Declaration of Biological Corridor to connect Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, on behalf of the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, introduced the Declaration of Biological Corridor (BC) to connect Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary to the House today.
The Minister reported the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) and Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS) are the only protected areas in the extreme eastern landscape. He submitted that the SWS is connected to the southern protected area, Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park by BC6 while BC7 connects BWS to central parks; Wangchuck Centennial National Park and Phrumsenngla National Park. However, regardless of proximity, similar climate, habitat composition and biodiversity, there is no designated biological corridor to protect and provide the needed landscape connectivity between SWS and BWS till now. The Minister therefore submitted that this proposal is an attempt to provide ecological connectivity between BWS and SWS using landscape connectivity modeling tools supported by empirical data.
The House supported the motion to deliberate on the declaration and it was referred to the Environmental and Climate Change Committee for further review. The Committee will report back to the House on 14th June for further deliberation.
