With more than 87 percent population of farmers and hydropower being the backbone of Bhutan’s economy, climate change could have a detrimental impact on the lives of the Bhutanese people said the agriculture minister, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup.

Speaking at the gathering at Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu on June 5 to mark the World Environment Day, the agriculture minister reminded the people that the day with the theme ‘Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?’, was an opportunity to reflect on the human impact on the earth.

“The theme asks that we make a choice as to how we want to treat the Earth and it also calls on each and everyone of us to act,� he said.

He pointed out that the global community appreciated Bhutan’s policy to maintain 60 percent forest cover at all times and Bhutan, in return, should remain committed. “If we really calculate the tree coverage and the rate at which we are using our resources, it would come down,� he said.

The day was marked by planting hundreds of blue pine, dogwood and oak tree saplings in a 15 acre area within the Kuensel Phodrang park, and in another 10 acre area in Paro, financially assisted by Bhutan Trust Fund for Environment Conservation (BTFEC).

The deputy minister of National Environment Commission (NEC), Dasho Nado Rinchhen, said that Kuensel Phodrang park was chosen as the site as it was a protected area. “The area had also degraded because of a forest fire few years back,� he said.

The UN resident representative, Mr. Nicholas Rosellini and officials from other ministries and agencies participated in the day-long programme.  Source: Kuenselonline