Bhutan Journal of Research and Development

Spatio-Temporal Profiling of Aquatic Biodiversity in Stream Habitats in Gelephu Mindfulness City

2025-11-19T08:24:36+00:00

Understanding aquatic biodiversity distribution across spatial and seasonal gradients is fundamental to evidence-based ecological planning, especially in rapidly transforming landscapes. This study presents a spatio-temporal profiling of fish, macroinvertebrate communities, and water quality across stream habitats in the proposed Gelephu Mindfulness City. Georeferenced aquatic plots were systematically distributed (200 m transects at 1 km intervals), capturing ecological variability during monsoon (August 2024) and post-monsoon (November 2024) seasons. Fish sampling employed cast nets, electrofishing, and seine nets, while macroinvertebrates were collected using D-frame kick nets and mesh-based scooping. Water quality profiling included DO, turbidity, TDS, pH, temperature, and flow velocity. Analytical procedures incorporated Shannon-Weaver diversity indices, species richness, and evenness, interpreted using multivariate ecological statistics in R. A total of 35 fish species (14 families) and 14 macroinvertebrate taxa (7 orders) were recorded. Post-monsoon sampling revealed higher fish abundance (N=849 vs. N=282), while macroinvertebrate diversity peaked during the monsoon (H’ = 1.90). Biodiversity patterns were strongly associated with hydrological gradients, substratum diversity, and habitat complexity. The findings inform ecological buffer zoning and season-sensitive infrastructure design, contributing to Bhutan’s biodiversity strategy and nature-positive urban development.

Attributes of Bhutanese Conifer Timber for Optimal Application in the Building Industry

2025-11-21T08:51:43+00:00

Timber and the building industry present a mutually beneficial opportunity. Timber provides a viable means to decarbonise the building sector, while the building industry offers a scalable pathway for high-value application of timber resources. Rich in forests, Bhutan is well placed to harness these benefits from the use of timber in the building industry. However, timber exhibits great variability in its properties. Its use as a reliable building material requires a systematic characterisation process to ensure safety and enable optimal utilisation. This paper presents the first-ever findings on the key properties and attributes of two species of fir and hemlock. The physical attributes of knots, expressed as the ratio (tKAR) of the largest knot diameter to the width of the samples and rate of growth (RoG) as the average width of the growth rings, were recorded. The density and bending strength (MoR) were then determined in accordance with the EN 408 and EN 384 standards. The maximum tKAR for fir was 0.5 and 0.6 for hemlock. The largest RoG for fir was 5.0mm and for hemlock 2.5mm. Characteristic (5th percentile) density of 362.84kg/m³ and 462.5kg/m³, and MoR of 14MPa and 7MPa were obtained for the fir and hemlock samples, respectively.

Hydrogeological Assessment of Drying Lakes and Restoration Strategies: A Case Study from Dagapela, Bhutan

2025-11-18T09:08:10+00:00

Bhutan has many drying lakes across the country, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated framework to guide rehabilitation and long-term restoration. This study focused on five lakes that provide drinking and irrigation water to the lower communities of Gozhi, Dagapela, Bhutan. Since lakes often serve as spring recharge zones, restoring them can also rejuvenate downstream springs. Lake restoration is, therefore, vital not only for sustaining local water supplies but also for supporting the economy and environment. Hydrogeological mapping revealed that the Jorpokhari lakes are interconnected, meaning that reviving one lake could benefit the others. However, one lake in this system has completely dried, and its rejuvenation would be costly. Most of the lakes are surrounded by dense vegetation, which has expanded in recent years, and are alkaline with pH >7.0. Restoration strategies suitable for these lakes include clearing catchment areas, rerouting surface runoff, deepening or dredging the lake bed, and harvesting biomass, as many are infested with Schoenoplectus mucronatus sedges. For Dungkhar Tsho Lake, located below a road, specific recommendations include constructing sedimentation basins and gravel beds to filter runoff. This paper provides detailed descriptions of each lake and suggests practical interventions to guide their restoration.

Compassion in Practice: Perspectives of Bhutanese Primary Science Teachers

2025-11-17T16:45:17+00:00

Compassion is increasingly recognised as essential for creating safe and inclusive learning environments. In Bhutan, where compassion is deeply embedded in cultural and spiritual values, there is a growing need to strengthen teachers’ capacity to integrate compassionate practices. This study explores how primary science teachers enact compassion in their classrooms and provides practical models to inform teacher professional development. Using a sequential mixed methods approach, the study surveyed 201 primary science teachers in Bhutan and conducted in-depth interviews with ten teachers. The survey provided an overview of compassionate practices, while interviews offered deeper insights into how these practices are enacted. Six key strategies emerged: role modelling compassion, practising self-compassion, using compassionate speech, listening empathetically, understanding students’ life stories, and establishing caring classroom rules. Data show teachers create emotionally safe classrooms and foster positive relationships, with mindful compassion through presence, non-judgment, and intention central to building trust and connectedness in Bhutanese classrooms. The findings highlight that compassionate teaching is practical and can be developed through reflective practice, mindfulness, peer learning, and professional support. These insights can guide teacher training, mentorship, and reflective tools to integrate compassion and mindfulness as core pedagogical skills.

Discourses of Climate Change in the Bhutan Himalayas: Research Trends, Adaptation Funding and Policy Options

2025-11-22T16:55:29+00:00

Bhutan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the eastern Himalayas due to the interaction of biophysical impacts, sociocultural narratives, and policy responses. This study analyses climate change research and discourse in Bhutan by examining research trends, adaptation funding mechanisms, and policy responses that shape national resilience strategies. It draws on a literature review using Scopus database searches, with attention to journal subject areas, institutional affiliations, and research output. The study also synthesises empirical data on demographic vulnerabilities and climate hazards across the most vulnerable Dzongkhags in Bhutan. Findings indicate that Bhutan faces multiple climate-related hazards and risks, with eastern and southern Dzongkhags exhibiting the highest vulnerability. However, research activities remain disproportionately concentrated in western regions. Although Bhutan’s small population and geographic size have not limited research productivity, local funding constraints are often offset by external agencies; however, such research funding is not consistently utilised in the vulnerable region where projects are implemented. The study underscores the role of climate narratives in shaping adaptation priorities and access to funding, offering insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in Bhutan and beyond.

Digital Mindfulness in Tourism: Insights from Australia and Strategies for Bhutan’s Nature-Based Experiences

2025-11-21T04:08:37+00:00

This paper examines the phenomenon of digital mindfulness in tourism and the role of technology in enhancing travel experiences. Drawing on insights from Noosa Heads, Australia, it proposes a Digital Mindfulness Index (DMI) for Bhutan’s nature-based tourism, guided by Gross National Happiness (GNH) principles to support sustainable, culturally sensitive, and technology-balanced experiences. It addresses the tension between digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the risks of technostress and cognitive overload. The study, conducted at Noosa Heads with 104 participants using qualitative semi-structured interviews, to investigate the effects of constant digital contact on tourists, assesses the demand for mindful technology, and explores strategies to integrate digital mindfulness into tourism activities. Findings indicate that while travellers appreciate technologies that enhance experiences, they also desire features that reduce distractions and stress. These insights are relevant to Bhutan, where GNH principles can inform mindful, ethical tourism practices that promote well-being, sustainability, and cultural preservation.

Barriers to technology integration in Bhutanese secondary science classrooms

2025-11-18T17:42:52+00:00

Integrating digital technology in education is considered an indispensable tool for 21^st-century classrooms; however, its use in the Bhutanese classrooms is in its infancy. This study investigated the barriers to integrating technology in the Bhutanese secondary science classrooms. Informed by Ertmer’s framework of barriers to technology integration, the study employed a sequential mixed-methods approach. The study recruited secondary science teachers (n = 135) teaching grades nine to twelve through snowball sampling from 42 secondary schools nationwide. The data for the study were collected using an online questionnaire and virtual one-on-one interviews. The study revealed that limited technology resources, such as computers and reliable internet access, as well as a lack of formal training for teachers, pose significant barriers to the integration of technology in secondary science classrooms. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Skill Development (MoESD) eliminate the identified barriers to facilitate the effective integration of technology, thereby enhancing students’ learning outcomes.

Strengthening Digital Defences: Evaluating the Impact of Cybersecurity Awareness Workshops Among First-Year Engineering Students in Bhutan

2025-11-18T15:32:03+00:00

With Bhutan’s rapid digital transformation, cyber threats have increased, creating an urgent need for cybersecurity education among young adults. This study evaluates the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness workshops delivered to first-year students across three technical colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan. Using a quasi-experimental design, pre- and post-workshop surveys were administered to 300 students to measure changes in awareness and understanding. Pre-workshop findings showed that only 34.6% of students had high cybersecurity awareness, and more than 70% had never attended related training. Post-workshop results indicated substantial improvement: 81.4% rated the workshop as effective or very effective, and 76.9% felt confident in practising cybersecurity measures. Students demonstrated enhanced practical knowledge, increased awareness of cyber threats, better familiarity with tools, and stronger recognition of personal online responsibilities. They also valued the real-life examples and interactive activities. The study highlights the need to integrate structured cybersecurity education into Bhutanese higher education and national digital strategies.

Reimagining post-pandemic workplace culture to foster psychological well-being in Bhutan

2025-11-18T10:57:18+00:00

In the wake of the pandemic, Bhutan initiated a series of reforms with the vision of creating an Enlightened Entrepreneurial Bureaucracy (E2B). The unprecedented experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity to promote psychological well-being in the workplace through heightened health and psychosocial support, offering a chance for reflection to pursue this new vision. Accordingly, the objective of the paper is to reflect on the initiatives taken in response to increased pandemic-related emotional distress in the workplace, with the recognition of the centrality of organisational culture to innovation and productivity. A qualitative approach based on an intra-method convergent design was employed, utilising data collected from interviews and published studies. Results showed that while the pandemic has highlighted the importance of psychological well-being, post-pandemic workplace practices have not yet fully adopted these lessons. Therefore, to contribute to the vision of E2B, the study offers specific, actionable suggestions for workplace policies and practices to promote an organisational culture that fosters psychological well-being. Deliberative interventions to replace complacency with meritocracy and eliminate hostile workplace environments to foster trust, lifelong learning, and employee autonomy are highlighted. Additionally, the paper aims to contribute to the broader discussion on promoting well-being in the post-pandemic era.