Bhutan rolls out innovative apps to transform its mountain rangeland management

Thimpu, Bhutan | 12 March 2026 – The Royal Government of Bhutan and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) launched two digital tools designed to advance sustainable rangeland management and strengthen the livelihoods of Bhutan’s highland pastoral communities.

The launch took place during the Bhutan–ICIMOD consultation for the co-design of ICIMOD’s Medium-Term Action Plan VI (2027–2030). The event was graced by Dasho Karma Tshering, Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Royal Government of Bhutan, and Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General of ICIMOD.

The first product unveiled was the upgraded Tsamdro App, redeveloped with ICIMOD’s technical support to improve digital field data collection on Bhutan’s rangelands. According to Dasho Geley Norbu, Director General of the National Land Commission Secretariat, the earlier version of the app enabled Bhutan to survey and map about 380,000 acres of tsamdro, demonstrating the value of digital tools for evidence-based land governance. The new version introduces improved functionality and user-friendly features to make data collection more efficient and accurate.

The second product, the Tsamdro and Herder Mobility Dashboard, was developed by ICIMOD in collaboration with the Department of Forests and Park Services, the Department of Livestock, and the National Land Commission. The dashboard integrates data on grazing areas, herder mobility, and other spatial information relevant to pastoral systems. It provides an integrated platform for improved planning, monitoring, and decision-making for sustainable rangeland management.

As agreed during the Bhutan–ICIMOD Coordination Committee meetings, the National Land Commission will serve as the central repository for these datasets to ensure high data quality standards, proper archiving, and coordinated data management across sectors. The Department of Livestock and the Department of Forests and Park Services will be primary users of data.

According to Dr. Tashi Dorji, Senior Livestock and Rangelands Specialist at ICIMOD, the launch of these tools marks an important milestone for pastoralists in Bhutan and reflects the Royal Government’s commitment to strengthening sustainable rangeland management. He noted that the initiative also supports Bhutan’s observance of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, underscoring the importance of mountain rangelands and the communities that depend on them.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Neraz Tuladhar (Raz), Media Officer
Email: media@icimod.org