Charles Sturt University (CSU) is looking to expand its relations with the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, particularly in research into environmental management. Director of the Council for Renewable Natural Resources Research in Bhutan, Dr Tashi Samdup, is visiting Albury and the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society to discuss future collaboration with CSU staff. Dr Samdup will also discuss the progress of two Bhutanese PhD student researchers at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Mr Kuenga Namgay and Mr Karma Tenzing. Senior ILWS researcher Dr Joanne Millar said Dr Samdup’s visit was important as it allowed discussions to further extend CSU’s research and teaching efforts in the mountain kingdom. “Although Bhutan is considered an environmental success story, the country still faces poverty and land degradation issues so our collaborative research will investigate the impact of environmental policies on local livelihoods,” Dr Millar said.