SFS3580: Eastern Himalayan Forests and Biodiversity

The eastern Himalayan region is characterized by extensive and numerous mountains and valleys, hosting the world’s highest peaks and a diversity of vegetation and wildlife. Identified as one of the world’s ten biodiversity hot spots, the Kingdom of Bhutan is home to an estimated 770 species of birds and other diverse fauna, including the takin, snow leopard, golden langur, blue sheep, and tiger. Varied ecosystems are also found in the country, ranging from subtropical broadleaf forests in the south, to subalpine conifer forests, alpine shrub, and high-mountain meadows. The highest elevations comprise rock and ice. While located in the subtropics latitude-wise, Bhutan’s high altitude and mountainous terrain mean that its climate is more influenced by altitude than by latitude. The climate is dominated by summer monsoons which bring the majority of precipitation for the year. The country also has more than 70% forest cover and about 50% of Bhutan is under formal conservation protection.Bhutan is internationally famous for its development concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). GNH is the guiding principle of development guides Bhutan through its four pillars: good governance, cultural protection and preservation, sustainable development, and environmental conservation. Across the country, people have developed and maintained rich cultural traditions and social and political institutions that reflect the Buddhist principle of ‘The Middle Path’, integrating people and nature as well as traditional knowledge systems and modern science. Sustainable management of natural resources, including soil, water, biodiversity, and minerals, is critical for Bhutan, as these resources are fundamental to the national identity as well as to the economy.In early 2008, Bhutan’s government became a democratic constitutional monarchy, opening the door for devolution of authority to regional governments and communities. Since the majority of the population reside in rural areas, sustainable management of natural resources is critical for achieving the dual goals of poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. Defining baselines for biodiversity and ecosystem function is critical and, coupled with training in field research methodologies and communication in science, scientists and environmental authorities are increasingly effective at achieving development and conservation goals.The SFS-Bhutan program is a field-based course where students study a country and region characterized by dramatic mountain landscapes and rich flora and fauna. Traveling through Bhutan, our SFS group will learn about Bhutan’s forests and biodiversity. They will also be exposed to the role which culture and religion plays in forest and biodiversity conservation. Students will stay in Bhutanese villages and trek across Himalayan landscapes to experience and understand local environments and rural livelihoods. Academically, students will develop skills in assessing environmental problems, defining research questions, conducting field research, and communicating results. Students will learn camera trapping, forest measurement techniques, and landscape reading skills. Moreover, SFS students will come to appreciate the complexity of identifying and addressing conservation and development issues in a rapidly changing region.SFS partners with the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB), College of Natural Resources (CNR), and the Bhutan Ecological Society (BES), a Civil Society Organization promoting environmental sustainability in Bhutan. SFS students and faculty will collaborate with RUB, CNR and BES to advance their research agenda in several priority areas, including forest management, biodiversity conservation, community resource assessment, climate change, and development policy.

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