Why is much of Bhutan covered by forests and grasslands instead of farms?

Much of Bhutan is covered by forests and grasslands rather than farms primarily due to the country's challenging physical geography. The land available for agriculture represents only a small fraction of the total area because of steep slopes, poor soil quality, and an adverse climate in many regions.1

While the Bhutanese economy is largely agrarian, farming is concentrated in the relatively low, well-watered, and fertile valleys of central Bhutan. In other areas, the rugged terrain and environmental conditions have necessitated that a significant portion of the land remains covered by forest growth, meadows, and grasslands. Furthermore, the government has implemented legislation to preserve the country's extensive forest cover, which currently accounts for about two-thirds of the nation's land area.123