Bhutan: Conservation and Environmental Protection in the Himalayas [Paperback]

Located in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan practices the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that embraces environmental conservation as one of the main building blocks for its sustainable development goals. Bhutans conservation strategies and success are largely driven by the strong political will and visionary leadership of His Majesty the King of Bhutan The nations Buddhist perspectives regarding a deep and abiding respect for nature; and the strategic enforcement of a wide-ranging stringent set of internal regulations and controls have helped ensure ecological gold standards in Bhutan. Moreover, the country is an active member of the international conservation community by fulfilling its implementation of various Multilateral Environment Agreements. While it emerged into the 21st century as one of the 36 global terrestrial hotspots in biological diversity conservation ranks, Bhutans sheer commitment with more than 51% of its territory being managed under the explicit status of a protected area network, and more than 70% of the land under forest cover, represents Bhutans exemplary dedication to protect the planet despite its smallness in size and economy, and the biological fragility exemplified by its hotspot situation.  In the face of imminent severe threats of global warming, Bhutan nonetheless exemplifies the truth that a small country with a big conservation commitment can make an enormous contribution to the global community.

At the regional level, Bhutan is intent upon protecting the Water Towers of Asia (that glacial expanse of the Himalayas) which is a critical resource bulwark for about one-fifth of the global population downstream in South Asia. Such protections invariably help mitigate climate change by acting as a nation-wide carbon sink through its carbon neutral policies.  In short, Bhutan has long represented one of the worlds foremost&al¼