Enviro News Asia, Bhutan — Bhutan approved its first National Agroforestry Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035 to strengthen sustainable land use and integrate trees, crops, and livestock into national development planning. The strategy was endorsed by the government to enhance food security, rural livelihoods, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation across the country.
The Department of Forests and Park Services under Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources led the development of the 10-year strategy, which will be implemented nationwide across all agroecological zones. The plan provides a comprehensive framework to mainstream agroforestry within Bhutan’s agricultural and forestry systems from January 2026 to December 2035.
The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) supported the strategy’s formulation by providing technical expertise, scientific evidence, and international best practices. The collaboration helped ensure that the framework is practical, implementable, and aligned with Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy, as well as its national climate and biodiversity commitments.
The strategy prioritizes climate-smart agroforestry systems to restore degraded land and strengthen resilience to climate risks. It also promotes diversified, tree-based farming systems to improve food and nutrition security while increasing income opportunities for rural communities.
In addition, the plan emphasizes stronger institutional coordination, sustainable financing mechanisms, and improved monitoring systems to support effective implementation. Inclusive development forms a core component of the strategy, with specific attention given to expanding opportunities for women- and youth-led agroforestry enterprises.
The National Agroforestry Strategy is designed to complement Bhutan’s existing national development plans, forest policies, and climate strategies. The government expects the framework to support long-term sustainable land management while balancing environmental protection and economic development.
CIFOR-ICRAF and Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources are also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2026. The agreement will formalize continued cooperation in research, capacity development, and technical assistance to further scale up agroforestry initiatives nationwide. (*)
