Bhutan ranks among
the most biodiverse countries in the world.
photos M.
Noonan
Located in the Himalaya area of
Asia, Bhutan has an incredible range of habitat type.
The southern part of Bhutan nearest to India is warm and
supports wildlife that is usually associated with a
tropical-jungle climate. As one progresses north, the
wildlife changes according as the elevation increases.
In much of Bhutan, it is quite cool - even in the
summer. High in the Himalayan mountains, there is snow
year round and this is an area inhabited by incredibly
hardy animals and plants.
photo M.
Noonan
Innumerable rivers wind through
the valleys of Bhutan. Waterfalls are everywhere, tucked
in between the cliffs and draining into the rivers and
streams. Currently, 72% of the country is covered with
forests (or other communities of native vegetation), and
the Bhutanese government policy is that this percent
must never fall below 60% in the future. The forests
that grow between the riverbanks and the mountain peaks
include a variety of trees, such as bamboo, cypress, and
the rhododendron. The rhododendron forests are of
special interest, as Bhutan has over fifty species.
photo M.
Noonan