The Bhutan EAGL formally established in July 2021. Membership comprised of seven men and three women, representing a range of backgrounds and expertise, including protected area management, climate change, environmental planning, sociology and forestry. An intensive virtual training workshop was held between 10 to 12 August 2021, during which the Green List indicators were also reviewed to assess their appropriateness to the Bhutanese context; a number of small amendments were made.

Bhutan Expert Assessment Group (EAGL) along with the IUCN Green List implementing partner Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation organised the first stakeholder consultation meeting in June this year 2022. A total of 63 participants representing government agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-governmental Organization (NGOs), local government, tourism sector, research institutes and colleges, took part in the meeting. They combined represented on the behalf of all the concerned stakeholders. The presentation of the Green List with the adapted indicators was made to the stakeholders. Questions from stakeholders were addressed and two weeks’ time was given to further review the indicators and submit their feedback.

Following up on the stakeholder consultation and feedback, the EAGL members of Bhutan organised a virtual meeting on 3^rd August 2022 to incorporate stakeholder’s comments on the adapted indicators and the way forward. The adapted indicators have not been “approved or finalised” as they have to be endorsed by the Green List Standard committee.

On the next step, the adapted indicators will be submitted on COMPASS for the reviewer to review and confirm indicators for Bhutan. Then, the stakeholders across the country will be informed about EAGL purpose, assessments and sites through media. Nature Conservation Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, will inform the EAGL about the candidate sites and through them EAGL will receive applications for site assessments. EAGL members will meet and proceed for site assessments of the nominated sites. Asia IUCN Green List Coordinator will be making a visit to Bhutan late Nov. this year for conducting the Green List site assessment orientation for the site managers and site mentors.

The three sites selected by Bhutan in the 1^st phase of IUCN Green List are:

• Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary and
• JigmeSingye Wangchuck National Park

More sites in Bhutan are expected to join the Green List after these three sites demonstrate progress. Bhutan is committed to the Green List and continues to move forward.

Bhutan EAGL Members:

Karma Tshering, Chair

Pema Cheizom, Deputy Chair

Lam Dorji, member

Ngawang Gyeltshen, member

Thinley Choden, member

Kuenley Tenzin, member

Om Katel, member

Nidup Peljor, member

Norbu Yangon, member

Pema Wangda, member

Dorji, Acting Chief Program Officer  of Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation is the IUCN Green List implementing partner in Bhutan.

For more information, please contact Khalid Pasha – Asia Coordinator, IUCN Green List. Khalid.pasha@iucn.org

This project is implemented with support of  the IUCN – Huawei Tech4Nature Partnership.