Dr. David Geoffrey Long visited UWIFoRT on 28^th September 2024 with 23 scientists comprising of leading Dendrochronologists and Botanists. Bhutan owes humongous gratitude to Dr. DG Long for his substantive work to the Flora of Bhutan. Dr. Long and his team from the Botanical Gardens of Edinburg published 3 volumes and 7 parts of books on Flora of Bhutan, the most comprehensive documentation of plant diversity in Bhutan. The team was accompanied by Bhutanese Botanists from National Biodiversity Center and Sherubtse College.  The Sakteng Tours and Travel organized their visit to Bhutan.

On the UWIFoRT campus, Dr. David and his team enjoyed visiting learning spaces such as the Dendrochronology Lab, Ethnobotanical Hall, Entomology and Wildlife Museums, and the Herbarium.  To symbolize his visit to the UWIFoRT, Dr. David G. Long autographed 6 volumes of his Flora of Bhutan books in the Institute’s library. The Flora of Phrumshengla National Park was then gifted to Dr. DG Long as a token of memory piece – a succeeding art of work by a fellow Bhutanese after his commendable exploration of Bhutan’s flora.

As the visiting team was primarily plant botanists, the UWIFoRT served hot soup made from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), apple (Mallus domestica) cider vinegar, Magnolia berry (Schsandra grandiflora) juice, and locally made wines from gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) and pear (Pyrus species).

Dr. David G. Long has continued to guide Bhutanese botanists and plant enthusiasts since his involvement in 1975.  He suggested exploring and making floral expeditions in the whole of the southern belt geographically stretching east to west, and the upper parts of Amochu watershed within Bhutan.