His Royal Highness the Gyaltshab Jigme Dorji Wangchuck graced the inauguration of the new Secretariat of the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation, Health Trust Fund, and Bhutan for Life, the sister agencies sharing similar social and environmental mandates. Hon'ble Prime Minister Lyonchen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Leytshog Lopen Sangay Dorji from Zhung Dratshang, and the delegates from the government and the conservation agencies, including former BTFEC Board members and the employees attended the inauguration ceremony on February 8, 2024.
Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation is the world's first environmental Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was established on March 6, 1991 as an Independent Grant-making Organization. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo granted the Royal Charter to the Trust Fund in 1996. Further, the Royal Charter was revised by His Majesty Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in 2021, stating "keeping the present needs and ensure relevance and role of BTF to meet the future challenges".
Annually, the Trust Fund grants close to USD 2Million to support environmental projects and works in Bhutan. Since its inception, the Trust Fund has awarded over 241 projects amounting to over US$30 million in Bhutan. Bhutan Trust Fund is the only accredited agency in Bhutan as the National Implementing Entity to Adaptation Fund (2018) and the Direct Access Entity to Green Climate Fund (2020).
