A five-day training course on plant taxonomy and identification is currently being conducted in Bermo, Tingtii, Zhemgang from 1st September, 2025 and will be completed by the 5th of September 2025. The program is led by the Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT) with funding support from the BFL project.

A total of 24 participants (20 male and 4 female) representing field divisions and protected areas (PAs) are taking part in the training. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of field staff in basic plant identification, including Pteridophytes (ferns and their allies) making it the first training of its kind in Bhutan.

 The training is being conducted with the following objectives and expected outcomes:

Objectives

·       To build the capacity of field staff in basic plant taxonomy and identification.

·       To enhance participants’ ability to identify and classify plants encountered in the field.

·       To introduce the fundamentals of Pteridophyte (fern and allies) identification.

·       To support systematic documentation and reporting of plant diversity.

Expected Outcomes

·       Improved capacity of field staff in identifying and classifying plant species.

·       Enhanced skills in recognizing Pteridophytes, contributing to the documentation of ferns and their allies in Bhutan.

·       Strengthened biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts through better plant identification.

·       A trained network of staff able to share expertise and support plant taxonomy initiatives across divisions and PAs.