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Unlike other Himalayan regions, the forest resource of Bhutan is very rich and diverse. For Bhutanese people, forest is a big source of wood and fuel wood. Before the arrival of hydro electricity, wood was used for heating, cooking and producing lights. Aside from woods, forests provide various products like medicinal plants, gums, various fruits etc. These are known as Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) and like woods they are important resources for Bhutanese people.

Absence of huge population and over development has helped Bhutan to preserve its forest resources. However, the demand for NWFP in the country and  international market has created enormous pressure on the country’s forest resource. Now, it has become a challenge for the Bhutanese government to meet people's demand and at the same time preserve its current level of forest covered areas. I am quoting from the report published in BBS:

The demand for non wood forest products has been growing locally and internationally over the years. The agriculture secretary, Dasho Sangay Thinley, said meeting this growing demand without degrading our non wood forest resource base was a challenge.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the national workshop on development of non-wood forest products in Thimphu yesterday. “The government’s goal of maintaining the forest cover at 60 percent for all times to come may prove difficult with an increase in consumption of wood, non-wood forest products and fuel wood,” said the agriculture secretary.

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BBS.com