THIMPHU, 14 April, 2021 (TON): As part of the “Million Trees Project” launched in the capital of Bhutan, about 60 households of Kawang gewog in Thimphu received 150 fruit trees.

It is a five-year project between Bhutan Ecological Society (BES) and Bhutan Foundation.

The project between the two aims to promote ecologically fecund and economically productive landscapes which can also serve as community carbon banks.

The director of BES, Pem Lama said, “By cultivating high-value trees in lands that have been left fallow, the project will help improve livelihoods of communities while nurturing the environment.”

She added, “It could generate annual and long-term income for rural farmers and serve as community carbon banks.”

However, according to the BES official, Bhutan has a tiny landholding from which many are left fallow. And this project could help in the proper use of fallow land across the country by introducing a concept similar to agro-forestry.

It is expected that the project will nurture over a million high-value trees like plums, pears, walnuts, and peaches in all dzongkhags.