Bhutan himalayan climate studies dialogue series i
presentation by dr ngawang norbu
Dr. Ngawang Norbu is the Execuitve Director and heads the Bhutan Ecological Society (www.bes.org.bt) and the Center for Himalayan Environment and Development Studies. Prior to this, he was the Director of the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment. He convened the Bhutan Climate Summit (2011) for a Living Himalayas and initiated HEROES (Himalayan Environmental Rhythms Observation and Evaluation System), the first school and citizen-based climate monitoring program in Bhutan.
Dr. Ngawang Norbu of Bhutan Ecological society shared his views on biodiversity through his presentation titled “conserving the Last Himalayan Biodiversity Refugia”. His presentation mainly highlights the adaptations to conserve the biodiversity and the forest. Elevating the mitigation capacity towards climate change by creating community carbon banks, using Bhutan’s forest cover to champion climate mitigation, stewardship of managed forest are some of the approaches mentioned by Dr. Ngawang Norbu.
Presentation by Dr karma wangchuck
Dr Karma Wangchuck is an Assistant Professor and the Head of Department of Environment and Life Sciences in Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan. He teaches plant science modules (Plant Taxonomy, Ecology, Physiology, Plant diversity) to undergraduate Life Science and Environmental Science students since 2002. Dr Karma Wangchuck has worked on Bryoflora of eastern Bhutan with particular reference to liverworts: a neglected flora. His present project is on Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts) of Bhutan with Dr David G. Long, an expert on bryophytes and collaborator from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh (RBGE).
Dr Karma Wangchuck of Sherubtse presented his presentation titled “Importance of Bryophytes in Bhutan- climate change and conservation.” Dr Karma mainly highlighted the importance of bryophytes in the Bhutanese context and their application in mitigating climate change. Though Bhutan is blessed with rich diversity, studies have shown that mountain environments are among the most fragile and highly vulnerable to climate change. Bhutan is already experiencing the effects of climate change. With the advantage of having most of our forests intact, and noting the diverse role the bryophytes play, conservation involving plants as simple as bryophytes might help mitigate some effects of climate change.
