@article{1433746,
      recid = {1433746},
      author = {Tshewang, Ugyen, and Tobias, Michael, and Morrison, Jane,},
      title = {Bhutan : conservation and environmental protection in the  Himalayas /},
      pages = {1 online resource (lx, 353 pages) :},
      abstract = {Located in the heart of the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan  practices the philosophy of Gross National Happiness  ("GNH") that embraces environmental conservation as one of  the main building blocks for its sustainable development  goals. Bhutan's conservation strategies and success are  largely driven by the strong political will and visionary  leadership of His Majesty the King of Bhutan The nation's  Buddhist perspectives regarding a deep and abiding respect  for nature; and the strategic enforcement of a wide-ranging  stringent set of internal regulations and controls have  helped ensure ecological gold standards in Bhutan.  Moreover, the country is an active member of the  international conservation community by fulfilling its  implementation of various Multilateral Environment  Agreements. While it emerged into the 21st century as one  of the 36 global terrestrial "hotspots" in biological  diversity conservation ranks, Bhutan's sheer commitment  with more than 51% of its territory being managed under the  explicit status of a protected area network, and more than  70% of the land under forest cover, represents Bhutan's  exemplary dedication to protect the planet despite its  smallness in size and economy, and the biological fragility  exemplified by its hotspot situation. In the face of  imminent severe threats of global warming, Bhutan  nonetheless exemplifies the truth that "a small country  with a big conservation commitment" can make an enormous  contribution to the global community. At the regional  level, Bhutan is intent upon protecting the Water Towers of  Asia (that glacial expanse of the Himalayas) which is a  critical resource bulwark for about one-fifth of the global  population downstream in South Asia. Such protections  invariably help mitigate climate change by acting as a  nation-wide carbon sink through its carbon neutral  policies. In short, Bhutan has long represented one of the  world's foremost national guardians of biodiversity  conservation, ecological good governance, and societal  sustainability at a period when the world has entered the  Anthropocene - an epoch of mass extinctions. We envision  this publication to be ecologically and ethically  provocative and revealing for the concerned scientific  communities, and governments. Through an extensive review  of the scientific and anthropological literature, as well  as the research team's own data, the Author's have set  forth timely recommendations for conservation policies,  strategies and actions. This book provides technical and  deeply considered assessments of the state of Bhutan's  environment, its multiple, human-induced stressors and  pressures; as well as extremely sound, practical techniques  that would address conservation strategies in the Himalayas  and, by implication, worldwide},
      url = {http://library.usi.edu/record/1433746},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57824-4},
}