The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT) has formally launched the project to conduct a comprehensive Free-Flowing Assessment of the Mochhu Basin. The initiative is funded by the Bhutan for Life (BFL) program.

The project officially kicked off with a two-day technical workshop on October 27-28, 2025, held at the UWIFoRT campus at Lamai Goempa, Bumthang. The workshop, which brought together 16 participants (all male) including technical experts and stakeholders, served to finalize the assessment's methodology and planning for the year ahead.

Over the next 12 months, the project team will carry out extensive fieldwork to gather critical data on the river basin's health. The assessment is structured around three core components:

 Biodiversity Assessment: Surveying the aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna that depend on the river's natural state.

 Socio-economic Assessment: Studying the livelihoods and well-being of communities living within the basin and their dependence on the river.

 Ecosystem Services Valuation (ESV): Identifying and quantifying the economic and social benefits the free-flowing river provides, such as clean water, sediment transport, and cultural value.

This project provides a scientific basis for understanding the holistic value of the Mochhu. The findings will be instrumental in supporting evidence-based decision-making for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of Bhutan's vital river systems.