THIMPHU: Bhutan`s pristine forest and mountain ecology sectors can look forward for a major boost with the establishment of a SAARC forestry centre here.

As per the report the centre will conduct research into mountain ecology, explore new ways of managing forest resources and other related fields, and gather research data from member states to serve as a nodal point of information on forest and related topics, besides providing policy inputs to member states.

"Local foresters can avail information and data from the centre on its research and the various new approaches to manage the forest and its resources," centre director, Sangay Wangchuk, said.

SAARC Secretary General Sheel Kant Sharma and Bhutan`s Agriculture Minister Pema Gyamtsho inaugurated the centre last week.

Initially, the USD 359,118 centre will prepare a database on forestry research, workshops on medicinal plants and identifying projects on carbon sequestration this year.

"After recruiting staff, we`ll chalk out projects and studies that we can carry out," said Wangchuk. "We`ll identify and set up research plots in various eco-systems and conduct studies."