NAP task force on desertification formed

Bhutan formed the task force to work for alignment of Bhutanese policies with that of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on October 21.

Bhutan ratified the convention in 2003. As part of the requirement of the Convention, Bhutan prepared the National Action Program (NAP) to Combat Land Degradation in 2009.

Since then significant changes in terms of institutions, policies, needs and priorities have taken place in Bhutan. Further, there are also gaps with the old NAP and opportunities prevailing that all call for alignment and revision of the existing NAP.

Other reason for aligning existing NAP is the requirement of the UNCCD as per its Decision 3/COP 8 (8th Conference of Parties), which urge all the affected country parties “to align their action programmes and other relevant implementation activities relating to the Convention with The Strategy by, inter alia, addressing the outcomes under the five operational objectives”.

After the announcement, the first coordination meeting among the Working Group members on NAP Alignment was held on the same day at the National Soil Services Centre (NSSC) in Semtokha. The meeting was held with three main objectives such as to “kick-start” the actual NAP alignment process, build common understanding on the works need to be done by each working group member, and establish proper working mechanism by agreeing on the Terms of Reference (ToR) and ensuring continued support and commitment until the task is complete.

The working group members include representatives from 20 relevant agencies like GNHC, DPA, DGM, RSPN, DGPC, DHMS, NLCS, DoR, DuDES, DDM, NEC and agencies under MoAF including civil society organisations (CSO), NGOs and the media.

The Alignment process, which is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is expected to complete by June 2014.