MN0001 Mongolia: National Parks and Integrated Programme of
Protected Areas

Project Summary:
This project involves advising the Mongolian government on the
importance of sustainable development, and establishing a network
of large protected areas, national parks, and biosphere reserves
in order to protect the country's outstanding natural habitats.
Priority Biomes %
| | Strategies %
|
Forests 30 | | Consumption & Pollution 0
|
Freshwater Ecosystems 40 |
| EE & Capacity Building 10 |
Oceans and Coasts 0 | |
Protected Areas 60 |
Non-Priority Biomes 30 | |
Species 10 |
Non-Biome Specific 0 | |
Sustainable Resource Use 20 |
| | Treaties & Legislation 0
|
| | Non-Priority Strategies 0
|
Project Background:
Mongolia is the only country in central Asia with high biodiversity
in terms of species and ecosystems. It is unique, in comparison
to other countries, in presenting most of this biodiversity in
a relatively natural, undisturbed state, and it therefore plays
a highly important role in the maintenance of biodiversity in
central Asia, as well as regulating climate change in the region.
Large areas of wilderness still exist, where protected areas (PAs)
can be established to include the full range of community types,
especially more fragile ecosystems.
The country has important water resources in lakes and natural
rivers, and the mountainous region in the north contains large
areas of virgin taiga boreal forests. The forests on the southern
border of the taiga are one of Mongolia's major water catchment
areas and need protecting. There are extensive steppes (vast grassy
plains), including wooded steppes between the taiga forest in
the north and the dry central Asian desert in the south. There
is increasing pressure to exploit these natural ecosystems for
intensive agriculture, forestry, and livestock raising. Agriculture
has been extended into some unsuitable areas and this has led
to increasing habitat degradation and soil erosion. Traditional
grazing practices are changing in the face of growing privatization,
under which more and more livestock are overgrazing and degrading
steppe ecosystems.
Project Objectives:
1. To promote the conservation of outstanding habitats in Mongolia
by raising the awareness of Mongolian authorities, scientists,
and conservation groups on the increasing threats to these areas
from foreign investors.
2. To prepare and help implement recommendations for conservation
of selected areas.
3. To assist in training Mongolian conservation personnel.
MN0001.1: National Parks in Mongolia - Project Development
Mission (Feb. 92 - Jun. 98)
Activity Background:
There is a unique opportunity in Mongolia to promote conservation-oriented
development, based on the Convention on Biodiversity, under which
Mongolia is committed to set aside 30% of its territory as PAs.
A Mongolian project leader and a team of Mongolian experts and
expatriate consultants have identified eight major regions where
new, comprehensive PAs should be established. With WWF assistance,
Mongolian PAs now extend over 15 million ha, or 10% of the country.
This work is being carried out for the Ministry of Nature and
Environment. WWFGermany funds the basic work and helped
obtain additional funding from BMZ for the implementation of two
PAs.
Activity Objectives:
1. To support (through the WWF Project Office) the work of the
Ministry of Nature and Environment.
2. To participate in lobbying parliament and local decisionmakers.
3. To help implement management plans for Chentej, GobiAltai,
Changai, and eastern Mongolia.
4. To complete management plans for the lake district of western
Mongolia.
5. To promote conservation of endangered species, in particular
Mongolian gazelle, Argali, and Kulan.
6. To provide training opportunities for Mongolia's protected
area staff.
7. To produce information material.
8. To produce the following outputs:
a) A system of protected areas in the Great Lakes Basin.
b) A recommendation for the establishment of PAs developed for
Altai and submitted to parliament for approval.
c) Publication of two new brochures on PAs.
d) An alternative proposal for a hydroelectric power plant
currently under consideration for the Charaich river.
e) Preparation and partial implementation of conservation plans
for Mongolian gazelle, Gobi bear, and wild camel.
Activity Biomes:
Marshes/Swamps.
Activity Methods:
Protected Area Establishment; Programme / Project Development.
(Concept) MN0003 Mongolia: Mongolian Gazelle
Project Summary:
This project 's purpose is to promote the conservation and sustainable
use of the Mongolian gazelle.
Priority Biomes %
| | Strategies %
|
Forests 0 | | Consumption & Pollution 0
|
Freshwater Ecosystems 0 | |
EE & Capacity Building 0 |
Oceans and Coasts 0 | |
Protected Areas 0 |
Non-Priority Biomes 0 | |
Species 100 |
Non-Biome Specific 100 | |
Sustainable Resource Use 0 |
| | Treaties & Legislation 0
|
| | Non-Priority Strategies 0
|
Project Background:
View Map
The population of Mongolian gazelles has declined from several
millions to about 350,000. Its main distribution is limited to
the Dornod area in eastern Mongolia, where the last large migratory
herds number up to 10,000 animals. A few small herds exist in
adjacent areas in Russia and China, and in the Gobi Altai. The
main reason for the decline is habitat destruction, competition
with livestock, and uncontrolled hunting. The species is an important
resource for local people (meat, skins). A comprehensive conservation
management plan needs to be drawn up, which will include conservation
of summer and winter grazing areas, migration corridors, and a
sustainable use programme.
The project concept was previously listed in the WWF Project Database
as project MN0001.02.
Project Objectives:
1. To study the biology and ecology of Mongolian gazelle in order
to design a scientifically based management plan for the Dornod
population.
2. To identify the critical habitats on which the species depends
(grazing sites, lambing areas, migration corridors).
3. To establish a system of conservation areas and initiate measures
for the protection and management of the species and its habitats.
4. To promote implementation of the conservation programme through
the provision of training, education, and information to the local
people and management authorities.
MN0003.1: Mongolian Gazelle (Jul. 96 - Jun. 98)
Activity Background:
See Project Background.
Activity Objectives:
See Project Objectives.
Activity Methods:
Protected Area Management; Species Management.
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