BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN FOR MONGOLIA Ulaanbaatar April 1996 PREFACE by Dr. Z. Batjargal, Minister for Nature and the Environment Biodixersity conservation is one of Mongolia's priority issues. Biodiversity conservation requires more than just the traditional classic way of nature protection, which is important but responds to only part of the need. Conservation must be integrated into development which must be sustainable and compatible with the survival of living nature. Most of Mongolia's area is still pristine and its biodiversity is relatively little influenced by human activities, due to low population density and less developed industry. But Mongolia has an extreme continental climate, and its ecosystems are rather fragile and sensitive to unnatural pressure from human activities. To conserve biodiversity the government has been following a policy of protecting ecosystems, threatened species and species of economic importance. To date this has been done through appropriate management, habitat protection of species such as snow leopard and saiga and some species of plants, and preserving the gene pool of threatened species such as gobi bear and wild camel by restoring breeding populations. Another important effort is the reintroduction of the Przewalskii horse, which is extinct in the wild. The government has achieved some positive results. Many remaining issues will be solved through improved enforcement of environmental laws, economic incentives to protect the environment, combining of traditional and modem conservation methods, and increased public concern for biodiversity. In order to conserve Mongolia's biodiversity, ecological training is required for scientists and decision makers and certain advanced technologies are needed. This requires much more funding than the Mongolian government or even the entire nation' can provide. Therefore, the government, in coordination with UNDP, and with the financial support of GEF, developed the Biodiversity Project with the aim of protecting biodiversity. The implementation of its first phase is nearing completion with good success. This Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan was developed within the framework of the Biodiversity Project with assistance from experienced foreign specialists and Mongolian scientists. The Plan's concept was discussed with many representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations. Mongolia is a large country with rich and unique biodiversity, but its economic base is small compared to many countries. For example, although Mongolia's territory is three times greater than France's, her per capita GDP is fifteen times smaller. For this reason and because the Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan is intended to solve both national and global biodiversity conservation problems, its iii implementation requires incremental Cost support from the GEF. Consequently, the Implementation Phase 2 has been developed. But it can not cover the cost completely. Therefore the establishment of a Trust Fund is needed in order to provide sufficient and sustainable support for critically needed actions identified in this document. If the latter projects and planned actions can be implemented, it will not only rescue the regional and global biodiversity from loss by saving the very rare species that are lef_ in Mongolia's territory, but it will effect the restoration of species in neighboring countries as well. It will provide a possibility to save habitat and species, which will be a great charity for the entire human race. Mongolia's government and the people are willing to make such a contribution. However, appropriate support is needed from the international community. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface, by Dr. Z. Batjargal, Minister for Nature and the Environment iii List of Tables ix List of Figures x List of Appendices x List of Acronyms, Terms, and Organizations xi Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan Process in Mongolia xiii INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1 THE STATUS OF MONGOLIAN BIODIVERSITY 5 1.1 Overview of biological diversity in Mongolia 5 1.1.1 Ecosystem diversity .................. 6 1.1.1.1 Natural diversity ................ 6 1.1.1.2 Anthropogenic diversity ................ 9 1.1.2 Species diversity ................... 12 1.1.3 Genetic diversity ................... 14 1.1.3.1 Wild animals and plants ................ 14 1.1.3.2 Domestic animals and plants .... ........ 15 1.1.4 Special features of Mongolia's biodiversity ......... 15 1.1.4.1 Ecological and evolutionary features . ....... 16 1.1.4.2 Species endemism .................. 17 1.1.4.3 Endangered species .................. 18 1.1.4.4 Economically important wild species .......... 19 1.1.4.5 Regional and global importance of Mongolia's biodiversity . 19 1.2 Threatened status of biodiversity 20 1.2.1 The threats ................... 20 1.2.1.1 Ecosystems .................. 20 1.2.1.2 Species ...................... 21 1.2.1.3 Genetic varieties .................. 21 1.2.2 Causes of threats ................... 22 1.2.2.1 Population increases ................. 22 1.2.2.2 Industrialization, past and present economic policies, and pollution 22 1.2.2.3 Increase in per capita consumption of resources ....... 24 1.2.2.4 Destruction of habitat ..... 25 1.2.2.5 Over-exploitation ............... 26 1.2.2.6 Inadequate natural resource management ......... 27 1.2.2.7 Threats from outside national borders ......... 28 1.2.2.8 Climate change ............... 29 1.2.3 Need for sustainable development of resources 29 CHAPTER 2 STATUS OF CONSERVATION IN MONGOLIA 31 2.1 Description and assessment of conservation in the wild . 31 2.1.1 Protected areas ................ 31 2.1.1.1 History of establishment ............. 31 2.1.1.2 Numbers of different types of protected areas ....... 32 2.1.1.3 Legal status ................... 40 2.1.1.4 Protected area zonation ................ 41 2.1.1.5 Buffer zones around protected areas ..... · ...... 42 2.1.1.6 Management, staff and budgets ............. 42 2.1.1.7 Research and monitoring ................ 43 2.1.1.8 Enforcement of laws and regulations . , . : ....... 44 2.1.1.9 Community support ................. 45 2.1.1.10 Ecotourism .................... 45 2.1.2 Conservation of wild species ............. 46 2.1.2.1 Legal status .................... 47 2.1.2.2 Administration ................... 51 2.1.2.3 State Inspectors and Rangers ............. 51 2.1.2.4 Enforcement of laws and regulations ............ 52 2.1.2.5 Community support ................. 52 2,1.2.6 Protection of species with ranges crossing international borders 52 2.1.3 Conservation outside protected areas .......... 53 2.1.3.1 Soil conservation and agriculture . .. ......... 53 2,1.3,2 Range management ................. 53 2.1.3.3 Forest management ................. 54 2.1.3.4 Restoration of disturbed and damaged lands . .' ..... 55 2.2 Description and assessment of other conservation actions 55 2.2.1 Conservation of wild plants in botanical gardens 55 2.2.2 Conservation of wild animals in captive collections 56 2.2.3 Conservation of wild relatives of crops and livestock 56 2.2.4 Conservation of varieties of crops, livestock and domestic animals .................. 56 2.2.5 , Pollution control ................ 57 2.3 Assessment of availability of data and scientific research necessary to achieve biodiversity conservation . 58 2.3.1 Inventory and baseline data ............. 58 2.3.2 Monitoring ..................... 59 - 2.4 Assessment of institutional' framework ...... 59 2.4.1 Government - central ................. 59 2.4.2 Government - local ................. 61 2.4.3 Private - non-governmental Mongolian organizations 62 2.4.4 Private - for profit .................. 62 2.5 Assessment of law and policy ........ 63 2.5.1 Legislation: laws, regulations, resolutions, conflicts ..... 63 2.5.2 Strategy ..................... 64 2.6 Assessment of public information and education programs related to biodiversity conservation .... 65 · 2.6.1 Formal education: schools, colleges, universities. 65 2.6.2 Books, magazines, newspapers, TV, radio ........ 66 2.7 Assessment of personnel training for biodiversity conservation 67 2.8 Description and assessment of international cooperation on * biodiversity conservation 67 2.8.1 Multilateral cooperation 67 2.8.2 Bilateral cooperation ................ 68 2.8.3 Non-governmental Cooperation ............ 69 CHAPTER 3 ACTION PROGRAMS 71 3.1 Overall objectives ........... 71 · 71 3 2 Specific objectives and actions 3.2.1 Establish complete protected area system representative of all ecosystems and protecting endangered 'species, including joint actions with the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China ................. ...... 71 3.2.2 Establish effective population control measures to limit human impact on the nation's biodiversity ............. 80 3.2.3 Implement an effective environmental impact assessment program to understand the effects of proposed actions on biodiversity. 81 3.2.4 Establish a research program that improves knowledge of biodiversity and relevant threats . ........... 83 3.2.5 Establish a nationwide information and monitoring system for biodiversity conservation ............... 84 3·2.6 Establish national education and training programs for biodiversity conservation ............... 85 3·2.7 Establish a public information program to improve people's knowledge of biodiversity and the importance of conserving it.. 86 3.2.8 Control pollution of air, water and soil .......... 87 3·2.9 Control hunting and fishing .............. 88 3.2.10 Prevent