Mr. Sonam brings with him over 19 years of dedicated service in Bhutan’s forestry, wildlife conservation, and environmental policy landscape. A seasoned conservation professional, he has played a pivotal role in shaping national strategies for biodiversity protection, protected area management, and sustainable natural resource governance.
He holds an MSc in Forestry and Wildlife Management from the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, a reputed national institute in India, a training that strengthened his foundation in ecological science, wildlife monitoring, habitat management, and conservation planning. His academic grounding, combined with nearly two decades of field and policy experience, positions him strongly to lead BTF’s programmatic portfolio and advance its mandate of securing Bhutan’s environmental integrity for present and future generations.
Prior to joining BTF, Mr. Sonam served as the Chief Forestry Officer of the Nature Conservation Division (NCD) under the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), where he oversaw Bhutan’s extensive protected area network comprising national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biological corridors, and a strict nature reserve. He provided strategic leadership for key national programs, including biodiversity monitoring, endangered species conservation, habitat restoration, and sustainable forest management.