Younten Phuntsho is a Bhutanese politician and environmental specialist serving as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock since January 2024. He holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University and previously worked with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Bhutan and the Department of Forest and Park Services.
Education
Younten Phuntsho holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, USA, and a Master of Science in Forestry Management and Administration from the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy in Dehradun, India.[3]
Career
Phuntsho has extensive experience in natural resource management, climate change, environment, and forestry. He served in Bhutan's civil service until 2020, working with the Department of Forest and Park Services. He then joined the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Bhutan as Programme Coordinator before entering politics.
Political Career
Phuntsho represents the Jomotsangkha-Martshala constituency in Samdrup Jongkhar District. Following the 2024 elections, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, receiving the Dakyen from His Majesty the King on January 28, 2024.[2]
In this role, he oversees Bhutan's agricultural sector, including the country's push toward organic farming and food security challenges. His background in environmental management from Yale and his experience with WWF bring a conservation-minded perspective to agricultural policy — particularly relevant for a country that is constitutionally mandated to maintain at least 60% forest cover.
References
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