The Royal Government of Bhutan today officially launched the validation and verification (VV) process for its REDD+ Program under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) TREES Standard on 9th June 2026 through a kick-off meeting attended by Dasho Karma Tshering, Hon’ble Secretary, MoENR and representative from the Department of Forests and Park Services and Legal Service Division, AENOR (the VV Body) and the ART Secretariat.
The meeting marks the beginning of an independent assessment of Bhutan’s TREES submission, covering the reference period 2015–2019 and the crediting period 2020–2024. The VV process will evaluate the robustness of Bhutan’s carbon accounting, monitoring systems, safeguards implementation, and institutional arrangements in accordance with the requirements of the ART TREES Standard over eleven months.
Dasho Karma Tshering, speaking on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan and as the account holder for Bhutan’s High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD) Carbon Crediting Program under ART, acknowledged the continued support of the ART Secretariat and AENOR in advancing Bhutan’s participation in international carbon markets. He highlighted that Bhutan’s strong commitment to environmental conservation is guided by the philosophy of Gross National Happiness and reinforced by constitutional and policy mandates. He noted that Bhutan has maintained approximately about 70 percent forest cover and more than 52 percent of its land under protected area networks, enabling the country to remain one of the few carbon-negative nations in the world.
Bhutan’s participation in the ART TREES program represents a significant milestone in recognizing and rewarding decades of conservation efforts by the Royal Government, local communities, and numerous stakeholders. These achievements are the result of visionary leadership, strong environmental stewardship, and sustained investments in forest conservation and sustainable management.
According to Bhutan’s TREES Monitoring Report, the country generated an estimated 1.76 million credits which will be issued by ART upon completion of validation and verification for the crediting period 2020–2024 crediting period. Of these, approximately one million units are expected to be eligible for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) market. While these results demonstrate the climate benefits of Bhutan’s forests, the country emphasized that its foremost objective remains the long-term conservation of forests, protection of biodiversity, enhancement of climate resilience, and support for sustainable livelihoods.
The VV process will include technical reviews, stakeholder consultations, and field assessments to independently assess Bhutan’s reported emissions reductions and compliance with the ART TREES Standard. Bhutan remains fully committed to supporting the assessment process and will work closely with AENOR, the ART Secretariat, and all stakeholders to facilitate consultations, provide the required information, and support field visits. The process is expected to further strengthen the credibility, transparency, and environmental integrity of Bhutan’s REDD+ Program and represents an important step toward recognizing Bhutan’s climate and forest conservation achievements through results-based finance.
