LocationsA bold new blueprint for nature conservation
Bhutan unveils 5th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
September 16, 2025
The 5th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NSBAP) was launched on 16 September, coinciding with the World Ozone Day
UNDP/Dechen Wangmo
Bhutan’s fifth National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), launched today on 16 September 2025, coinciding with World Ozone Day, outlines 20 ambitious targets to conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystems, and link nature protection with livelihoods, cultural heritage and economic resilience.
This updated plan reaffirms Bhutan’s global leadership in environmental stewardship and its commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Building on the achievements and lessons from the fourth NBSAP, the latest strategy provides a dynamic and effective roadmap to 2030, placing harmony between people and nature at the heart of Bhutan’s development agenda.
It takes a bold, integrated, end-to-end approach to biodiversity conservation—from ecosystem restoration to protecting species and genetic diversity, from sustainable use of natural resources to reducing pollution, and from adapting to climate change and strengthening institutions.
UNDP/Dechen Wangmo
What sets the fifth NBSAB apart?
The fifth NBSAB stands out not only for its ambitions but also for its alignment with national and global priorities:
Climate-nature alignment: For the first time, the NBSAP is being aligned with Nationally Determined Contribution—NDC 3.0, currently under development— creating a coherent national pathway for biodiversity and climate action.
A high-level strategic pathway: The strategy promotes ecosystem integrity as the foundation for long-term economic well-being, true to Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
Knowledge-driven and people-centered: The strategy is rooted in science, traditional knowledge, and community participation, all of which stand as equal pillars of success.
Aligned with global priorities: All 20 targets outlined in the strategy align with both the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.
13th Five-Year Plan: The strategy and actions of the NBSAP are aligned to the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for coordinated implementation, efficient and effective utilisation of the resources and for monitoring and evaluation
UNDP/Dechen Wangmo
A target dedicated to gender-responsive biodiversity conservation
The target 15 is dedicated to ensuring gender equality and a gender-responsive approach in biodiversity actions by 2030.
The integration of a dedicated target to institutionalise gender-responsive approaches and ensure more inclusive and equitable conservation outcomes seeks to address gaps in gender integration in environmental policies.
For example, women make up 73.6% of the rural workforce and 52.5% of the agricultural workforce, contributing significantly through traditional knowledge and sustainable practices. Yet, they remain underrepresented in biodiversity decision-making.
Also, biodiversity loss disproportionately impacts women and vulnerable groups, especially in rural areas.
A whole-of-society implementation
The NBSAP is not just a government plan. It is a national framework for collective action. Its success will depend on coordinated efforts by the government agencies, local governments and communities, civil society, the private sector, academia and development partners. Implementation will focus on:
Mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, urban development, energy, and finance, with clear linkages to the 13th Five-Year Plan and Bhutan’s economic transformation roadmap.
Showcasing Bhutan’s biodiversity–climate nexus contributions, where protecting nature strengthens resilience, supports green jobs, and underpins sustainable growth.
The National Biodiversity Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Department of Environment and Climate Change under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources jointly led the preparation of the 5th NBSAP with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). The strategy was shaped through wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders from all levels.
Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
UNDP/Dechen Wangmo
“The NBSAP 2025 recognises that the triple planetary crises - climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution - are interconnected rather than separate, with actions in one area often exacerbating challenges in the others. This strategy, therefore, seeks to address these critical issues in an integrated manner,” said Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. Mohammad Younus, Resident Representative, UNDP
UNDP/Dechen Wangmo
“The fifth NBSAP is both a reflection of Bhutan’s past achievements and a forward-looking framework to safeguard nature while enabling prosperity,” said Mohammad Younus, Resident Representative of UNDP. “Let us treat it as a living strategy—adaptive, inclusive and focused on measurable results. Together we can ensure that Bhutan’s ecological wealth continues to underpin economic prosperity and that living in harmony with nature remains the guiding principle of Bhutan’s development agenda.”
A timely milestone ahead of COP30
The fifth NBSAB’s launch today comes ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties, or COP30, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. To be held in the heart of the Amazon Forest from 10 –21 November, COP30 is poised to place a significant focus on nature, emphasising the importance of nature-based solutions and highlighting indigenous leadership in nature conservation— areas Bhutan is uniquely positioned to champion.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Dechen Wangmo, Communications and Partnerships Analyst, Email: dechen.wangmo@undp.org
Related
content
content
