Bhutan Named Earthshot Prize Finalist for Protecting and Restoring Nature

Bhutan has been named a 2026 Earthshot Prize finalist in the Protect & Restore Nature category, recognising its conservation record and plans to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded landscapes.

Bhutan has been named a 2026 finalist for The Earthshot Prize, placing the country among 15 environmental initiatives selected from around the world for their potential to address major environmental challenges.

Bhutan is one of three finalists in the Protect & Restore Nature category, alongside Australia’s Indigenous Desert Alliance and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative in Canada. The category focuses on protecting biodiversity, restoring damaged ecosystems and finding ways to meet human needs while protecting nature.

Five winners, one from each Earthshot category, will be announced in Mumbai, India, on 17 November. Each winner will receive £1 million to help expand their work.

Why Bhutan Was Selected

The Earthshot Prize highlighted Bhutan’s long-term approach to conservation, including its constitutional requirement to maintain at least 60 percent of the country under forest cover.

Bhutan currently maintains nearly 70 percent forest cover, while more than half of the country is protected through its network of protected areas.

The Prize also highlighted the wider importance of Bhutan’s Himalayan forests and watersheds. According to The Earthshot Prize, these ecosystems help regulate freshwater systems that around 1.6 billion people across South Asia depend on.

The recognition comes as Bhutan faces growing environmental pressures despite its strong conservation record.

Nearly 2,000 water sources in Bhutan are showing signs of drying up, while forest fires affected almost 18,000 hectares between 2021 and 2024, according to figures cited by The Earthshot Prize.

Restore Bhutan at the Centre of the Recognition

A major focus of Bhutan’s Earthshot selection is Restore Bhutan, a national initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes across the country.

The programme brings together the Royal Government of Bhutan, the Department of Forests and Park Services, Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation, Bhutan Ecological Society and Conservation International.

Restore Bhutan aims to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded forests, farmland and urban landscapes, using approaches that include forest restoration, agroforestry, improved management of fallow land and restoration of areas affected by forest fires.

The initiative is also exploring longer-term approaches to conservation financing, including blended finance and Jurisdictional REDD+, which can provide financial incentives for verified reductions in forest loss.

The Earthshot Prize said Bhutan's approach combines government leadership with community stewardship, scientific methods and conservation financing to build a model that could have relevance for other forest-rich and climate-vulnerable countries.

Princess Chimi Yangzom Highlights Bhutan’s Conservation Legacy

Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck said the recognition builds on Bhutan’s longstanding commitment to environmental conservation.

“Bhutan’s conservation journey is rooted in a longstanding commitment to living in harmony with nature. With nearly 70% forest cover and carbon-negative status, we’ve built a strong foundation but the challenge is growing more urgent.

This work builds on the vision of our Fourth King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who placed conservation at the heart of Bhutan’s development, a legacy carried forward today by His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Being recognised as an Earthshot Prize Finalist strengthens our ability to scale government-led, community-driven conservation because Bhutan’s experience can offer lessons to other forest-rich, climate-vulnerable nations.”

Selected From Nearly 7,000 Nominations

The 15 finalists were selected from a database of nearly 7,000 nominations covering 169 countries, according to The Earthshot Prize.

They are divided across five categories: Protect & Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.

The 2026 selection is also the first to apply the science of “positive tipping points” across all five categories.

In environmental terms, a positive tipping point occurs when beneficial change reaches a stage where it begins to reinforce itself. This could happen when costs decline, adoption increases, supportive policies spread or ecosystems recover sufficiently to enable further restoration.

The Earthshot Prize developed its framework with the University of Exeter, drawing on the research of Professor Tim Lenton. The framework considers 51 areas where environmental solutions could contribute to wider systemic change.

More Than a £1 Million Prize

The Earthshot Prize is one of the world's most prestigious environmental awards. Founded by Prince William in 2020, it was established to identify and support solutions capable of addressing some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Each year, 15 finalists are selected across five categories, with one winner in each category receiving £1 million to help expand their work.

The five winners are selected by the Earthshot Prize Council, an international group drawn from environmental advocacy, business, science, public life and the arts.

Its current members include Prince William, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, actor Cate Blanchett, former PepsiCo chief executive Indra Nooyi, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, environmental advocate Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Wanjira Mathai, Indigenous leader Nemonte Nenquimo, Gisele Bündchen, climate activist Luisa Neubauer, former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, Ernest Gibson and World Trade Organization Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

For Bhutan, becoming a finalist brings support beyond the possibility of winning the £1 million prize.

All 15 finalists receive mentorship, resources and technical support designed to help strengthen and expand their work. They also gain access to Earthshot's international network of businesses, investors, donors, environmental organisations and climate experts.

The 2026 finalists are also receiving increased international exposure. For the first time, Earthshot is promoting its finalists through television and outdoor advertising in the United Kingdom, United States and India, including campaigns in locations such as the London Underground, Piccadilly Circus and Times Square.

For Bhutan, that global platform provides an opportunity to bring greater international attention to the country's conservation experience and the Restore Bhutan initiative, while potentially connecting the programme with expertise, partnerships and financing that could support its long-term ambitions.