Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research

18/07/2025

48 slots for Local nature tour guiding training at Lamai Goempa.
We will migrate to Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training, a new FB page soon. Do like and follow :)

14/07/2025

Promotion ceremony of July,2025 promotees. Please follow this new page as we will be migrating there soon

13/07/2025

This is the official page of the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training

02/07/2025

We will be migrating to a new page from September,2025. Since, we don’t have page creator info (we can’t log into the page, we can only access)we can’t change our page name (Institute name)
Please like and follow the new page to remain abreast of UWIFoRT news and events. Thank you and have a great day.

https://www.facebook.com/share/15486gTtgfT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This is the official page of the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training

01/07/2025

Orienting 16th batch forester trainees

40 trainees (30 male and 10 female) who made it to the Institute through a series of rigorous selection procedure for the NC III forestry certificate attended orientation program at the UWIFoRT today.

The orientation was chaired by the officiating Head specialist and attended by the staff of the Institute. The trainees were briefed on Institute rules and regulations and given campus tour besides selection of the office bearers.

They will be in the campus till June 30 of 2026 studying various forestry courses.

01/07/2025

DoFPS convenes the Forestry and Park Management Workshop at Lamai Goempa

Forestry officials under the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) are at UWIFoRT to attend 5-day workshop program themed “Entrepreneurial Foresters with Efficient Services” coinciding with the first day of the FY 2025-2026.
The program was organized with the following objectives;
1. To have a shared understanding of the evolving roles of foresters and park managers in today’s context.
2. To review and share experiences in conservation and sustainable forest management.
3. To promote innovative, service-oriented, and data-driven approaches in forestry Governance.
4. To enhance collaboration between field practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and development partners.
5. To inspire a new generation of foresters with entrepreneurial skills, research capacity, and digital competence.
The 5-day workshop program will deliberate on the five key thematic areas:
1.Empowering Foresters for Tomorrow: Investing in Education and Research Capacity.
2.Sustainable Forest Management for Economic and Ecological Contribution.
3.Protected Areas as the Catalyst for Sustaining Ecosystem, Advancing Conservation Goals, Stimulating Local Economy Growth and Empowering communities.
4.Driving Efficiency, Accountability, and Green Growth for Operational Excellence for a 21st Century Forestry Sector
5.Reviewing Milestones, Monetization Pathways, and Partner Synergies-A shared vision for a modern, efficient, and responsive forestry and parks sector.
The workshop is being chaired by the Honorable Director, DoFPS and joined by over 80 different forest officials including the Specialists, Chief Forestry Officers, senior forest officers, and researchers from across the country.
The concluding program would be graced by the Honorable Minister for the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on the 5th of July 2025.

27/06/2025

Highlights from today’s Graduation Day of the 15th batch Foresters at UWIFoRT. We wish each trainee a successful career ahead

26/06/2025

Suggest what wild flowers should UWIFoRT Nursery raise? We’ll take up few great suggestions

20/06/2025

Selected Candidates for the One-Year Forestry Course (FY 25-26) at UWIFoRT, Bumthang

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT) is pleased to announce the list of 40 candidates selected for enrollment in the one-year Forestry Course at the Institute. All selected candidates are required to report to UWIFoRT, Lamai Goempa, Bumthang, on the evening of June 30, 2025.

For viewing the selected list of candidates, please visit our website at www.uwicer.gov.bt

The selected candidates are required to bring the following items when they report to the Institute:
1. Blanket
2. Bed sheets
3. Pillow
4. A bucket and jug
5. Plate and Mug
6. Umbrella/Rain coat
7. Sickle (girls)/Patang (boys)
8. Gumboot
9. Running shoe (sneaker)
10. Kabney/Rachu
11. Sleeping bag and sleeping mat
12. Tracksuit
13. Calculator (FX 82)
14. Games and Sports dress
15. Hard and soft broom (one number each)
If any selected candidate/s wish to withdraw from the certificate course or for any academic-related queries, please contact 17807194 before 30th June 2025. On arrival at UWIFoRT, Lamai Goempa, Bumthang, please notify the following officials;
1. Mr. Namgay Shacha, Sr. Forestry Officer at 17807194
2. Mr. Lham Dorji, PTI at 17337268

We are a Government based research and training institute currently housed under the Department of Forests and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. We strive to foster better stewardship of our natural heritage - land, water, air and species therein - through rigorous science based re...

18/06/2025

Khadar Ceremony for the Honorable Director of the Department of Forests and Park Services on his Maiden visit to Bumthang after assuming office

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWFoRT), in collaboration with Wangchuck Centennial National Park, Phrumsengla National Park, and the Divisional Forest Office, Bumthang, today hosted a Khadar ceremony to honor the first visit of the Honorable Director of the Department of Forests and Park Services to Bumthang since he assumed office. The ceremony, held at UWIFoRT, brought together approximately 80 officials from various forest offices across Bumthang, who offered Dhar as a gesture of well wishes and prayers.
During his address, the Honorable Director underscored the pivotal role of UWIFoRT as the Department's primary research and training hub. He articulated his vision for the Institute, outlining its key objectives and aspirations for future endeavours. The Director also emphasized the critical importance of the work done in the field offices, asserting that the most significant works are done in the field. Furthermore, he highlighted current departmental initiatives and addressed some of the prevailing challenges facing the forestry sector.
Following the ceremony, the Honorable Director toured the museums and nursery at UWIFoRT, and engaged in an interactive session with the Foresters trainees at the Institute.

13/06/2025

Culture Tour Guides and Local Youths attend Nature Tour Guide Training in Sengor under Mongar Dzongkhag

The Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research (UWIFoRT) is currently organising another round of nature tour guiding training for culture tour guides and local youths from communities (15 males and 4 females), residing within the Tiger habitat range areas in Bhutan: Sarpang, Pemagatsel, Zhemgang, Trongsa, Bumthang, Wangduephodrang, Dagana, Tsirang, Lhuentse, and Mongar. The participants comprise of trained culture guides and some working with local ecotourism ventures.

This training program aims to enhance knowledge and develop skills of the aspiring tour guides and local youths who will serve the tourism industry of the country.
The program was proposed as part of the integrated tiger habitat conservation program by the Bhutan Tiger Center of the Nature Conservation Division under the Department of Forests and Park Services through the IUCN and KFW funding.
The training started with a one-day theoretical input by taxa experts from UWIFoRT and Bumthang Division. The in-class teaching session highlighted basic identification of birds, plants, butterflies and moths and some fundamentals of nature tour guiding services. The participants then hiked following places: Geyzamchu to Wangthangla, Latongla to Zhongar Dzong, Menchugang to Jainala, Richanglu Ecotourism facility, Namling, and Tsamang areas to explore species of alpine, sub-alpine, cool and warm temperate forests, and subtropical belts. Throughout training, the participants will explore such biodiverse areas as a part of interactive outdoor learning.
The training program which started on 9th will end on the 15th of June 2025.

10/06/2025

A six-day training course on Protected Area Management is currently underway at the Rural Development Training Centre, Zhemgang.
The training commenced on the forenoon of 9 June 2025 and will conclude on 14 June 2025. The program is organized by the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Forestry Research and Training (UWIFoRT), with additional resource persons from the Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang, and Phrumsingla National Park.
A total of 23 forestry officials (18 males and 5 females) are participating in this skill-based training program. This capacity-building initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and strengthen the skills of forest conservation practitioners engaged in managing Bhutan’s natural heritage.
The six-day course features interactive discussions, experience sharing, and the exchange of ideas to promote a better understanding of Protected Area management. It also includes a one-day field visit to relevant sites, focusing on community management, wetlands, and sacred sites.
Key topics covered during the training include:
• Overview of protected areas
• Legal framework
• Development of protected areas in Bhutan
• Other management regimes
• Protected area management planning
• Wildlife Survey/Monitoring
• Application of spatial technologies in protected area management systems
• Threat analysis
• Project proposal writing
• Monitoring and evaluation
This training program is made possible through the generous funding support of IUCN/KfW under the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme of the Bhutan Tiger Center, instituted under the Nature Conservation Division.