June 12: The SAARC Forestry Centre was opened at Taba in Thimphu yesterday. The centre will serve as a centre of excellence for forestry within the SAARC region and act as a nodal point for research, information and policy development. It will be managed by a governing body which will have members from SAARC countries.

The SAARC Forestry Centre was inaugurated by the SAARC Secretary General Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma and the Agriculture Minister Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamtsho. The centre is the first SAARC Regional Centre to be established in Bhutan. Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma said the venue for the SAARC Forestry Centre is very appropriate.

"I cannot think of a more appropriate venue for the Forestry Centre than the kingdom of Bhutan, known the world over for the richness of its flora and fauna and where environmental conservation is one of the pillars of its inspirational development philosophy of Gross National happiness," he said.

Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamtsho said the centre will serve as a centre of excellence for forestry within the SAARC region. He said the SAARC Forestry Centre is to serve as a centre of excellence for forestry within the SAARC region and act as a nodal point for research, information and policy development.

"I think these are very important functions and will go a long way in improving the way we manage our fragile mountain ecology through involvement of local communities and adopting sustainable forest management practices. I would think that one of the center’s main roles would be to provide a platform for regional networking and sharing of experiences in forestry among our member countries," the Agriculture Minister said.

This year the centre will prepare database on forestry research and training institutes of member sates, develop and host a SAARC forestry website. For the 2008, the centre will get a budget of about US$ 360,000.

Dr. Sangay Wangchuk who has been working as a nature conservation specialist in the forestry department has been appointed as the centre’s first director.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by former SAARC Secretary General Chenkhyab Dorji, representatives from the international community, and government officials.