In Bhutan’s agricultural sector, agroforestry is a pivotal component. With only 4.41% of land registered as agricultural, much of it on steep, fragile terrain, traditional farming methods alone are insufficient to support sustainable food production and rural livelihoods. Agroforestry has emerged as a viable solution by integrating trees, crops, and livestock, maximizing land productivity while ensuring long-term ecological stability. Additionally, Bhutan faces growing challenges of soil erosion, deforestation, and land degradation, which threaten both agriculture and biodiversity.
The Government of Bhutan is committed to ensure that every Bhutanese, from farmers to future generations, can benefit from healthier landscapes, stronger communities, and opportunities that honour both tradition and innovation. In line with this commitment, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Department of Forests and Park Services, Government of Bhutan, has formulated the National Agroforestry Strategy and Action Plan (January 2026-December 2035).
The National Agroforestry Strategy and Action Plan is guided by the vision of ensuring a “resilient, green, and prosperous Bhutan where integrated agroforestry systems enhance sustainable livelihoods, promote ecological resilience, and foster a thriving bioeconomy.” The mission of the Strategy is to promote agroforestry as an integrated and sustainable land use system that enhances ecosystem services, ensures food and nutritionsecurity, supports rural livelihoods, and promotes national goals of environmental sustainability and economic self-reliance.
The stated guiding principles of the Strategy are promoting sustainability and environmental conservation, equitable socio-economic development, preservation of Bhutan’s rich culture and heritage by valuing indigenous farming knowledge and traditional land management practices, and making agroforestry a shield against climate uncertainty.
The six objectives of the strategy are promoting climate-smart agroforestry to enhance sustainable land use, ecological balance, and economic resilience; preserving and integrating traditional and innovative agroforestry systems for long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability; encouraging entrepreneurial agroforestry that fosters economic growth and empowers communities; strengthening food security and livelihoods through sustainable agroforestry practices that improve nutrition and income; enhancing the financial sustainability of agroforestry initiatives through effective mobilization, allocation, and governance of funds; and advancing knowledge, collaboration, and biodiversity conservation to ensure responsible and sustainable use of biological resources.
Chapter 3 of the Action Plan identifies a set of strategies and the related strategic actions to be followed for realising the objectives.The first strategy is “Strengthening Policy, Institutional Frameworks, and Multi-sector Coordination to Support Agroforestry Development.” This strategy focuses on integrating agroforestry into Bhutan’s development agenda by strengthening policy and legal frameworks, improving institutional coordination, and mainstreaming agroforestry within agricultural, forestry, livestock, and land-use policies. The second strategy is Enhancing Knowledge, Awareness, Research, and Technical Capacity for Agroforestry Innovation. This strategy focuses on strengthening agroforestry adoption by expanding research, documenting traditional knowledge, enhancing education and training, and improving knowledge dissemination and technical capacity. The third strategy is “Promoting Climate-Smart Agroforestry Systems.” This strategy focuses on promoting climate-smart agroforestry practices by adapting agroforestry systems to diverse environmental conditions, enhancing resilience to climate change and land degradation, and supporting sustainable land management.The fourth strategy is “Enhancing Livelihood, Food, and Nutritional Security through Agroforestry.” This strategy focuses on improving livelihoods, food security, and nutritional outcomes by promoting economically viable and climate-resilient agroforestry systems, strengthening market opportunities, and supporting sustainable agroforestry enterprises.
The fifth strategy is “Strengthening Agroforestry Financing Mechanisms.” This strategy focuses on ensuring the long-term sustainability and scalability of agroforestry by mobilizing domestic and international financial resources, strengthening public-private partnerships, supporting climate-resilient investments, and integrating agroforestry into Bhutan’s carbon financing and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system.The sixth strategy is “Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation of Agroforestry Systems.” This strategy focuses on strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of agroforestry development by establishing clear indicators, data collection and reporting mechanisms, promoting evidence-based decision-making, facilitating adaptive management, and assessing the overall impact and effectiveness of agroforestry interventions.
Overseeing the implementation of Bhutan’s agroforestry strategy will require a coordinated effort among various stakeholders to ensure sustainable land management and environmental conservation. The Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) will play a central role in monitoring compliance with the agroforestry strategy, providing technical guidance, and ensuring that agroforestry practices align with national environmental goals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will oversee policy integration, ensuring that agroforestry initiatives support food security and rural development. Local governments will be responsible for facilitating community engagement, ensuring that farmers and landowners actively participate in agroforestry programs. Research institutions will contribute by conducting studies on soil conservation and biodiversity.
