𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐚’𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

…𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆-𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔, 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

By Sonam Choden

In the high-altitude valley of Phobjikha, the country’s most celebrated wetland and winter home of the Black-necked Crane, a quiet but serious environmental shift is taking place. Springs that once sustained the valley’s streams and peatlands are drying at an alarming rate. The Gangtey-Phobjikha Ramsar Site Management Action Plan (2025–2034) finds that more than one-third of the 195 water sources recorded in the valley are already in a drying state, with some having vanished completely. The change is subtle but far-reaching, affecting not only the wetland ecosystem but also the livelihoods and traditions of the people who live around it.

The fragility of the country’s alpine wetlands is becoming increasingly apparent. Reduced winter snowfall, erratic rainfall, and rising water use for tourism and agriculture are shrinking the shallow aquifers that feed the wetlands. Experts warn that without intervention, the impacts on wildlife and human communities could be severe.
“Every winter, more than 600 Black-necked Cranes arrive in Phobjikha,” said Jigme Tshering, National Coordinator of the Black-necked Crane Conservation Program. “They need open wetlands and farmlands for feeding, and clear, shallow ponds for roosting. Different behaviors require different habitats.”

Phobjikha’s 960-hectare wetland is the largest Ramsar Site in the country and one of three internationally recognized wetlands. It provides water to downstream settlements, supports the endangered Black-necked Cranes during winter, and sustains grazing, irrigation, and tourism income for local communities. Despite having the highest number of water sources in Wangdue Phodrang, more than 34 percent are drying. Springs such as Tokha Menchhu, Bjagi Menchhu, and Eusa Menchhu, long considered to have healing properties, are weakening year by year, causing concern among residents about both practical water needs and cultural loss.

“Water sources are drying up year by year due to climate change,” said Kinley Gyeltshen, Gup of Gangtey. “Without proper sewage and drainage, waste often seeps into the water, damaging riverbanks. The problem worsens when visitor numbers increase—many don’t take responsibility for their waste, which ends up polluting streams. Horses left freely in the wetland area also contribute; when they die, their remains contaminate rivers. I worry about the future of our drinking water if this continues.”

The ecological consequences are already visible. As wetlands dry, their ability to filter pollutants, regulate floods, and support biodiversity diminishes. For the cranes, even small changes in water levels reduce suitable habitats for roosting and foraging. For local farmers, declining water availability is affecting potato cultivation, the area’s main source of income. The situation also disproportionately impacts women and elderly residents, who are heavily involved in water collection and small-scale farming.

To confront this challenge, the new ten-year management plan prioritizes springshed management, a comprehensive approach to restoring the sources that recharge the valley’s aquifers. The Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFP), with technical guidance from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), plans to identify recharge zones, construct trenches and infiltration ditches, and use vegetation restoration to retain moisture. Weather stations will be installed to monitor rainfall and discharge patterns, building a scientific foundation for long-term management.

The stakes extend beyond Phobjikha. Wetlands store carbon, regulate local climates, and support eco-tourism. A 2014 valuation estimated that the ecosystem services provided by the valley were worth around Nu 191 million annually. The drying springs highlight the urgency for both local stewardship and government support to safeguard one of the country’s most vital ecosystems.

Reviving the springs and protecting water sources is critical to maintaining the meadows that define Phobjikha’s landscape, sustaining both wildlife and human life. The success of this plan will depend on how well science, policy, and community stewardship can work together to restore balance to one of the country’s most vital ecosystems. The sound of returning water would not only mark an environmental recovery but also reaffirm the cultural and ecological resilience that the valley has long embodied.