RSPN was founded as a citizen based non-profit, non-governmental environment organization in 1987 to support environment conservation in Bhutan. The Society was registered under the Companies Act of Bhutan until last quarter of 2009 without proper authority which regulated the non-profit organization, with a special clause on non-profit entity. With the establishment of Civil Society Authority of Bhutan, the Society is now registered under civil society organization authority as one of the public benefit organizations (PBO).