Role of rural livelihood on the environment: A case study of Pangthang village in east Bhutan

Bhutan is a sparsely populated land, spread over the inaccessible and inhospitable mountainous landscape. The country maintains more than 60 % forest cover and pristine natural environment without major environmental challenges. Although agriculture shares about 22% of the nations GDP, it remains the main livelihood for the majority. The objectives of the study were to understand how people earn their livelihood and what is their satisfaction level? How it effects the environment? Our study revealed that 65 percent of the population is illiterate and farmers in the village. Their main livelihood is cultivation of maize and potato. The people of the village are facing various hurdles to increase their agricultural productivity which includes limited land, lack of agricultural facilities, marketing facilities, training and extension services etc. Despite of these hardships the people do not resorted to illegal poaching and forest destruction. The average income from the two cash crops is Nu.45, 140 per annum per family. With this income they can meet their basic need and are satisfied. This can be attributed to their Buddhism culture and life style. It was observed that the agricultural activities are settled agriculture unlike slash and burn cultivation, common in hilly areas. The agriculture is mainly organic in nature. The people who are educated opt for alternative livelihood to earn better and the illiterate farmers are bound to work in fields. They earn sufficient income for themselves and above all they are happy which indicates the success of the principle of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in Bhutan which indirectly contributes in conserving the natural environment.