In a sweeping demonstration of its enduring environmental commitment, Bhutan’s Department of Forests and Park Services has unveiled a major reforestation campaign that will see fire-resistant native trees planted across at least two hectares in each of the country’s 24 forest divisions and protected areas. Launching in tandem with the nation’s Social Forestry Day and marking the coronation anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the project seeks to bolster ecological resilience, ignite public enthusiasm, and harness community engagement in safeguarding Bhutan’s verdant heritage.
“By bringing together local governments, schools, institutions, and community-based organizations, we aim not only to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems but also to instill a culture of stewardship and strengthen our fire prevention efforts,” said a spokesperson from WWF Bhutan, outlining the collaborative framework set to roll out over the coming months.
Reviving Landscapes, Fortifying Forests
Under the plan, each forest division will adopt a minimum two-hectare plot—enough area to accommodate thousands of saplings—and retrofit it with native species renowned for their fire-resistance. In Thimphu, for instance, the Forest Division has partnered with Desi High School under a five-year stewardship agreement. Students and volunteers will revive a fire-affected tract above the school grounds at Debsi, planting over 2,200 saplings of local fir, oak, and rhododendron species specially selected for their robustness against blaze.
“The restoration of fire-affected areas with fire-resistant plant species is expected to reduce the risk to life and property, enhance biodiversity, stabilize watersheds, and uplift the livelihoods of local communities,” WWF Bhutan explained, noting that these activities also reinforce Bhutan’s unwavering pledge to remain carbon neutral.
A Legacy of Greening
This initiative follows a proud lineage of mass tree-planting achievements. In 2015, Bhutan shattered records by planting upwards of 49,000 trees in a single hour—a feat previously held by India. A year later, some 108,000 saplings were put in the ground by tens of thousands of volunteers to honor the birth of the royal couple’s first child. In 2022, the kingdom again mobilized communities to mark King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s 40th birthday, further enriching the nation’s canopy.
Today, with more than 72 percent of its territory cloaked in forest, Bhutan not only fulfills its constitutional mandate to maintain at least 60 percent forest cover but also stands as one of the planet’s rare carbon-negative nations. Its dense woodlands absorb more CO₂ than the country emits, underpinning a bold vision of environmental stewardship that extends beyond its borders.
Gross National Happiness Meets Green Growth
Bhutan’s success in harmonizing development and conservation is inseparable from its pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy. Rather than fixating on GDP, policymakers weigh economic progress against cultural preservation, environmental integrity, and social well-being. This holistic approach has encouraged sustainable industries, organic agriculture, and—and crucially—robust forest management.
With a population of just 777,000, the Himalayan kingdom remains one of the world’s smallest and least industrialized states. Yet, it wields outsized influence through its example: banning logging for export, mandating 100 percent organic farming, and embedding nature’s sanctity within the constitution itself.
Cultivating Community, Cultivating Hope
Across Bhutan’s idyllic valleys and rugged highlands, the new planting campaign promises to be more than a bureaucratic exercise. It is envisioned as a national movement—an opportunity for students to learn by digging in the soil, for herders to protect pastures from runaway fires, and for urban residents to feel a deeper bond with the forests that define their skyline.
As saplings take root in parched patches once scarred by flame, these efforts will translate into cooler streams, richer wildlife habitats, and strengthened livelihoods for forest-dependent families. And as each seedling grows, it will stand as a living testament to Bhutan’s enduring creed: that genuine prosperity arises not from unbridled consumption, but from a balanced embrace of nature, culture, and community.
In the words of one local volunteer, “We plant trees today not only to honor our king’s legacy, but to safeguard the future of our children—and the forests that sustain us all.”
