Preparing for the hike

Come 17^th November, 2011, two of my professors from the University of Montana, the USA will be in Paro, Bhutan. Their visit to Bhutan this time is in continuation to the grant that we received for my masters degree study. This time the hike would be very important for me as the data I would collect during this hike would probably serve as a baseline date for my doctoral study, which is why I am definitely excited about the hike.

Professors will be in Thimphu for quite some time attending the International Climate Summit that the Institute (Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment) is organizing (14^th -19^th November, 2011).

My professors and I hiked in some interesting places in Bhutan. We hiked from Drugyel in Paro to Damji in Gasa and Tongtophy in Trongsa to Reutala in Zhemgang via Jangbi, Phromzor, Kuda, Nabji, Korphu and Nimshong in 2008. In 2010 we hiked from Nashiphel in Bumthang till Chajeyna (4700 masl) and back. The entire hikes were not just for fun but to explore the possibilities of my future research sites and to help me with the techniques to conduct interviews with the community.

This time the hike will be from Ura in Bumthang to Royal Manas National Park via Panbang, my home town. I am particularly very excited about the hike as the opportunity will be used to collect data on the fuelwood consumption across the altitudinal gradient in Bhutan (Temperate- Sub-tropical zone). Along the way, the efforts will also be made to understand the famous AILA (believed to be local guardian who takes care of the families’ property).

Comments

letro said…

Thats gonna be a great opportunity. Best wishes for your endeavours sir.

November 14, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Unknown said…

Thank Leo,
I am really looking forward to the hike. I will blog if I see or find out anything interesting.
Cheers.

November 15, 2011 at 10:12 AM

Unknown said…

GREAT NEWS! I love hikes and treks. I wish I was in your group. I did drugyel to dragey pang tsho and back, Laya and lingshi trek, dongkola trek and jumoljhari base camp during my college days. Go on...
I have written an article which might interest you. please visit http://snovu.blogspot.com/2011/11/dying-lake-needs-your-attention.html

November 21, 2011 at 2:57 PM

Unknown said…

Sonam,
I love hike and have done good number of hikes. I will read your article and write about this hike once I reach back.
Cheers.

November 23, 2011 at 8:29 PM

Cordyceps

This article is part of my thesis “Fuelwood Consumption and Production in Alpine Bhutan: A case study in Wangchuck Centennial Park, Bumthang, Bhutan). I have also worked on uses of Cordyceps in Pharmaceutical industries long time back, but could not trace out as of now. If people are interested I will try to re-write it and publish it. I have also cited references, in-case if any readers is interested to explore further. I will also try to provide papers to those who are interested to know more about the organism. What is Cordyceps Cordyceps sinensis is an Ascomycetes medical fungus with a long and illustrious history. The genus Cordyceps is mostly entomophagous flask fungi belonging to the family Clavicipataceae (Winkler, 2008). Although it is not actually a mushroom in the taxonomic sense, it has been regarded as a medicinal mushroom for centuries. The name Cordyceps comes from the Latin words “cord” and “ceps”, meaning, “club” and “head”, respectively (Holliday et al., 2005). Th

Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) or Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

Both Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) refers to what is earlier known as Minor Forest Products (MFPs). The use of "MFPs" terminology has been discontinued as it seems to greatly mis-guide the produce. For instance collection and trade of Cordyceps ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ) by high alpine dwellers and even Chirata ( Swertia chirata ) in the east (Shigkhar Lauri) contributes more than 50% of their annual earnings, which of-course is clear that these forest products doesnot justify to be called as minor. NWFPs and NTFPs are two very similar yet different terminologies adopted to address these produce of forest other than timber. In short it includes everything besides timber. Rattan Shoot In Bhutan we use NWFP and it is defined in the National Forest Policy of Bhutan, 2011as, "NWFP means resin, varnish, katha, kutch, plants, flowers, seeds, bamboo, bulbs, roots, leaves, grasses, creepers, reeds, orchids, cane, fungi, moss, medic

The Mighty Manas River and Future of "SHE"

The Manas River is a trans-boundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan and India . It is named after Manasa , the serpent god in Hindu Mythology . It is the largest river system of Bhutan, among its four major river systems; the other three are Amo Chu or Toorsa , Wang Chu or Raidak, Puna Tsang Chhu or Sunkoosh . The total length of the river is 376 kilometres, flows through Bhutan for 272 kilometres and then through Assam for 104 kilometres before it joins the mighty Brahmaputra River . Mighty Manas River is formed by merging two rivers, viz. Dangme Chhu and Mangde Chhu in a place called Dung-du-me brag and Un-dhala thang in Panbang. Confluence of Dangme Chhu and Mangede Chhu and also showing Bird eye-view of Panbang. Source: Google Earth The river valley has two major reserve forest areas, namely the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan and the contiguous Manas Wildlife Sanctuary encompassing Project Tiger Reserve which constitutes a UNESCO Wo

Expression from an Idiot by birth:

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