Bhutan has the distinction of being the first country in the world with specific constitutional obligations on its people to preserve the environment. Article 5 of the Constitution emphasizes the responsibility of all Bhutanese to protect the environment, conserve its rich biodiversity and prevent ecological degradation. It stipulates that a minimum of sixty percent of land must be maintained under forest cover for all time. This far-sighted constitutional pledge is intended to ensure long term sustainable use of natural resources in a manner that not only benefits present and future Bhutanese generations, but also contributes to global environmental health. The country-led process to incorporate this into the Constitution was supported by the UN and EU.
