ABSTRACT
The small Himalayan country of Bhutan seeks to combine environmental best practices along with modernization in a dangerous neighbourhood between the hostile rivals of China and India, under whose tutelage it remains. This study places efforts underway in the capital city of Thimphu, within the context of national policies and practices. Bhutan is known for “Gross National Happiness” supported by “Four Pillars” of good governance, sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation. According to the Constitution, one measure is keeping at least 60 per cent of the country forested. Hydropower fuels its economy and exports. The “Thimphu Structure Plan 2002–2027” (Benninger, 2002; Infrastructure Professions Enterprise, Ltd, 2006) reflects government efforts to meld urban growth with environmental constraints. A “Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Thimphu Structure Plan” (Ministry of Works and Human Settlement, 2018) affirmed the centrality of environmental preservation for sustainable development in Bhutan. The commitment to balance cultural traditions along with modernization, attempting to raise the general standard of living while avoiding materialism, is reflected in the urban development of its capital city. Thimphu’s efforts to preserve environmental integrity may provide a model for gradual, conscientious urban development in a highly constrained environment.
