Wildlife Protection Efforts Ongoing as Part of the ENSURE Project
Environment
Ulaanbaatar, January 10, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The regular meeting of the Steering Committee for the "Ensuring Sustainability and Resilience of Green Landscapes in Mongolia" (ENSURE) project took place on January 9, 2025.
At the meeting, chaired by State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia Battulga Erkhembayar, the activity implementation report for 2024 was reviewed and the 2025 action plan and budget were approved.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the ENSURE Project is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, and supported by the UN Development Programme. The project encompasses 13 soums in Arkhangai, Zavkhan, Bayankhongor, and Gobi-Altai aimags.
In 2024, with the scope of the project expanded, key initiatives were implemented, fostering stakeholder collaborations and partnerships while contributing to local socio-economic development through nature conservation efforts. Specifically, a 97,014.58-hectare area near Buuntsagaan Lake in Bayankhongor aimag was designated as a Special Protected Area for 30 years, in partnership with Bayankhongor aimag and the Governor's Office of Baatsagaan soum.
To support the natural regeneration of Saxaul forests and seed conservation, a 300-hectare degraded Saxaul forest in Shinejinst soum, Bayankhongor aimag, was fenced in collaboration with the Governor's Office. Additionally, the administration of the "Bukhun Shariin Nuruu" Special Protected Area was established as a state-owned enterprise by the decision of the Citizens' Representatives Khural of Arkhangai aimag. Also, a “Passive Building-Eco Camp” tourism facility, which relies on local community participation, was launched in partnership with the Governor's Office of Erdenemandal soum.
In Gobi-Altai aimag, a program to establish an internationally recognized eco-school and a national-level student training curriculum has been initiated.
Efforts to protect rare and endangered wildlife and plants were carried out with the involvement of local environmental organizations, herder groups, and communities. To improve wildlife water supplies, four new wells equipped with solar-powered pumps were built. Additionally, the Shireegiin Khuv water reservoir in Gobi-Altai aimag was rehabilitated and restored.