BBSCL

The National Health Survey 2023 reveals that areca nut consumption among Bhutanese aged 15 to 69 rose to nearly 60 per cent last year, marking a three per cent increase since 2019. The health ministry attributes the rise to the product being cheap, easily available and culturally accepted in the country. To address this, the ministry plans to introduce measures...

Experts, donors and policymakers have gathered for a six-day conference in Paro to find solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. The conference serves as a platform to exchange knowledge and develop plans for securing future funding for climate action. With this year on track to be the hottest on record, with temperatures...

Sakteng in Trashigang, which once boasted of rich, untouched wilderness, is now facing an increasing concern about waste management. The community, now connected with road networks, is seeing an increasing number of shops adding to the waste management issues. The Sakteng Gewog Administration’s new landfill with proper fencing is expected to address the issue. Managing waste, especially plastic, is becoming...

In Samdrup Jongkhar’s Langchenphu Gewog, areca nut leaf sheaths are being transformed into biodegradable plates and cups. These eco-friendly alternatives are replacing plastic at celebrations. This shift has helped reduce pollution and promote a cleaner and greener community. Without the areca nut plate and cup-manufacturing unit, the areca nut sheaths were discarded openly. Now, they are collected and processed into...