5 things I have learned about the Natural Aspects of Bhutan.
1 The government aids costs for the nation.
The Bhutan constitution provides subsidies for some basic necessities to the people in efforts to reduce their carbon footprint such as free electricity to farmers in rural areas, subsidies to purchase electric cars or transport, LED lights and striving to turn cashless/paperless.
2 Preservation of cultures and natural environment.
The people of Bhutan have religiously followed the culture that has been set for them for centuries and generations. The people also do not hunt for food, as the Bhutanese believe that they should not kill animals. It is in their culture to give respect towards the land that they live on, including the flora and fauna that live on it. Instead, the source of meat to consume is imported from India.
3 Development in Bhutan is driven by Gross National Happiness (GNH).
Bhutan is considered one of the most happiest nations in the world. A country's GNH is based on four fundamentals: good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation, which is prioritized in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
4 Efforts in reducing environmental impact by tourists.
Tourists that enter Bhutan are required to pay off a daily tourism fee of USD $200 in low season and USD $250 in high season. This however is in the expense of accommodation, food, a tour guide, entrance fees to landmarks, transportation around the country and etc. all included to tour around Bhutan. 35% of the fees help fund healthcare, education, poverty relief and infrastructure.
5 The government demands at least 60% of the land in Bhutan is under forest cover.
Currently, the land in Bhutan is covered by forests at 72%. According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, a pledge was made that a minimum of 60% of Bhutan's total land must be covered with forests for all time. In order to maintain this promise, there are no means in cutting down green trees throughout the country. If the forest area were to be disturbed due to natural causes such as floods or forest fires, the people would ensure that the trees are replanted and preserved well.
How can we play a role to help in improving our natural environment conditions in our country?
As a Malaysian, we have so much to learn and follow from Bhutan. Firstly as a nation, we need to work hand-in-hand to ensure that our historical landmarks are not taken down. It is important that we preserve and maintain historic structures around our land, this is to remember our culture and our past. We can also appreciate the environment a lot more if we have a connection with it. Besides that, I believe that there are people and companies who would do activities that can be detrimental to the environment. In order to tackle this, our government needs to impose more severe penalties to those who contribute to destroying the environment. Additionally, I also believe that we should start focusing on GNH development in our country. The 4 fundamentals of GNH should be considered while developing our nation.
Finally, we should urge our government to work towards a carbon neutral society. We could achieve this by educating our people to save water, save electricity and to take care of our natural environment. With all this in play, we would be able to progress as a nation to be richer in our natural resources, and pivot towards a happier nation.
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