Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTF) is the only National Implementing Entity (NIE) for Adaptation Fund in Bhutan. BTF is implementing the project titled "Adaptation to Climate-Induced Water Stresses through Integrated Landscape Management in Bhutan." This project, funded by the Adaptation Fund, has received a grant of US$ 9.951 million for a period of five years in October, 2022.
The objective of the project is to build resilience to climate change and adaptive capacity of water-stressed communities in the dzongkhags of Paro, Dagana and Tsirang.
This special project for climate resilience building in water stressed communities in Bhutan, embraces an articulated approach for achieving healthier ecosystems and improved associated services, better management of water use for human activities, improved information systems and decision-making, and linking with the most relevant level of governance.
Some of the key aspects of the project are, issues related to water availability and use along the watershed, sustainability (technical, financial and institutional level), and the participation of the beneficiaries from the project landscape districts.
The project is being implemented in the13 gewogs of the three dzongkhags. These gewogs have been identified as priorities for intervention under the government’s “water flagship programme” due to their specific vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change that need to be specifically addressed through targeted water and agricultural adaptation activities. These gewogs, put together, have a total population of 36,464 and cover a total area of 1,403 sq km. The project aims to benefit over 36,000 people directly and rehabilitate over 21,000 hectares of natural habitats.
The project has four major components:
- Component 1: Adaptive management of watersheds to enhance the climate resilience of communities
- Component 2: Climate resilient water infrastructure for uninterrupted supply of water for drinking and irrigation
- Component 3: Climate- smart agriculture through sustainable land management and informed agro- meteorological services
- Component 4: Improved local governance for effective CCA mainstreaming with focus on water management at the grassroots
The Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation expresses our deepest gratitude to the funding organizations and our partners who have made this project possible.
