Bhutan prayer flags in danger of forest cover
The Kingdom of Bhutan fears a threat to its Gross National Happiness index.† The governing authorities recently warned citizens against felling young trees for prayer flags, which detracts from the nationís pastoral landscape.† The Gross National Happiness index, stipulated in the nationís constitution, indicates the nation should have 60 percent forest cover.
Bhutan is primarily Buddhist, and its citizens construct prayer flag poles for good luck.† Each prayer flag pole must be constructed out of new wood.† Government authorities are attempting to grow bamboo as an alternative in order to maintain the countryís forests.