Page 25 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

11. Protection of TM Knowledge and GR

Conservation of the environment is one of the four pillars of Bhutan’s Gross

National Happiness philosophy. As mandated in its constitution, Bhutan preserves

(at all times) 60% of its land under forest cover and Bhutan has succeeded in doing so.
More than 51% of the country is protected; the largest percentage of any Asian country.
Most of it is intact forests interwoven with free-flowing rivers.

Bhutan is located on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas with a landscape

ranging from the lush subtropical alluvial plain in the south to the seraphic meadow
and alpine Himalayan Mountain in the north reaching up to the glaciated peak of 7570
metres. It is crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers forming deep valleys and natural

barriers. This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions

contributes to an outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems in the country. It is
one of the most sought-after global biodiversity hotspots in the world housing more
than 5600 species of vascular plants, 411 ferns and their allies 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 500
species are medicinal plants. Bhutan is viewed as a model for proactive conservation
initiatives with the tenacious decision to maintain at least 60% of the land area

under forest cover. Today 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 biological corridors linking the protected areas.
Although Bhutan’s natural heritage is still largely intact, the pressures on most
T raditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report
of the medicinal flora and fauna are already evident, driven by complex factors like loss

of habitat, land fragmentation, exploitation, invasion by alien species, poaching, illicit
trading, urbanisation, destruction by wild and domestic animals, limited conservation
and management plans.

Since mainstreaming of TM

into the National Health Care System
in 1968, more than 300 medicinal
plants used for the preparation of

TM products are extensively collected

from the areas of Lingshi-Thimphu,
Langthel-Trongsa and Choekhor-
Bumthang Dzongkhag. This persistent

16

Untitled-1 16 23/2/2567 BE 07:31