Up in the Himalayan Mountains, valleys surrounded by rolling green mountains provide a much-needed shelter from harsh winter winds and temperatures. The slow drip of glacial melt feeds the meandering fertile wetlands of these valleys. Blanketed with grass and shrub-like bamboo, the wetlands of Phobjikha Valley in Central Bhutan make an ideal location for migratory birds in the Central Asian Flyway, like the Black-necked Crane, to spend their winters.

The 1.3 meter tall, Black-necked Crane spends its summers breeding along high elevation water bodies in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. These landscapes can rise well over 4,500 meters above sea level. Unlike other migratory waterbirds, these cranes don’t need to travel extremely long distances when they make their migration south in the autumn. Instead, they seek warmer temperatures at lower elevation wetlands. Still, these lower elevation wetlands remain 2,000-3,800 above sea level (roughly the height of Mount St. Helens).

Phobjikha Valley sits some 3,000 meters above sea level with winter temperatures reaching -4ᵒC. Despite the cold, Phobjikha houses the largest concentration of Black-necked Cranes in Bhutan during the winter months, with upwards of 600 birds observed last year. The water levels in this high-altitude marsh provide everything that these birds need, from the insects and small animals that they eat, to protection from mammalian predators.

Unfortunately, human pressures and a changing climate put this entire ecosystem at risk.

A shift in the landscape

Wetlands across all of the Himalayas, like those found in Phobjikha Valley, have been formed across tens of thousands of years. They are fed by a steady flow of glacial melt. Sadly, as our climate grows ever nearer to 1.5ᵒC in change, this meltwater is becoming less predictable. At certain times of the year the wetlands may see much more water, and at other times almost none. If the glaciers shrink as the temperatures climb higher, the high-altitude marsh ecosystem, and the birds and communities that rely on it could disappear.

On top of the threat of climate change, the fast expansion of agriculture within Phobjikha Valley threatens to encroach on Black-necked Crane habitat. These birds share the valley with nearly 5,000 residents, many of which make use of the valley’s fertile soil for growing potatoes. While the birds are well adapted to agricultural ecosystems, unsustainable farming could raise the levels of pesticides in the water. This would negatively impact the birds’ overall health, and food supplies. Large expansion of agriculture also increases runoff and erosion throughout the valley.

Equally, this valley has seen a boom in tourism. Yet, unsustainable growth in the tourism industry could put strain on the valley’s natural resources like water and energy as well as cause issues with waste management. A balanced economy between tourism and agriculture is key to securing this safe-haven for the Black-necked Crane.

Improvements for the cranes and community

The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature Bhutan (RSPN Bhutan), BirdLife in Bhutan, is working to create this balance. The team understands that both agriculture and tourism are incredibly important to the economic wellbeing of the residents of Phobjikha Valley. So, their work with the community is aimed at making these sectors more sustainable for the valley’s ecosystem.

The Phobjikha Valley is home to RSPN Bhutan’s very own Black-necked Crane Education Center. Tourists from around the world are welcome to visit the center and safely view the birds from the observation deck during the winter months. This attracts nature tourism to the Valley. While staying at local homestays, tourists can also trek across the gentle mountains rimming the valley or visit iconic temples.

Each year on November 11, tourists and locals come together to celebrate the Black-necked Crane Festival. Over 300 festival-goers don their Gho and Kira, the traditional outfits of Bhutan, and enjoy dancing and music around the town square. Some of the performances even involve Black-necked Crane costumes, and mimic their majestic movements.

RSPN Bhutan began this cultural festival 26 years ago in 1998 as a way to both celebrate the importance of these birds in Bhutanese culture, bring in new tourism revenue streams, and for locals to ‘renew their commitment to conserve the cranes’. 

Jigme Tshering shares, “The festival has attracted hundreds of tourists in the valley. The tourists spent at least two nights in local hotels and homestays, which is an additional income for the community”

RSPN Bhutan’s teams are working closely with farmers in the valley as well. Through water pollution surveys, RSPN Bhutan hopes to uncover the extent of herbicide and pesticide pollution in the marsh. By understanding the impact, the team can then offer solutions to meet the agricultural needs of the community, while also protecting habitat for wildlife.

Addressing the urgent need for climate solutions through UNFCCC

To preserve this high-altitude marsh for both people and birds, however, we must act swiftly on climate change. Last year, RSPN Bhutan sent a delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 to share how their work has contributed to conserving wildlife and making Bhutan the world’s first carbon-negative country. While this goal has already been achieved within the country, the carbon outputs from the rest of the world will still negatively impact the people and nature of Bhutan.

Right now, BirdLife teams are at COP29 in Baku, working to keep nature at the heart of climate action. While world leaders discuss back and forth about their solutions to protect climate, nature and people, BirdLife partners, like RSPN Bhutan, are implementing these active solutions in their own backyards.

“When I first visited Phobjikha valley back in 2007, there would be snow cover in the winter for weeks. Now, there’s barely an overnight snow cover. We are already noticing the drying up of the wetland, which is one of the largest high altitude natural wetlands in the country” – Jigme Tshering, National Coordinator for the Black-necked Crane, RSPN Bhutan