Forest under dual threat from excessive firewood and timber harvesting

Neten Dorji

Mongar—The Korila Forest Management Unit in Mongar is confronting a severe threat from rising firewood consumption and excessive timber harvesting, according to the Divisional Forest Office.

In recent years, escalating demand—particularly from the gewogs of Ngatshang, Chaskhar, and Mongar—has led to significant forest degradation.

In the past five years, 27,306 cubic metres of firewood were harvested from the area. Mongar gewog alone accounts for the largest share at 12,616 cubic metres, followed by Chaskhar at 7,776 cubic metres, and Ngatshang at 6,914 cubic metres.

The chief forestry officer of the Mongar Forest Division, Karma Tempa, said that timber harvesting and firewood collection are major contributors to the decline in forest cover in the area.

The main driver of this demand is livestock farming, with local farmers heavily relying on firewood for fodder preparation.

“Generally, the three gewogs consume large quantities of firewood to prepare fodder for cattle, resulting in unsustainable use of forest products in the area,” Karma Tempa said.

He warned that the forest could face irreversible damage if the situation is not addressed in time. “This unsustainable extraction threatens not only the ecological health of the Korila forest but also the livelihoods of communities that depend on it.”

In response to the crisis, several measures have been proposed. One key solution is the promotion of biogas as an alternative energy source.

Biogas is a renewable energy generated from organic waste like animal manure.

“Most of the farmers in those gewogs depend on livestock and we are urging livestock officers to promote the use of biogas,” he said.

The Divisional Forest Office has already implemented restrictions on timber harvesting, with a ban on commercial extraction. However, timber for rural house-building and other non-commercial use is still permitted following careful assessment.

“We have restricted local communities to cutting down trees only for essential needs, to avoid further strain on the forest,” an official from the forest office said.

Despite these restrictions, more needs to be done.

“A balanced approach that safeguards both the environment and local livelihoods is the only way forward,” Karma Tempa said. “With sustainable forest management and renewable energy, we can restore our forests while supporting farmers and their communities.”

Green Bhutan Corporation Limited (GBCL) is adopting sustainable solutions to preserve this critical natural resource. In collaboration with the Mongar Forest Division, GBCL has initiated forest restoration efforts, planting 32,960 high-value timber species across 28 hectares of degraded land.

To ensure the success of the initiative, the plantation area has been fenced and caretakers have been hired to maintain the newly planted trees.

The chief executive officer of GBCL, Karma Jigme Temphel, said that the area was degraded and had lost its economically valuable trees. “We planted trees in the area in collaboration with the Mongar Forest Division. If the government doesn’t support post-plantation care, the investment will be wasted.”