BES signs MoU with Bhutan Olympic Committee

To commemorate Social Forestry Day, BES has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bhutan Olympic Committee to beautify sports venues in and around Thimphu. We kicked off this partnership by planting fruit tree saplings at the Skate Park at Bebena today, and in the coming months will be working on beautifying and planting fruit trees at football fields and other open spaces managed by the BOC.

We believe that planting fruit trees at the periphery of fields and sports areas would not only provide aesthetic value and access to fruits, but also increase the appreciation of nature among athletes and public alike.

Fruits For All is an initiative by the Bhutan Ecological Society to help nurture green public spaces in urban areas. By planting fruit trees at these urban spaces, we hope to bring functional and ecological value in addition to aesthetic beauty. The fruits borne by these trees will be free for everyone to enjoy, and this will help bring urban dwellers feel more connected to nature and the environment. The fruit trees also have immense benefits for bird and insect diversity in urban areas.

Over the last three years, BES has worked with local government and schools to plant almost 1000 fruit tree saplings in Thimphu, Wangdue Phrodrang and Tsirang. In Thimphu alone, BES has, in collaboration with the Thromde, planted saplings in areas including the open gym in Sangaygang, the Thimphu Ecological Park, areas above Changangkha Lhakhang, and the Centenary Park in Changlimithang. Our aim is to eventually plant fruit trees in all dzongkhags through this initiative. Our next plantation will be in in Paro on June 5, 2020.