Forest Monitoring and Information Division (FMID) is one of the four functional divisions under the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR). It was established during the organizational restructuring exercise of 2023 with the primary objective of strengthening the Department’s monitoring system and enhancing service delivery. The Division is mandated to ensure regular and periodic monitoring of forestry programs while providing accurate and reliable data to support evidence-based planning, decision-making, and sustainable management of forest resources.
To ensure operational efficiency and contribute to the Department’s mission, vision and planned programmes, FMID is structured into four interconnected Sections: Forest Resources Inventory Section (FRIS), National Forest Information and Geographic Information Systems Section (NFI & GIS), Forest Clearance and Service Section (FCSS), and Forest Monitoring and Evaluation Section (FMES). These sections have specific and general cross-cutting mandates within the division and with other Functional Divisions, Divisional Forest Offices (DFO) and Park offices.
1. Forest Resources Inventory Section (FRIS)
FRIS plays a vital role in Bhutan’s efforts to ensure sustainable forest management, strengthen climate resilience, and meet international commitments under frameworks such as REDD+, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The section is responsible for periodic inventories of forests including National Forest Inventory (NFI) and forest management level inventory for management regimes such as Forest Management Unit (FMU), Community Forest (CF), Non-wood Forest Product (NWFP)and Local Forest Management Area (LFMA); analysis of inventory data; technical backstopping for inventory related activities; and, enhanced climate resilience of the forestry sector.
2. National Forest Information and Geographic Information Systems Section (NFI & GIS)
NFI & GIS Section is responsible for forest monitoring using remote sensing and satellite image analysis. It manages the SDSS and FIRMS, ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and integrity. The section supports sustainable forest management and biodiversity and wildlife conservation through geospatial analysis, thematic mapping, and the application of emerging technologies for planning and reporting. It also maintains and updates the Department’s website, disseminates spatial and non-spatial forestry information to stakeholders at national and international levels, and strengthens geospatial capacity through regular training and technology integration.
3. Forest Clearance and Service Section (FCSS)
FCSS functions in alignment with the Division’s broader mandates and contributes to the overarching goals of the DoFPS. The primary objective of the FCSS is to ensure timely, transparent, and accountable service delivery in forestry-related clearances and public service facilitation. This is achieved through policy review, implementation, technical review, digital platform management, and coordination with stakeholders, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, promoting good governance, and improving citizen access to forestry services through OFS & G2C.
4. Forest Monitoring and Evaluation Section (FMES)
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are a core mandate of the Department, as enshrined in the Forest and Nature Conservation Act and Rules (FNCRR), 2023, and prioritized in the 13th FYP of the DoFPS. FMES ensures sustainable forest management by ensuring implementation of management plans of the management regimes in compliance with the Forest and Nature Conservation Code of Best Management Practices 2021 and the Forest Monitoring & Evaluation Framework (M&E), 2024. Through rigorous assessments of management plans and regular capacity building for field officials, FMES strengthens accountability, effectiveness, and sustainability in the management of Bhutan’s forest resources. FMES ensures this through the annual monitoring and evaluation of forest management regimes such as:
- Protected Areas Network (PAN), including National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Strict Reserves, Royal Botanical Parks, Biological Corridors, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA), and High Conservation Values (HCV)
- Community Forests (CF)
- Forest Management Units (FMU)
- Non-Wood Forest Produce (NWFP) areas
- Local Forest Management Areas (LFMA)
- Plantation sites and other regimes.
FMID serves as the central pillar for evidence-based forestry in Bhutan. Its comprehensive mandate integrates field data, geospatial technology, and rigorous analysis to ensure the sustainable management of the nation’s forest resources. The Division’s core functions can be summarized as follows:
- Monitoring and Measuring: Conduct national inventories and remote sensing to generate critical data on forest health, cover, and carbon stocks.
- Enabling and Facilitating: Coordinate field inventories and manage digital platforms such as FIRMS, OFS and SDSS to provide transparent, efficient, and accountable forestry services.
- Evaluating and Ensuring Accountability: Implementing systematic monitoring and evaluation to align implementation of plans with national legislations, Code 2021 and sustainability goals.
- Informing and Reporting: Serving as the national forestry knowledge hub, curating data, meeting national and international reporting obligations (e.g., REDD+, UNFCCC), and disseminating accurate information to stakeholders.
