andBeyond Punakha River Lodge

At Wokuna Pre-primary School, Wild Impact in partnership with andBeyond Punakha River Lodge is helping strengthen access to education and nutrition in one of the county’s most remote schools. Identified through consultation with local authorities and community members, the school serves a lower-income community where daily meals were previously prepared on a ground fire beneath a wooden shed. The construction of a dedicated dining facility, kitchen and storage area, supported by the ongoing salary of a school cook, now enables consistent daily meals for 21 students. Five computers have also been provided, improving access to learning and helping create a more supportive educational environment.

The Kabesa Basic Health Unit, located in Punakha, serves a population of around 3000 people from surrounding partner communities, and is helping improve access to reliable primary healthcare for these residents. The facility previously lacked essential medical equipment for basic diagnosis, antenatal care, safe delivery and newborn care, often increasing risk for mothers and infants and requiring referrals to higher-level hospitals. &Beyond Punakha River Lodge has supported the Health Unit with the introduction of diagnostic equipment, strengthening early diagnosis, patient monitoring and overall service quality, with the unit now treating approximately 750 to 800 patients each month. A dedicated Mother and Child Care Unit is also under construction, extending the initiative’s long-term community impact.

andBeyond Punakha River Lodge and its partner communities are situated on the border of Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan's second-largest protected area spanning over 4,000 square kilometres. The dramatic topography of the Himalaya creates a range of altitudes and an impressive diversity of habitats, fauna and flora.  This wilderness area is home to numerous endangered species and is an important refuge in the region for tiger, snow leopard and red panda. Through active community engagement and ongoing consultation with government stakeholders, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge aims to contribute to the ongoing protection of this critical conservation landscape.