Page 145 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

Bhutan is one of the most sought-after global biodiversity hotspots in the world

housing more than 5600 species of vascular plants, 411 fern species, 144 species of
endemic plants, 469 orchids species, 46 species of rhododendron, 350 species of fungi,

100 species of insect-fungi, 282 of non-vascular plants species of which more than 980
species are medicinal plants bestowed with immense therapeutic properties, scientific

intrigue and huge commercial value. Bhutan is also known for its proactive conservation
initiatives with the tenacious decision to maintain at least 60% of the land area under

forest cover. Today more than 70% of its total area is covered with forest where more
than 40% of its territory is designated as national parks, reserves and other protected

areas, and most recently 9% of the land area was identified as biodiversity corridors
linking the protected areas.

Although Bhutan’s natural heritage is still largely intact, the pressures on most
of the medicinal flora and fauna are already evident, driven by complex factors like loss

of habitat, land fragmentation, climate change, exploitation, population pressures, invasion
by alien species, poaching, illicit trading, urbanisation, limited conservation initiatives,

lack of management plans, destruction by wild and domestic animals.

2. Rationale

Since mainstreaming of Traditional Medicine into the National Health Care
System, more than 300 medicinal resources used for the preparation of Essential Traditional

Medicines and other health supplements are extensively collected from the areas of
Lingzhi-Thimphu and Langthel-Trongsa Districts. This persistent collection over the last

many decades has driven most of the species to extinction.

Bhutan
Figure 2: Lingzhi Yugyal Dzong

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