Development of Solid Waste Disposal in Phobjikha Valley. Background Phobjikha (alt. 3000m/9845ft) valley is one of the most beautiful spots in Bhutan. This place is the winter home of black necked cranes that migrate from the arid plains in the North to spend winter in milder and lower climate. Phobjikha, falls under the district of Wangduephodrang and lies on the periphery of the Black Mountain National Park. Black Necked Crane is identified as an endangered species of bird which migrates to Bhutan in Winter and Phobjikha is one of the favored roosting ground. Conservation of cranes and its habitat in Phobjikha began as early as 1980s and Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) plays the pivotal role (RSPN,2016) RSPN has made immense Waste is one of the growing issues in the valley. With the enactment of Waste Management and Prevention Act of Bhutan 2014. Unresolved waste issue in Phobjikha will not only invite strong reprimand from the National Environment Commission, but will also impede the tourism business. On the other hand, the development vision of the country as articulated in the Vision 2020 document also places sustainability and quality of the environment among the core objectives of maximizing Gross National Happiness (GNHC, 2011). As such, there is a strong need for an intervention in Waste management guidelines and instructions integrated into Homestay manuals. 5.1 RSPN in collaboration with Tourism Council of Bhutan has already developed a manual for the homestay owners. The manual highlights all the basic skills and standards of a homestay, however, it doesn’t specify anything about proper waste disposal and accountability. Through consultation with RSPN, TCB and homestay owners, a provision shall be included in the manual. It will include basic guidelines on how to segregate waste, where to dump and also how to prevent waste generation. 5.2 Guideline shall include penalties on those who do not adhere to the guideline. It shall also include instruction on who shall monitor and follow up on the waste management in the valley. The guideline will mandate the local government to take full responsibility of managing waste in the valley. 5.3 The steering committee members of the Home stay Association shall be provided separate training and workshop on waste management strategies. Recommendation Donor agents need to build better cohesive relationship between the Homestay owners and Non Homestay owner. There is a blame game between these stakeholders on who should be more responsible for the increasing waste in the
