The tiny nation of Bhutan ranks among the most
biodiverse in the world. 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.
photos 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