1 (Tricholoma matsutake) in Bhutan( In-situ study) Background
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| PhD Research Proposal
Submitted by: Ugyen Dorji Faculty Head Faculty of Forestry College of Natural Resources Royal University of Bhutan Lobesa, BHUTAN Topic: Sustainability of Sangay Shamu1 (Tricholoma matsutake) in Bhutan( In-situ study) Background: Bhutan is a small monarchial Kingdom with the population of .6 million (Population and housing census of Bhutan, 2005). It is located in the Himalayan Mountains. It has rich forest cover consisting of broad leaf and conifer species. The forest type ranges from sub-tropical in the foothills up to temperate and snow caped mountains to the north. From the start of Five Year Development plan of Bhutan, the government had been very careful in managing and using natural resources to avoid over harvesting and depletion of resources. Forest and rivers are the important natural resources for the country as we do not have other resource such as minerals and oils. Rivers produce hydroelectric power. Electricity is the biggest revenue earner for the country and might remain as the biggest revenue generator in future too. In view of this the watershed protection and management has become utmost important for the nation. Besides river, timber is considered as next important forest produce for construction and other related purposes. The Department of forest’s main objective is to manage the forest under sustainable basis, as much of our population depends on forest for their livelihood. The forest is managed scientifically by preparing management plans. Forest Resources Development Division2 is responsible for managing our forest. This division is more interested and engaged with timber than other non-timber forest products (NTFP). From the point of rural people’s livelihood non-timber forest products are more important than timber production. Forest Resource Development Division under the Forest Department has recorded more than thousand species of non-timber forest products. They are all used by the rural people in one way or the other. So they are useful and important for the livelihood of the people (about 60% of our population is still in rural area). What we do not know about NTFP are as follows:
Now the government has recognized NTFP as very important products for livelihood of the people. The Department of forest has drawn up a “National Strategy for NWFP development in Bhutan, 2008-20018”. As an example, a mushroom locally known as Sangay Shamu and scientifically known as Tricholoma matsutake is exported to third world countries fetching the price from 30 to 40 US dollars per Kilogram (Kuenselonline.com, 2007). And another product locally known as Yartsha Goenbup and scientifically known as Cordyceps sinensis is also exported to third world countries fetching as high as 10,000 to 14,000 US dollars per Kilogram (2007 sale). With these two examples it justifies the name getting changed from Minor Forest Products to Non-wood forest products or non-timber forest products (NTFP). Thus NTFP needs due attention for proper research for sustainability. There are long lists of NTFP products which are not accounted properly for its values and potentialities. Timbers are harvested and marketed by the Government, whereas few NTFPs are usually collected by the local people and marketed with the help of private or Government companies. No proper scientific studies have been carried out so far on Bhutanese NTFP for sustainability. The NTFP has a direct bearing to the livelihood of the local people. If the resource gets depleted the livelihood for the local people will be very difficult. The importance of NTFP to local people has been recognized internationally and much has been discussed and workshops conducted by organizations like FAO regarding the assessment and management aspects of the NTFPs. For sustainable use and harvesting of any NTFPs we need to know a lot of information and management interventions about the species through a proper research. Thus, to make a start on Bhutanese NTFP, I have selected Sustainability of Sangay Shamu in Bhutan, as my topic for the study and the following are the proposed objectives of my study. The objectives of the study are:
Methodology and approach: Basically the mode of program or the study is expected to carryout in a sandwich mode. However the detailed program will be drawn up after consultation with the University program and the supervisor for the study. Based on the above mentioned objectives the methodology of the study could be as follows:
Schedule of Work Programme Need to do later with consultation with the supervisor and the necessary university program obligations Possible challenges and requirements: I may have to attend classes in relevant areas demanded by the University’s programme and by my proposed study. Possible problems/constraints
Research Hypothesis:
1 Common name (Bhutanese) for a mushroom which is found in the higher altitude. 2 Is one of the divisions under the Department of forest. |