FAO assisting Bhutan to develop new forest policy

摘要

Bhutan has very strong policies and laws to conserve natural resources and to protect the environment. While these have been good for protecting the environment, they have sometimes not taken full advantage of enlightened policies to promote sustainable development and sound utilization of natural resources. There is a growing need for a more balanced approach in Bhutan that is based on a broader and more holistic approach to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. While the recent economic growth is strong (7 percent annual average), due mainly to the rapid expansion of hydro-power and the sale of electricity to India, the benefits are not fully shared. While the middle class is becoming wealthier, at least one-third of the population lives in poverty.