Silambi Natural Resources Conservation & Managemet Project implemented by Lamzang Tshogpa (LT) in Silambi village, under Mongar Dzongkhag to create awareness among the local inhabitants on the importance of environmental conservation and to improve their living conditions.

Silambi village is located in Mongar District in Eastern Bhutan. The 15 households of silambi village, the BHU, Silambi Community Primary School did not have water supply for drinking purpose, there was lack of electricity and the community Lhakhang (temple) and the community school used tons of firewood.

With the assistance from SGP, the Lamzang Tshogpa have implemented the project which is environmentaly sound as well as built the capacity of the local people. The communitiy school is provided with drinking water facility and solar lightings. The main objectives of the project was to conserve the local environment and to improve the living condition of the local communities especially the young children.

Objectives of the project were to:
1. Reduce consumption of firewood and prevente the local forest from further degradation by installing fuel efficient improved stoves;
2. Establish water supply system for the benefit of 32 households from four villages of Silambi, Khatey, Barbang and Tashithang.
3. Instal solar lighting system in Silambi Lhakhang and Silambi CPS
4. Create awareness amongst the school children and local people on importance of natural resources conservation by conducting Environment Education workshop two times, once at the inception and later after the implementation of the project.
5. Green the community areas and preserve the forest through plantation.

The Lamzang Tshogpa (LT) carried out the following project activities:

1. Rural Water Supply Survey;

2. Five day long Community planning and management Workshop - for villagers of Silambi geog, the village block heads and the concerned health workers. The aim was to plan teh activities for sustainable environmental management and draw out a Water Supply Scheme. Participants were informed about the work and participants were taught how to execute their work and manage the scheme after completion of the work. The Dzongkhag Staff were involved to technically assist on the water supply system.

3. Establishment of Rural Water Supply Scheme which have benefitted 32 households in the village besides the school, BHU, religious institutes.

4. A one-day Environmental Education Workshop was conducted for 77 participants of Silambi with the help of the officials from Forestry Department from the Dzongkhag Administration. The contents of the workshop were as follows:
i. Environmental Conservation - concerns at local, National, Regional and the Global level;
ii. Bhutan's National Policy, Goals and objectives on Environmental Conservation;
iii. Situation analysis of Environment at their village;
iv. Assessment of scope for promotion of long term Environment Conservation Program.

5. Installed Fuel Efficient Improved stoves - 2 numbers of 75 litres and 2 numbers of 100 litres of improved stoves with hot water circulation in Silambi CPS;

6. Installed one set of solar lighting system in Silambi Lhakhang and two solar lanterns in Silambi Community Primary School which has reduced the use of mebchi (extracts from pine tree traditionally used as lighting system in Bhutan) for lighting purposes and hence the smoke and soot subsequently.

7. The plantation activities have improved the greenery around Silambi Community School.

The project has taken more than the specified duration because of the remoteness of the project site. The Dzongkhag Administration and the Lamzang Tshogpa (LT) have carried out the participatory monitoring of the project and are satisfied with the outcomes. It will take a longer time to see the impact of the project. However teh immediate ones have been reduction in teh fuel wood consumption coupled with cleaner air inside teh Lhakhang.

The pine wood extracts that the Silambi Lhakhang used emitted green house gases which used to blacken the walls and was unhealthy for breathing. It was also adding to the global warming. After the installation of solar ligthing system the emission has been reduced and the indoor pollution has been cut down.

A review cum awareness workshop was conducted again after the completion of project which was found to be useful for the local people in the community.