Request for Proposal (RFP)
Request for Proposal (RFP) plan for 2018 – 2019
The Strategic Plan III for period 2015-2020 presents an opportunity for BTFEC to develop a clear and focused program to fund critical conservation challenges and engage additional partners in its conservation efforts.
From June 2017, BTFEC’s grant making is based on “Request for Proposal” (RFP) and on an Annual Basis. RFP is a systematic approach for BTFEC to provide grants to address Core Conservation Threats, and in achieving BTFEC’s conservation goals thereby contributing to achieving the national goal of Gross National Happiness.
How RFP was developed?
BTFEC had two levels of consultations workshops in the preparation of the “Request for Proposal (RFP). From the first workshop held in Phuntsholing in December 2016 attended by Dzongkhag Environment Officers, Dzongkhag Planning Officers, Ministry of Agriculture & Forest, Dratshang Lhenshog, GNHC and Civil Society Organizations, environmental issues and its priorities were identified. These priority issues were further deliberated and validated based on expert views, available data and literature during the Experts Consultation Workshop held at Paro in March 2017.
About RFP
The RFP has Six (6) identified Outcomes. Under each outcome, a list of environmental issues with its rationale are provided. The recommended actions to address the issues are in the form of expected Outputs.
The proposal should be based on any one or two issues as in the RFP addressing one of the six outcomes.
BTFEC will receive proposal for 2018-2019 from 1 January to 30 June 2018.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Strategy I: Fund few core conservation threats
Program Goal: Comprehensively address few complex and systemic conservation issues that threatens both environment and human welfare
| Outcome I | Enhanced Sustainable Forest Management and livelihoods through community participation |
Under this outcome, the following are the environmental issues that would achieve outcome I
| Issue 1 | Drying of water sources and its adverse implications |
| Rationale | There are increasing reports of drying water sources all over the country (Bhutan State of Environment, 2016). Drying up of irrigation water sources over the last two decades, along with experiences of decrease and erratic rainfall patterns including delayed onset of monsoon is reported in Punakha and Wangude Phodrang valley (Norbu & Kusters, 2012). In Tashigang, gewog statistics shows that about 12 villages, including Sakteng, Phongmey, Bartsham, Yangnyer and Lumang, have reported water sources drying up (RGOB, 2014). |
| Expected outputs | Implemented critical watershed conservation through IWRM |
| Addressed drying of water sources through sustainable forest and land management |
| Issue 2 | Land degradation and its adverse implications |
| Rationale | Rationale: 69% of Bhutanese population depend on agriculture land for livelihood. However, land degradation is common phenomena triggered by unhealthy farming practices, unsustainable mining and through natural loss of rich soil. From agriculture land alone, nearly 29 MT of soil per hectare is lost annually. According to UNCCD report, globally, it is reported that 20 % of carbon emission results is due to land degradation. |
| Expected output | Rehabilitated degraded forests and agriculture land through sustainable forest and land management |
| Issue 3 | Degradation of NWFP and its adverse implications |
| Rationale | Rationale: The Forestry Facts and Figures 2015 lists more than 24 wild plants in use for food, medicine and other purposes as non-wood forest products (NWFPs). In general, NWFPs that generate income for the rural people are cordyceps, wild mushrooms, bamboo, lemongrass, medicinal plants and natural vegetable dyes (APFSOS II, 2009). In 2014, 113.4 MT NWFPs was collected and the amount increased to 653.7 MT in 2015. However, due to the increasing number of collection of NWFP, sustainability of the resource is becoming an issue of great concern. |
| Expected output | Conserved NWFP through appropriate management and sustainable harvest. |
| Issue 4 | Forest fires and its adverse implications |
| Rationale | Rationale: Despite an apparent decline in incidence of forest fire between 2008-2015 the area affected by forest fire appears to be increasing (Bhutan State of Environment, 2016). From 2008-2015, incidences of forest fires damaged about 47,792.62 Ha of forest area. Most forest fires are human induced, commonly from burning of agricultural debris, electricity short-circuits, lemon grass harvesters and children playing with matchsticks).
Forest fires have many implications for biological diversity. At the regional and local level, they lead to change in biomass stocks, air pollution, alter the hydrological cycle with subsequent impact on plant and animal species. |
| Expected output | Prevented forest fire incidences through improved management capacities and advocacy |
| Outcome II | Reduced Human-wildlife conflicts, thereby contributing to food security and its sustainability for enhancing livelihoods. |
| Issue 1 | Increasing Human wildlife conflicts and its implications on crops and livestock |
| Rationale | RNR census 2008 estimates almost 70% of the agriculture dependent households to have been affected with wildlife through depredation of crops mainly maize and paddy. Further, IFPRI (2010), reports that annually approximately 126 kg of crops are lost to wild animals by each household. The economic annual loss is equivalent to Nu.91.08 million. A total of 2035 numbers of livestock was depredated from 2002 to 2012. On average 118 animals are depredated annually which results paying up almost 1.7 Million of compensation cost for the lost incurred. On the other hand, retaliation killing of predators emerges as a major issue. For instance, dholes, assumed to be major predators of livestock, were almost eliminated from Bhutan due to retaliatory killings using poison in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Similarly, wolves are found in Bhutan, but only occasionally in the higher alpine areas, as they are still not able to establish stable populations due to consistent persecution by yak herders. |
| Expected output | Reduced HWC incidences through appropriate HWC interventions, thereby enhancing the food security. |
| Outcome III | Reduced waste and its implications through Integrated Waste Management system (IWMS) |
| Issue 1 | Increasing waste and its adverse implication |
| Rationale | Waste management is a major emerging environmental issue for Bhutan. Poor waste management practices threaten public health and the natural environment through pollution of water, air and the emission of greenhouse gas. Therefore, there is a need for integrated waste management system(IWMS) in all the Dzongkhags and Thromdes. |
| Expected outputs | Reduced waste and its related issues through IWMS in Thromdes |
| Reduced waste and its related issues through IWMS in Districts |
| Outcome IV | Conserved and promoted biodiversity |
| Issue 1 | Threats to loss of endangered species through habitat degradation |
| Rationale | There are 24 globally threatened mammal species in Bhutan of which one is critically endangered, 11 endangered and 12 vulnerable. Infrastructural development is a major threat to biodiversity. In between 2011-2012, 152.7 ha of State land was allotted from protected areas and 2,561.40 ha of land from other State land area for development purposes (FRMD, DoFPS, MoAF, 2013) |
| Expected output | Conserved endangered/threatened species through habitat conservation, advocacy programs and appropriate policy and other interventions. |
| Issue 2 | Invasive species and its adverse implications |
| Rationale | Invasive plant, animal, bird and fish species are of concern for ecological imbalance. According to NBSAP, 2014, Bhutan has a record of 46 global invasive species of which 11 are alien invasive. However, there has been no systematic and comprehensive inventory of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Bhutan, apart from a few scattered studies. |
| Expected output | Prevented spread of invasive species through appropriate invasive species management mechanism. |
Strategy II: Support population most affected by loss of natural resources and biodiversity
Program Goal: Fund sustainable conservation programs that also built the capacity of rural population
| Outcome V | Increased community capacity in the conservation of natural environment |
| Issue 1 | Inadequate community participation in conservation programs due to lack of capacity and awareness |
| Rationale | Farmers, park rangers, livestock herders and others who work in rural Bhutan are most directly affected by threats to the natural environment. Their native wisdom, best practices, and commitment are essential to the success of projects affecting their communities and livelihoods. Their involvement will advance the country’s conservation agenda in a more sustainable manner |
| Expected output | Enhanced community participation in conservation programs through community capacity enhancement, awareness raising and promotion of community involvement in conservation. |
Note: Any institution/agency with environmental conservation experience can initiate projects to build community capacity to undertake conservation projects.
Strategy III: Collaborate with other institutions to maximize conservation benefits of BTFEC funding
Program Goal: Initiate and lead collaborative activities that support mutual conservation goals
| Outcome VI | Enhanced conservation impacts through collaborations |
| Rationale | The impact of BTFEC funding will be multiplied by systematic and innovative collaboration with credible institutions that also fund and engage in rural conservation activities. BTFEC have been working with the RGOB and non-governmental agencies, however, there is still need for stronger collaboration and joint efforts with other funding agencies in addressing the environmental problems of the country. Forms of collaboration may include sharing research data and methods, utilizing the expertise of other institutions, co-funding projects, and funding proposals in which such institutions are included. |
| Outputs | BTFEC collaborates with other conservation institutes for conservation initiatives |
