To mark the World Rangers Day, the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research launched 11 of its publications today. These publications include six policy briefs; three books on conservation journey of Bhutan; one technical report and one field guide.

Following are the brief synopsis of the publications:

1. 50 years of environmental Journey in Bhutan-     

                  It is an effort of the institute to document conservation stories published in Bhutanese print media from the 1960s.

• Volume 1: Sustainable Forestry Regime
• Volume 2: Water and Climate Scenario
• Volume 3: Conservation Biology
• Sustainable Forestry Regime - covers the development of the forestry sector from the 1960s on institutional development, forest management, conservation, resource utilization and community participation.
• Water and Climate Scenario - seeks to provide timeline information on water and climate scenario in Bhutan since the 1960s. This report also documents the trends of climate change over 50 years period. It covers various aspects including glacial lake outburst floods, monsoon pattern, receding glaciers, watershed management and drying water sources. 
• Conservation Milestone - it includes a series of important environment articles that tell stories of how Bhutan dedicated itself to conserve its rich natural environment.

       2.  Technical and policy briefs: 

These technical policy briefs are synthesis of M.Sc and Ph.D. research undertaken by researchers from MoAF under the framework of climate change adaptation potentials of forest in Bhutan. 

• Fire disturbances in blue pine forests of Bhutan
• Towards the refinement of Bhutan's forest carbon assessment system 
• Predicting bark beetle outbreaks using GIS and phenology data 
• Soil conservation improves carbon stocks
• Reducing the vulnerability of Bhutan forest to the expected impacts of climate change
• Environment-friendly and better farm road: An urgent necessity in Bhutan

3.  Technical Report

This technical report is an outcome of the study conducted to assess the climate change vulnerability of the communities of Gangzur and Kengkhar within Kurichhu watershed. The results from this study present a case scenario of how future climate change will impact these vulnerable communities.

• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in Kurichhu Watershed: A case of Gangzur and Kengkhar, Bhutan

3.  Field Guide

This publication documents 104 species of illustrated medicinal plants found in Bumthang, Bhutan. It aims to educate and inform people about the medicinal plants and their usage.

• A Field Guide to Medicinal plants of Bumthang