Forests in mountain ecosystems provide a diversity of services and goods in mountain landscapes, and the immediate utility of the forest to upstream residents must be balanced with the insurance forests provide for downstream residents in the form of, especially, the services of water regulation and soil stabilization. Little empirical data exist for Bhutan that confirm a causal link between upstream forest use and downstream security. To help to fill this gap, we summarize the results of two literature reviews related to forest ecosystem services and human well-being, using the framework of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH). We report preliminary findings of three field-based assessments of forest ecosystem services on hillsides. We conducted an assessment of the perceptions of local residents about the forest ecosystem services in three distinct forest areas of Bhutan. The studies were carried out in high-altitude oak forests, forest management units (FMUs) in government reserve forests, and community plantations. We engaged villagers in focus group discussions and conducted key informant interviews. The strongest evidence in the literature for linkages between forests and GNH was found for the role forests play in socio-economic development and good governance, particularly through the community forestry program. Regulating services of forests were cited as crucial to several aspects of human well-being, but little empirical evidence was provided. To local residents in the three study locations, the provisioning services of forests were highly ranked, as were water regulating services. At the plantation sites, residents felt that the new forests did improve soil stability and water provisioning services. Cultural services were identified but not highly prioritized. Awareness of forest ecosystem services was high among participants in the study, but understanding of the causal links between forest use and human well-being was mixed. Lack of direct evidence about causal pathways between upstream forest condition and downstream security leaves gaps in our knowledge and even perpetuates myths and misconceptions about the role that forests play. We encourage further research at multiple scales and using mixed methods to test hypotheses on the linkages between forests and human well-being in mountain landscapes.

Shells of the Rissooidea species that are known from Bhutan are characterized. Tricula montana is reported from that country for the first time. Two Erhaia species from Bhutan are described as new to science, viz. E. janneisp. nov., and E. pelkiaesp. nov., The holotypes of the Erhaia species that were described from Nepal are figured with photographs for the first time and compared with the congeneric taxa from Bhutan and India. Erhaia nainitalensis is considered a senior synonym of E. chandeshwariensis. An identification key is presented for the Erhaia species of the Himalayan foothills.

Macro-invertebrates form an integral part of aquatic systems, and assessment of macro-invertebrate communities is one of the best ways to monitor the health of a stream. Despite this, stream monitoring of macro-invertebrates has been extremely limited in Bhutan. A study was conducted to generate baseline information on macro-invertebrate diversity in the Phobjikha valley, covering community composition and seasonal variation in diversity during post and pre-monsoon seasons. From a total of 244 units sampled in streams, 50 families from 13 orders were recorded. The dominant order overall was Ephemeroptera (31%), which also dominated the pre-monsoon assessment (33%), while Trichoptera (39%) dominated the post-monsoon assessment. The pre-monsoon assessment recorded two additional orders, Caenogastropoda and Veneroida. There was no significant difference in diversity between the post-monsoon and pre-monsoon assessments (p˃0.3), but a significant difference in species diversity between seasons was observed in pools and riffles. Physicochemical parameters indicated that pH, electrical conductivity and salinity were within favorable ranges for macro-invertebrates. Further studies of other habitats in different seasons will produce a more comprehensive understanding of macro-invertebrate diversity.

Discoveries and new records of plants specifically provide a basis for empirical data to enable in-depth studies of the ecology, distribution, conservation, applications, and threats to such plants. However, many unexplored regions of Bhutan exist in which several plants have yet to be described and documented. Several species reported elsewhere in the Himalayan region with similar climatic conditions are likely to occur in Bhutan as well, indicating a need to corroborate their presence. To explore this, an opportunistic survey was employed, and we provide nine new records of plant species for Bhutan. Of the nine species, three belonged to the Lauraceae family, with the rest from the Aristolochiaceae, Asparagaceae, Lamiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Sapindaceae, and Urticaceae families. This paper adds nine additional species of plants to the flora of Bhutan. We also report here ethnobotanical applications of these species, providing insight into how communities interact with environmental resources and have the potential to integrate traditional knowledge into scientific understanding, ultimately to reinforce sustainable biocultural conservation at the local level.

Bhutan represents a biodiversity hotspot in the eastern Himalayan region, known for its unique environment and diverse plant species. This has made Bhutan a popular destination for plant enthusiasts from all over the world. Several new plant discoveries and records have been made in recent years, contributing valuable additions to scientific knowledge and the country’s botanical records. Here, we provide two new additional records of plants for the flora of Bhutan: Alangium kurzii Craib from the Cornaceae family and Ficus racemosa L. from the Moraceae family. With these additions, Bhutan now has three Alangium species and 25 Ficus species including the current records. We also present their uses and distributions in the country.

Gaining comprehensive insights into the dietary habits and food preferences of the Black-necked Crane (BNC) is crucial for developing effective conservation plans to safeguard this globally near-threatened species. The choice of habitats by these birds is primarily influenced by the availability of diverse food sources and overall environmental security. This study was conducted in 2019–2020 in Bumdeling, one of three wintering sites for BNC in Bhutan. It was prompted by concerns over a declining crane population, largely due to habitat alteration that threatens food sources. This study aimed to examine the dietary preferences of cranes by collecting and analyzing fecal samples from foraging and roosting sites. Results revealed that paddy-fields were the primary foraging areas. The presence of domestic grains after harvest, herbaceous plants, and invertebrates are crucial components of the food structure of cranes. Fecal samples contained 79 species from domestic crops, herbaceous plants, and invertebrates. Fecal dry weight exhibited significant differences from December to February compared to March, suggesting a decline in rice intake and an increase in invertebrate consumption, resulting in lower fecal weight. These results also showed that as the months progress rice decreases with a shift to a protein-rich diet of invertebrates before cranes migrate back to their summer grounds. Traces of plastics were found in feces from all feeding sites, highlighting the need for better waste management. Changes in agricultural practices have had significant impacts on the availability of food sources for cranes in Bumdeling. Collaboration among conservationists, local government, and communities is recommended to enhance winter habitats and provide food supplements when rice supplies start to diminish.