Rinchen Dorji

• Bachelor of Forestry
• Sr. Biodiversity Supervisor at National Biodiversity Centre, Bhutan

Domestic wastewater is a crucial source of contamination in freshwater ecosystems, with an estimated global production of 127.13 billion tons annually. Various sewage treatment facilities put in place for treatment of municipal wastewater generate sewage sludge, which accumulates contaminants from wastewater, posing risks to waterbodies upon discha...

Among larger species of fish found in Punatsang chhu, Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) are notable species. Snow trout is a native species, whereas Brown trout is an introduced species. Brown trout is noted to have a negative impact on the population of native species worldwide. This study studied the population...

Nemacheilids are freshwater fishes distributed mainly in the South–central regions of Bhutan and environmental variables seems to have significant effect on their distribution, abundance, and diversity. However, existing knowledge and information about nemacheilid’s association with its environment is limited in Bhutan. This study aimed to assess...

Cyprinidae (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) is the predominate family among Bhutan's freshwater fishes, yet significant gaps exist in the knowledge of their diversity and assemblage. Cyprinids were sampled from 54 plots across four river basins (Aiechhu, Jaldakachhu, Mangdechhu, and Punatsangchhu) using systematic sampling at an interval of 5 km. A total...

Bhutan is endowed with rich biodiversity with several edible and useful fern species. Ferns have been used by local communities for centuries as vegetables, ethnobo-tanical artifacts, and as medicines. Owing to the limited study of edible and useful pterido-phytes in the country, the knowledgebase remains poor. In this study, we attempt to document...

A short writeup about the plant collection trip to the black mountains in central Bhutan

In Bhutan the Persian Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is highly valued for its timber and is listed under special class in Royalty on Forest Products of Bhutan. Possessing high timber and other medicinal values, the ecology of the species in the country was poorly understood. The study aimed to understand the ecological requirements and habitat modeling...

Through the collection of herbarium specimens in Bhutan over the years, new plant species are discovered nearly annually. Thus, this paper reports two new genera and 19 new records of flowering plant species from Bhutan. The new genera include Eurycorymbus of the family Sapindaceae and Homalium of the family Salicaceae. The new records of plant spe...

Pteris griffithii Hook., one of the rarest fern species on the Indian subcontinent, is reported from Bhutan for the first time. The identity of this species was confirmed through morphological determination at the National Herbarium (THIM) of the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) of Bhutan. It was found only in one location, in Gyelpozhing in east...

We conducted a study to evaluate the perception of farmers towards invasive plant species, and the impact of invasive plants on local livelihoods in Punakha and Samtse Dzongkhags. Data were collected from 291 respondents selected through stratified random sampling using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 11 invasive plant species were reco...

Monitoring protocol for Flora of Bhutan. Published as part of the Bhutan Biodiversity Monitoring Protocol (2020).

Presence of the large shrubby plant called Ipomoea campanulata is reported for the first time in Bhu-tan. It was found during an invasive alien plant survey conducted in the Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary in February 2020. Specimens were collected from the Deorali roadside between Phuntshothang and Samrang in Samdrup Jongkhar district. A brief dia...

During a recent field trip in Wangdue Dzongkhag, few medium sized flowering trees were observed by roadside along Dangchhu river valley near Chuzomsa, and additionally from Phochhu in Puna-kha. The species was identified as Rhaphiolepis bengalensis (Roxb.) B.B.Liu & J.Wen, which is a new record of plant to Bhutan. Formerly, the species was known as...

Five flavonols were isolated from the whitish flowers of Primula alpicola and P. sikkimensis var. hopeana which belong to the section Sikkimensis in Bhutan. Flavonoid composition of two Primula species were qualitatively the same and they were identified as quercetin 3-O-xylosyl-(12)-[rhamnosyl-(16)-glucoside] (1), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (2), que...

A team consisting of two foresters from Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park(JSWNP) and two from the National Herbarium of the National Biodiversity Centre conducted a field excursion in the areas within the jurisdiction of Langthel, Nabji and Tingtibi range offices under the JSWNP. The team tried to explore the areas where little or no plant colle...

Lists and photograph of major invasive plant species of Bhutan.