This document discusses the potential impacts of climate change on Bhutan's food security. It notes that Bhutan has a mountainous ecosystem that is vulnerable to climate change. Its agriculture is important for food security and livelihoods but is threatened by climate change. Specific climate hazards discussed are melting glaciers, landslides, and rising temperatures. These hazards can damage crops and infrastructure, cause food insecurity and health issues. Adaptation measures discussed include early warning systems, lowering glacial lake levels, soil conservation, water harvesting, and incentives for low emission technologies. The conclusion states that climate change is already affecting food systems and vulnerability, and greater impacts are expected in the future.

1. TSHERING WANGMO
CNR-2012-04-34
BSC Sustainable Development
Potential Impact of
climate change on
Bhutan Food security:
Geographical situation
Economy
Population
Technologies for
adaptation and
mitigation

2. Bhutan overview
• Mountain ecosystem is more prone to the effects of
climate change.
• Divided into three distinct climatic zones:
-Southern foothills: hot and humid
-Central Inner Himalayas: Cool and temperate
-Northern Region : Alpine Climate. NEC (2000).
• Altitude ranging from less than 100m in the south to
more than 7,500m in the north .
• 20% of the land area is above 4,200m covered with
snow and ice
• Population is concentrated in the broad river valleys

3. • Climate is an important factor determining the production
of crops and if there is change, it poses a serious threat to
agriculture:
• Agriculture?
Agriculture is important for food security
• “Food security exists when all people at all times have
physical or economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious
food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an
active and healthy life” FAO (1996).
HOW
It provides the primary source of livelihood and employment
climate change
livelihood - Food insecurity
Impact on Agriculture

4. Climate
Hazards
Impact(economy) Population impact Adaptation and
mitigation measures
Melting of
mountain glaciers-
-Loss of water reserves
-60% Bhutanese
revenue depends on
income from
hydropower
-Loss of lives
-Food insecurity
Eg. 94 households
affected and 16 metric
tones (MT) of food grain
washed away (UNDP,
2011).
-Installation of early
warning system
-Artificial lowering of
glacial lake levels
-reduced water volume
3.63m
Landslide
(change in weather
pattern– high rain
intensity)
-Damage to
agricultural crops ,
roads ,soil etc
E.g.- June 29-12 SJ-
Trashigang highway
has remained
obstructed for 3 days
-Loss of property and
live
eg. In 2013Tendu
landslide destroy house.
-20 decimals of land out
of 30 was washed away.
-River bank protection
-Soil conservation and
land management
Increase in
temperature-1°C
from 2010 to 2039
and by 2°C from
2040 to 2069
-Reduced water
available for drinking
and sanitation
-increase in
-Health risks-water-borne
diseases, food-borne
diseases
-Water harvesting.
-60% of forest cover
-Incentives for energy
saving devices and
low emission vehicles
F
O
O
D
S
E
C
U
R
I
T
Y
?

5. Conclusion
• Climate change is real, and its first impacts are already
being felt. It will first affect the people and food systems
that are already vulnerable, but over time the geographic
distribution of risk and vulnerability is likely to shift.
Certain livelihood groups need immediate support, but
everybody is at risk.
• Climate change is already affecting food security and it is
expected to have even greater impacts in coming years

6. REFERENCES
Lhendup, K. (2014). An Assessment of the Food Security in Bhutan.
Thimphu.
NEC. (2000). The royal government of Bhutan: national environment
commission: under the united nations framework convention. National
Environment Commission.
Tshering, N. National Environment Commission. Thimphu: Phama
Printers.
RGoB. (2011). Bhutan National Human Developemnt Report: Sustaining
progress: Rising to climate challenge. Bhutan: RGoB.
UNDP. (2011). Reduced risk of GLOF from Thorthormi Lake throug and
artifical Lake Level Management System. Bhutan: UNDP.
Wangdi, N., & Kusters, K. (2012). The costs of adaptation in
Punakha,Bhutan: Loss and damage associated with changing monsoon
patterns. Loss and Demages , 52.