The National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) is conducting the Local Government (LG) level consultation workshop on the “Guideline for formation and registration of Water User Association (WUA)” from November 25 until December 6, 2022. The guideline was developed to support implementation of the provisions under the Water Act of Bhutan, 2011 and the Water Regulation of Bhutan, 2014 and provides a detailed framework for formation and registration of WUA, including the roles and responsibilities of the Gewog Administration. WUA is an essential tool to institutionalize the Integrated Water Resources Management principles and promote community participation and ownership in protection and management of water resources within the community.

The NECS is pleased to notify that the establishment and operation of meat processing plants involving cutting/sizing, drying, and packing is hereafter listed under green category projects and shall be exempted from requiring Environmental Clearance (EC). However, the proponent shall be required to ensure that any waste generated from the above-mentioned activity is managed in line with the Waste Management Act 2009 and its Regulation 2012 (Amendment 2016). In addition, the proponent(s) must fulfill and obtain approvals/clearances/development consent from concerned agencies as required under relevant existing legislations.

Bhutan has a vulnerable and fragile mountain ecosystem. It has made a conscious decision to maintain 60% of its territory covered by forests and enshrine this commitment in its constitution. Currently forests cover over 72% of its territory. 

Bhutan’s carbon sequestration is 9.47 million tons CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year and emissions stand at 3.8 million tons CO2e.  It has reaffirmed its commitment to remain carbon neutral for all times in its updated National Determined Contributions (NDC). Hydropower projects currently offsets around 11 million tons CO2e, with another 12 million tons CO2e of hydropower projects under construction.

With the completion of training on all the 9 units under the Environmental (E)-flow module, the Water Resources Coordination Division of the National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) conducted the Final workshop for the project “Minimum E-flow for hydropower projects in Bhutan-Phase II” from November 16-19, 2022 in Punakha. The main objective was a) Finalization of the E-flow module, b) Finalization of supplemental document, c) Conduct fish ecology practical, d) Conduct case study as per the work packages, e) Meeting with the management of College of Natural Resources and College of Science and Technology on E-flow module and its incorporation plan, and f) Deliberate on the Memorandum of Understandings/Institutional linkages and partnership with project team for the external institutes.

The National Environment Commission is most humbled and honored to receive the prestigious Blue Planet Prize that was awarded to His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

The Water Resources Coordination Division, National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS) coordinated a meeting on September 27, 2022 to discuss on a) Groundwater assessment report for Gelephu, Sarpang Dzongkhag, b) Undertaking groundwater assessment for Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag, c) Add another site for groundwater assessment (CNR), and d) Discuss the way forward for surface water assessment.  

As a part of the project titled ‘Study on Minimum Environmental (E) Flow for Hydropower Projects in Bhutan- Final Phase’, the Water Resources Coordination Division is conducting a training workshop on practical components of Unit V: E-flow survey methods from September 15-18, 2022 in Punakha. So far, we have successfully completed training on Unit I, Unit II, Unit III, Unit IV, Unit VI, Unit VII, unit VIII and unit IX of the nine units under the E-flow module.

As a part of the project titled ‘Study on Minimum Environmental (E) Flow for Hydropower Projects in Bhutan- Final Phase’, the Water Resources Coordination Division is conducting a training workshop on Unit VI: 2D hydrodynamic modelling for habitat simulations, and Unit VIII: Aquatic habitat modelling for E-flow Assessment from September 1-6, 2022 in Punakha. 

The National Environment Commission Secretariat in collaboration with the De-Suung office is conducting a four day training of trainers (ToT) program from 5 - 8th September 2022 on the use of the Zero Waste Bhutan (ZW Bhutan) mobile application.

The Water Resources Coordination Division is conducting a training workshop on Unit VII: Fish ecological aspects of E-flow, and Unit IX: Social, Economic and cultural aspects of E-flow from August 22-27, 2022 in Thimphu, as a part of the project titled ‘Study on Minimum Environmental (E) Flow for Hydropower Projects in Bhutan- Final Phase’.