Abstract
Forest plots have been managed for the collection of leaf litter for agricultural use by farming households in Bhutan for generations. These plots are an important source of fertility in the mixed crop-livestock farming systems still prevalent today. Efforts towards increased production and diversification, policies on organic agriculture, legislative amendments to land ownership are all factors influencing the traditions of leaf litter collection. A household survey was conducted in western Bhutan, between January and March, and again in October of 2014, in three regions with varying socio-economic and agro-ecological characteristics. Changes in the perception of leaf litter collection, synthetic fertilizer use, and cultivation area were analyzed. Regional differences were revealed in how farmers are approaching production increase and soil fertility management, providing an insight into how traditional forest resource uses and agricultural practices are transitioning in Bhutan today.
