The CNR’s eDNA laboratory has saved the country between USD 200 and $300 per sample on analysis costs, allowing scientists to identify species, monitor climate change impacts, and assess ecosystem health. CNR’s eDNA laboratory supports biodiversity research and conservation in Bhutan, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment for extraction, PCR, and sequencing, with outsourcing to India. Outsourcing eDNA sequencing capacity is cost-effective, but Bhutan’s CNR eDNA lab aims to catalogue Bhutan’s biodiversity using this technology, addressing the undiscovered species issue.
Two master’s students are collaborating with DoFPS to conduct eDNA studies on mammals and fish species, collecting physical specimens for a national reference database. Compared to camera traps, eDNA analysis found 25% more terrestrial mammal species—35 as opposed to 29. Even elusive species like wolverines, grizzly bears, mule deer, red squirrels, and various bat species that are not visible to cameras were found in water samples. The study found that eDNA techniques were much more cost-effective.