The Royal Botanical Park at Lampelri is the country’s first nature-based recreational park, established in 2004 to preserve the rich natural biodiversity of the area. This area of 47sq. km in the Dochula Conservation area has been allocated for protection and development into a site for ecotourism and nature education. The Park is blessed with a variety of wild flora and fauna. A unique attraction of the park is the rhododendrons. Of the total 46 species that grow in Bhutan, 40 species are found here. This includes the 29 species that grow naturally in the area and another 11 that have been planted in the park Garden. The Park also has 114 species of ferns, as well as numerous wild orchids.
In early spring, Bhutan celebrates the Rhododendron festival, held every year at the Lampelri Botanical Park which is about 35km from Thimphu. The festival celebrates the rhododendron blossoms in spring, focusing around three main themes: ecological, cultural and cuisine.
The Royal Botanical Garden, however, has only 40 species of rhododendrons for visitors. A project to address this gap, and increase the number of rhododendron species in the Park, “Conservation and Extension of Rhododendron Garden at Lampelri Botanical Park” is implemented by the Green Bhutan Corporation Limited. This project is supported by the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) through its Small Grants Program, this year.
Project Objectives
The proposed project aims to address this gap by expanding and improving the Rhododendron Garden. The project will also fulfill the goals to conserve and showcase broader range of Bhutanese rhododendron species at Lampelri Recreational Park.
The main objectives are:
- To educate visitors and locals about the importance of rhododendron conservation and Bhutan's rich natural heritage
- Extension of Rhododendron Garden and introduction of additional rhododendron species at the park
In the meanwhile, the project is working on expansion of the rhododendron garden area by 50%, increase the number of Rhododendron species in the garden by planting 8 new rhododendron species.
The project also conducted an awareness and education campaign on the importance of rhododendron conservation during the rhododendron Festival.
Project Beneficiary
The Project is expected to contribute towards the conservation of natural biodiversity, and ultimately help in the mitigation of climate change impacts. It will also immensely benefit the public visiting the park, including the students from the schools in neighboring districts to learn and explore on the conservation of Rhododendron.
The Rhododendron Festival, which is organized annually in collaboration with the people of Toeb Gewog, encouraging the display and sale of local foods and products, will also benefit the community. The project has engaged youth from the community for the project, giving them employment opportunities for the management of the Rhododendron garden.
BTF Grants Program
BTF supports following two funding windows:
- Large Grant up to Nu. 15 million and the project duration should not exceed three years. Project feasibility and preparatory grant is also provided if required for potential large grants project proposals.
- Small Grant up to four hundred thousand ngultrum and the project duration must not exceed one year. Small grants are provided to address immediate environmental mitigation measures.
To avail these grants from BTF, interested proponents can submit their proposal to the BTF Secretariat after the call for proposal is announced (annually through mainstream media). All proposals must be submitted as per the BTF template. For further assistance, the proponents can enquire BTF secretariat during office hours.
