Impacts of Recent Policy Changes on Rural Communities and Species Diversity in Government-Managed Forests of Western Bhutan

Abstract

Forest management plans in Bhutan are implemented under the premise that species diversity is not significantly altered while providing forest products and services to local communities. This study examines the impact on local communities of government-management logging operations in national forests near their villages and the impact of the single-tree selection system on species diversity in 4 forest management units with mixed conifer forests in western Bhutan. Household interviews were conducted using semistructured questionnaires to assess the availability of forest products and the accessibility of forests for grazing and identifying constraints and opportunities. Moreover, single-tree selection forests and old-growth uncut forests were sampled for comparing species diversity. Forest product availability and accessibility of forests to rural communities for grazing varies between forest management units (FMUs). Currently, at Chamgang and Gidakom FMUs, lesser quantities of timber and other wood products such as beams, planks, scaffoldings, poles, fuelwood, and leaf litter were available to rural communities compared with 10 years before the implementation of logging operations. At Chamgang and Gidakom FMUs, logging followed by plantation and fencing and retention of coarse woody debris constituted barriers to cattle herding. Notwithstanding, forest roads provided access to forest resources. The government-managed national forests, however, provide limited accessibility to rural communities for extracting timber and other wood products. The single-tree selection system did not alter species composition and was not detrimental to forest species diversity in national forests.