Ulaanbaatar
Protection of sources of natural springs continues effectively
Environment
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ There
are four natural springs and one lake often accessed by wild animals in Khar
Yamaat Nature Reserve (NR). In 2019, a source of Yamaat spring and Khulstai
Lake were enclosed and prevented from domestic herds. Like these, the rest of the natural springs
in the NR were also needed to be fenced off to prevent from livestock
occupancy.
Under the GEF funded
“Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the
Eastern Steppe of Mongolia”, the WWF-Mongolia specialists in cooperation with
Khar Yamaat NR’s full time and volunteer rangers as well as local residents
built extended livestock exclosures around sources of springs and Khulstai Lake
in September, 2019. Built 300-m and
200-m protective fences around sources of Zurkhen and Shar springs, respectively,
they have started monitoring on water flows and levels at these water bodies.
Khulstai Lake in Khar Yamaat
NR is a part of important waterfowl habitats.
Thus, the small sized Lake was enclosed in May 2019 at initiative of
rangers. This year, the Lake’s fence was made sturdier and expanded at 10-15 m
distances from the Lake’s shore. Earlier, the surrounding areas of the Lake
were subject to overgrazing and deterioration due to overstocking. However, the
Lake’s water level and reed and cane growth have been recovered thanks to
conservation efforts. For instance, there were 21 bird species recorded at the
Lake in 2019 spring, but 61 bird species recorded in 2020 spring. More importantly, the endangered white-naped
crane has come back to the Lake to nest and spend its summer.
Source: WWF-Mongolia
