Gewog Women Leaders to the pilot Solar Lift Irrigation System at Temakha, Chubu Gewog, Punakha Dzongkhag.

The exposure visits were conducted in two batches. The first batch, comprising 17 participants, was held on 9 June 2026, while the second batch brought together 20 participants from across the country. Participants included women leaders serving as Gups, Mangmis, and Tshogpas from the dzongkhags of Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, Trongsa, Paro, Thimphu, Haa, Chhukha, Tsirang, Dagana, Samtse, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse, Mongar, and Lhuentse.

The exposure visit aimed to:
• Provide practical learning on solar-powered lift irrigation systems;
• Share experiences, challenges, and best practices from the pilot project;
• Strengthen women’s leadership and participation in water management and climate resilience; and
• Promote the replication of sustainable irrigation solutions across Bhutan.
The WERELIS–Bhutan project continues to demonstrate how renewable energy-powered irrigation systems can contribute to women's empowerment, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable rural development, while supporting Bhutan's broader goals of inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth.

ICIMOD .of.renewable.energy Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources

22/06/2026

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐠

The BES, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources and with support from the Small Grants Programme, implemented the project “Empowering Highland Communities: Clean Energy for Sustainable Livelihoods and Conservation in Merak and Sakteng” from May 2025 to June 2026. The initiative aimed to reduce dependence on firewood for cooking and heating through the introduction of energy-efficient electric stoves and heaters, while improving household well-being and contributing to environmental conservation within the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.

Positive impacts are already being felt across beneficiary households. Community members report significant reductions in the time and effort previously spent collecting firewood, cleaner and healthier indoor environments with less smoke and soot, and greater convenience in managing daily household tasks. The transition to clean energy has enabled families to devote more time to childcare, education, income-generating activities, and other productive pursuits.

The following photo stories highlight the experiences of beneficiaries whose lives have been transformed through access to clean energy technologies, demonstrating how sustainable energy solutions can improve livelihoods while supporting conservation efforts in Bhutan's highland communities.

19/06/2026

𝐁𝐄𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐄𝐈 𝐋𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

The BES, in partnership with the SEI - Stockholm Environment Institute, successfully concluded a week-long mission under the Inclusive Climate Finance for Vulnerable Communities in the Asia-Pacific (ICCAP) project from 13 to 19 June 2026.

The mission focused on finalizing the target area for establishing Bhutan's Multi-stakeholder Action Lab (MAL), a collaborative platform that brings together communities, experts, policymakers, and financial institutions to co-design innovative and inclusive climate adaptation solutions. Field visits to Tsholingkhar Gewog and selected chiwogs in Tsirang Dzongkhag enabled the team to assess local climate vulnerabilities, community priorities, and opportunities for climate-resilient interventions.

A key component of the mission was the capacity-building of BES project focal persons and enumerators through training on the Living Lab approach, Climate Vulnerability and Needs Assessment (CVNA) methodology, and related implementation frameworks. These sessions strengthened local capacities to facilitate participatory assessments and support the development of evidence-based adaptation strategies.

The mission resulted in the identification of the proposed MAL site, enhanced understanding of local climate risks and adaptation needs, and the development of approaches for stakeholder engagement, vulnerability assessments, and the design of bankable adaptation solutions. The initiative places strong emphasis on gender equality, disability inclusion, and broader social inclusion to ensure that climate finance reaches the most vulnerable communities.

As the host organization for Bhutan’s MAL, BES will continue working closely with SEI and ICCAP partners to strengthen community resilience and promote inclusive climate finance solutions across Bhutan.