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Bhutan's Mega Farm AKA Slaughter House

I am a vegetarian and I love animals. Unless all Bhutanese go vegan, I am for the establishment of slaughter house for Bhutan has to become meat self sufficient.  The issue on establishing a mega farm AKA slaughter house is again tabled for discussion in the National Assembly when the opposition questioned the government citing the sentiments of Bhutanese at large. I felt that having understood the economic un-stability of the country by our so called policy makers, such initiatives should not be questioned at-all let alone opposing it. I am for the establishment of mega farm with following reasons: 1. Establishing a mega farm mean meat self sufficient - Though statistically not proven, I am pretty confident that about 50% of Bhutanese eat meat. I feel even more than that. And to make matters interesting, almost all the Bhutanese meat eaters are heavy meat eaters with majority going for beef and pork (rural areas); and chicken, fish and mutton. Don't believe me! visit any mea...
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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...
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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 constitut...
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