Ulaanbaatar, September 10, 2025 /MONTSAME/. As mineral prices fall and state budget revenues weaken, the State Great Khural has discussed and supported a draft resolution to implement the “Gold-3” programme. It is estimated that once the programme is in place, the volume of gold sold to the state would increase by 10 tonnes a year, which at current prices is roughly USD 1 billion.

Regrettably, five major gold deposits with combined reserves of 80.1 tonnes are among the deposits identified for development, and these lie within areas under state special protection. If these areas are removed from protection for the sake of gold extraction, it would set a damaging precedent that could later be used to remove other ecologically important sites from protection under the pretext of boosting budget revenue. The President has vetoed the parliamentary resolution on carrying out the “Gold-3” campaign. When Parliament convenes in October, it will decide whether to uphold the veto.

This area, which forms the headwaters of the Onon River supplying drinking water to more than 10,000 residents in six soums of Khentii aimag, was placed under state special protection in May 2020.

Gutain Pass is a place of exceptional natural beauty, rich in rare plants and a haven for wildlife. Species found here include badger, sable, otter, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, corsac fox, and the red-backed vole.

If gold mining begins here, this pristine environment would be damaged, wildlife would flee, and the Onon River, as well as the wider Onon basin, could suffer irreparable ecological harm. One-off profit, or the future of many generations? This is a profound policy challenge now facing the State and society of Mongolia. Mongolians have long revered Mother Nature as “the source of life.” Yet today, decisions may be taken to open lands regarded as the very heart of Mother Nature, strictly protected areas, for mining. This raises public alarm about a potential backward step that would jeopardize not only the environment but also national security and the right of future generations to a livable future.

Future Imperiled in the Name of “Gold Reserves”

In Mongolia, five large deposits with combined gold reserves of 80.1 tonnes are located within State Special Protected Areas. These zones preserve pristine natural landscapes, serve as strategic sources of freshwater, and are lifelines of biological diversity.

Strategic Cradle of Freshwater: Gutain Davaa

In 2020, by Resolution No. 46 of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia, 102,640 hectares spanning Batshireet and Binder soums of Khentii aimag were placed under state special protection. This area is recognized as one of the world’s rare sources of clean water, and the waters of 27 rivers originate here. The Onon River, which rises here, forms the headwaters of the Amur River that flows through the territories of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. If mining operations begin, they could inflict serious harm on water security across the region.

Permafrost: Climate Indicator

The Gutai area is considered a key zone within Mongolia’s permafrost distribution. Over the past 40 years, permafrost-covered areas have decreased by five percent, a direct consequence of global warming and climate change. In permafrost ecosystems, heavy mining machinery and excavation risk accelerate permafrost thaw, degrade soils, and fundamentally disrupt ecosystem functioning.

Irreplaceable Role of Forests

Some 93.5 percent of the protected area, over 96,000 hectares, is forested. Studies indicate that this forest loses each year:

• emits 5.1 million tonnes of oxygen; and
• meets the annual oxygen needs of 665,000 people.

This is a safeguard for the country’s climatic balance. Moreover, the area is a cradle for rare and endangered species, with records of 22 mammal species, 260 plant species, 28 fish species, and 362 insect species. For example, the globally threatened Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii) inhabits the Onon River. Habitats here also support taimen, musk deer, moose, red deer, and ulaan jivert (local name). Each time a species is lost, the ecosystem’s internal balance begins to unravel, with consequences that will inevitably affect our lives within just a few decades.

Culture in Tandem with Sustainable Development

Beyond its natural wealth and biological diversity, the Onon–Balj River basin is rich in history and cultural heritage. In recent years, residents have developed sport fishing, eco-tourism, and community-guided tourism, creating sustainable sources of income. This offers a longer-term return and a more sustainable economic solution than the short-lived revenues of mining.

Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Losses

Opening protected areas to mining would immediately trigger the following risks:

• Degradation of freshwater resources
• Permafrost thaw and an acceleration of climate change
• Forest loss and a decline in oxygen production
• Extinction of rare species
• Collapse of local tourism and sustainable livelihoods.

Putting irreplaceable values at risk is not a wise choice; it is tantamount to purchasing future peril with money.

Public Initiative as the Basis of State Policy

Citizen-led efforts to protect the Gutai began in 2013. As noted, a request approved by the Khentii Aimags Citizens’ Representative Khural in 2017 laid the groundwork. In 2020, the State Great Khural adopted Resolution No. 46, placing Gutain Davaa under state protection. This is a good example of policy formulation grounded in public awareness and participation. To repudiate it now would be a step against democratic participation. Mongolia’s future, national security, and the inviolable face of nature are worth more than short-term gain. Any decision that could lead to the release of Strictly Protected Areas in Mongolia for mining would result in an irreparable ecological loss at the national level, erosion of social equity, and the destruction of the educational and living environment we leave to future generations. Preserving special protected areas is the prudent choice to safeguard the future of many generations.

Contributed by WWF