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IMPACT PROMISE

Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact

Appeal Snapshot

Partner:

Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) Bhutan

Location:

Bhutan

Category:
  • Community Support and Development
  • Capacity Building and Training
  • Endangered Species
Urgent Appeals:

Save Bhutan's White-bellied Herons From Extinction

Date Founded:

1987

Website:

www.rspnbhutan.com

Partner Qualifications:
  • IUCN Member
    A distinguished Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. IUCN Members are each vetted and voted on based on an independent, rigorous assessment and external references. Learn More
  • Legally Constituted
    This organization is formally constituted and is a legally recognized non-profit in its country of origin.
  • Effective Impact
    We recognize this Partner for their tremendous efforts to make a difference for wildlife and local communities, as well as welcome technical support from Conservation Allies to improve and scale up their impact.

About RSPN Bhutan

RSPN Bhutan was established in 1987 under the command of His Majesty, the Fourth King of Bhutan, as a citizen-based non-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of the Kingdom’s environment. Her Majesty, the Queen of Bhutan, is the current Royal Patron of the organization. RSPN Bhutan is managed by seven Board Directors, with the Executive Director serving as the head of the organization. RSPN Bhutan supports and oversees conservation programs as a complementary effort to government initiatives, using a systematic approach to implement sustainable solutions to emerging environmental challenges through innovation, citizen engagement, environmental education, and empowerment.

 

RSPN currently focuses on six areas:

  1. Species and Habitat
  2. Wetland and Freshwater
  3. Environmental Education
  4. Sustainable Livelihood
  5. Waste and Pollution
  6. Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

These six areas were developed based on national and international priorities and are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are interconnected and interdependent in nature.

RSPN Bhutan's conservation efforts have been recognized by several awards, including the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2010, the National Order of Merit (Gold) by His Majesty the King of Bhutan during the 109th National Day celebration in 2016, the ADB Civil Society Partnership Award in 2017 in Yokohama, Japan, the SDG Achievers and Leaders Award in Thimphu in 2018, and the Energy Global Award from Advantage Austria and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in 2020.

Their Challenges

The greatest challenges RSPN Bhutan faces are a lack of funding and limited capacity of their facilities in addressing the conservation of Bhutan's biodiversity and socio-economic impacts of climate change. Some of the specific challenges are:

  • Habitat fragmentation and degradation due to developmental activities in the country
  • Poverty
  • Human-Wildlife conflicts
  • Subsistent farming
  • Limited support from International donors
  • Limited resources and infrastructure to support ex-situ conservation and breeding program of White-bellied herons
  • Lack of conservation awareness among citizens
  • Impacts of climate change on biodiversity and communities

Their Approach

RSPN Bhutan uses nature-based solutions to address conservation with six focus areas. They prioritize the conservation and protection of the White-bellied Heron and Black-necked Crane. RSPN also leads environmental education programs, promoting awareness and advocacy for environmental issues amongst citizens. They collaborate with communities on sustainable development initiatives that enhance livelihoods and foster active participation in conservation projects. Some examples of their conservation projects are: 

  • Conducting annual White-bellied Heron and Black-necked Crane surveys to track population dynamics within their habitats and ecosystems
  • Restoring degraded habitats and lands
  • Engaging communities in the conservation and management of the six thematic focus areas
  • Managing watersheds and springsheds
  • Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through electric, barbed wire, and natural stone fencing
  • Promoting high-end climate-smart agriculture (both crop and livestock) to enhance the livelihoods of local communities
  • Creating nature clubs in schools
  • Promoting eco-tourism in Black-necked crane and White-bellied heron habitats
  • Conducting environmental education, awareness, and advocacy for all citizens on pressing environmental issues (waste and pollution, freshwater and wetlands, climate change, etc)
  • Youth engagement and formation of youth groups for agriculture and livestock production to increase livelihood opportunities for local communities
  • Ex-situ conservation of the White-bellied heron in conservation and breeding centers as part of population restoration programs
  • Leading climate-smart drinking projects and kitchen-garden irrigation facilities for rural communities

Why They Need Your Help

RSPN Bhutan works tirelessly to lead critical conservation activities.  They do not receive financial support from the Royal Government of Bhutan and have relied on international donors for the past 37 years. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure these resources without strong international partnerships.

By collaborating with organizations like Conservation Allies and receiving support from international donors, RSPN Bhutan can continue its critical conservation efforts, setting an example for other national and international partners to follow.