441
Trashiyangtse District is situated in the northeast
region of the country.
21.2.2 Wetland(s) in Khotokha
Highland Valley
Wetland(s) in Khotokha Highland valley , located
at an average altitude of 2,617 m MSL, is situated on one of the three broad highland valleys
in the Wangdue Dzongkhag, west of the Black
Mountain Range. According to Ramsar, activities carried out on the site include agriculture
and grazing. The site features a marshy area and
hosts cranes.
The HA wetlands are integral parts of the river
systems in Bhutan. Their degradation may have
major impact on the entire river system from the
mountains to the coast. They act as the aquatic
treasures contributing to water storage and hydrological cycle. They also serve as a source of
freshwater for the downstream region. They are
important stopping points for migratory birds.
They serve as major sources for supporting livelihood in the mountain ecosystem. These lakes/
wetlands also play important roles in the hydropower generation of Bhutan.
Unfortunately, these wetlands, till date,
have received less attention in terms of conservation and water management. But they are
becoming increasingly important due to the
possible consequences of climate change. As
such, there are suggestions that it is now imperative to develop long-term monitoring protocol
for monitoring wetlands, in order to build up
knowledge base with regard to changes in
hydrology. Adaptive responses of fl ora and
fauna are also to be studied. Hence, a simple
methodology has to be developed to facilitate
and engage people at grass root level to collect
information and to identify changes in wetlands. Further, researches on water chemistry
and ecotoxicology to be pursued immediately
as chemical properties of water in wetlands of
Bhutan have not been largely studied so far.
Moreover, efforts are being made for mass
awareness about wetlands involving offi cials
of the Ramsar Convention.
21.2.3 Bumthang Wetland
Bumthang (Wylie: Bum-thang rzong-khag ), lying
between 27° 45′ N–90° 40′ E and 27.75°
N–90.667° E is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It (Fig. 21.2 ) is the
most historic dzongkhag, if the number of ancient
temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang
consists of the four mountain valleys of Ura,
Chumey, Tang and Choekhor (Bumthang),
Fig. 21.2 Bumthang Wetland
21.2 Wetlands of Bhutan
Trashiyangtse District is situated in the northeast
region of the country.
21.2.2 Wetland(s) in Khotokha
Highland Valley
Wetland(s) in Khotokha Highland valley , located
at an average altitude of 2,617 m MSL, is situated on one of the three broad highland valleys
in the Wangdue Dzongkhag, west of the Black
Mountain Range. According to Ramsar, activities carried out on the site include agriculture
and grazing. The site features a marshy area and
hosts cranes.
The HA wetlands are integral parts of the river
systems in Bhutan. Their degradation may have
major impact on the entire river system from the
mountains to the coast. They act as the aquatic
treasures contributing to water storage and hydrological cycle. They also serve as a source of
freshwater for the downstream region. They are
important stopping points for migratory birds.
They serve as major sources for supporting livelihood in the mountain ecosystem. These lakes/
wetlands also play important roles in the hydropower generation of Bhutan.
Unfortunately, these wetlands, till date,
have received less attention in terms of conservation and water management. But they are
becoming increasingly important due to the
possible consequences of climate change. As
such, there are suggestions that it is now imperative to develop long-term monitoring protocol
for monitoring wetlands, in order to build up
knowledge base with regard to changes in
hydrology. Adaptive responses of fl ora and
fauna are also to be studied. Hence, a simple
methodology has to be developed to facilitate
and engage people at grass root level to collect
information and to identify changes in wetlands. Further, researches on water chemistry
and ecotoxicology to be pursued immediately
as chemical properties of water in wetlands of
Bhutan have not been largely studied so far.
Moreover, efforts are being made for mass
awareness about wetlands involving offi cials
of the Ramsar Convention.
21.2.3 Bumthang Wetland
Bumthang (Wylie: Bum-thang rzong-khag ), lying
between 27° 45′ N–90° 40′ E and 27.75°
N–90.667° E is one of the 20 dzongkhag (districts) comprising Bhutan. It (Fig. 21.2 ) is the
most historic dzongkhag, if the number of ancient
temples and sacred sites is counted. Bumthang
consists of the four mountain valleys of Ura,
Chumey, Tang and Choekhor (Bumthang),
Fig. 21.2 Bumthang Wetland
21.2 Wetlands of Bhutan