Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 2003 Vol. 1(2): 49-54 Protected Area Status in Mongolia Jamsranjav Jargal Steppe Forward Programme, Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, P.O. Box 537, Ulaanbaatar 210646A, Mongolia e-mail: [email protected] Policy and Legislation The Mongolian Law on Environmental Protection of March 1995 proclaims that ‘land and Under the present constitution that was revised its soil, underground resources and their mineral in 1992 all land, forests, water, fauna, and flora wealth, water, plants, animals, and air will be and other natural resources in Mongolia belong protected from any adverse effects to prevent exclusively to the people and are under State ecological imbalance’. The purpose of this law is protection. Apart from some limited areas given to to regulate the interrelations between the state, the citizens of Mongolia for private ownership, the citizens, economic entities and organizations in land as well as the subsoil with its mineral wealth, order to guarantee the human right to live in a forests, water resources, and game, is State owned. healthy and safe environment, with ecologically The tradition for protecting nature goes back to balanced social and economic development, the 13th century when many forested hills were protection of the environment for present and future protected as holy areas. Kublai Khan, grandson of generations and proper use of natural resources. Ghengis Khan (Chinggis Khaan), extended Environmental impact assessment is incorporated protection to forests and also decreed a law in the into Article 9 of the Mongolian Law on 13th century forbidding hunting of any game during Environmental Protection in which it is stipulated the summer months under penalty of death. The that ‘environmental impact assessment shall be introduction of Buddhism from Tibet in the 16th conducted for the development of proposals and and 17th centuries provided further protection for programs, as well as for establishing contracts for animals and for the establishment of the first the operation, initiation, and expansion of protected areas in the late 1700s (Nowak, 1970). production or services which may have adverse The Great Khural (Parliament) passed the environmental impacts’. It clarifies the state Decree on the Rational Utilization of Natural organizations plenary rights on environmental Resources and the Protection of the Natural protection as well as rights and obligation of Environment on 30 June 1972. This law requires citizens on environment protection. every person to act for the good of nature and for The National Program on Special Protected the protection of natural resources (Borisov et al., Areas was enacted in April 1998 by the Great 1985; Kosmider, 1985). Khural (Parliament) Act Number 29. This program In the early 1970s a number of laws relating to defines the main policy of Mongolian Government environmental protection were introduced: a and implementation strategy related to the Special second Law on Land Use in 1971 (revised Protected Area for the next 20 years. Mongolian November 1994); a Law on Hunting 6 January, government plans to extend the network of 1972 (originally drawn up in 1934, revised in 1944, protected areas in the future by gradually placing issued in 1962) (revised in May 1995); a Law on under state special protection areas of ecological Water and a Law on Forests 1974 (revised in 1995). importance and which support threatened wildlife The Mongolian Law on Special Protected Areas and biodiversity. The plan aims to increase the (adopted 1994), the Law on Special Protected Area territory of protected areas up to 20 % of the total Buffer Zones (1997), the Mongolian Law on area of Mongolian territory by 2001-2005, 25% Environmental Protection (1995), the Mongolian by 2006-2010, and 30% by 2011-2030. The Law on Natural Plants (1995), the Law on implementation strategy describes guidelines for Protection from Toxic Chemicals (1995), the protected areas designation and expansion of the Mongolian Law on Water and Mineral Water Use protected areas network, legislation enforcement Fees (1995), the Law on Fees for Harvest of Forest and the organizational structure of protected area Timber and Fuel Wood (1995), the Mongolian Law administration. It is also provides guidance on on Natural Plant Use Fees (1995). research and monitoring in protected areas, public 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.22353/mjbs.2003.01.18 J. Jargal awareness, local participation in protected area ecological importance. They are designated buffer zones, funding and international co- for tourism development. operation. It describes expected outputs for the next 3. Nature Reserves: areas designated to create 20 years. conditions for protecting, preserving and The Law on the Special Protected Areas Buffer restoring certain natural features as well as Zones of 23 October 1997 covers the establishment any natural resources and wealth. of buffer zones for Special Protected Areas and 4. Monuments: areas of natural unique regulates activities within those buffer zones. formations designated to protect historical According to Article 3, Special Protected Area and cultural monuments. Also aimag Buffer Zone is an area established for the purpose (province), capital city, soum or duureg of reducing, eliminating and preventing adverse (district) may take certain areas within the impacts to Strictly Protected Areas or National territory under local special protection. Conservation Parks through the appropriate use of natural resources by local citizens. The buffer zone Chapter 6, Article 29, 28, 26, 25 of the law is also designed to broaden local citizen provide for the establishment of the protected areas. participation in environmental protection and to Governorf of aimag (province), capital city, soum ensure proper living standards. The law also covers (local district) and duureg (district within capital the criteria for establishing a buffer zone, boundary city) have plenary right to prepare proposals for determination, buffer zone council, funding, buffer taking certain parts of their territory under state or zone management plan and the implementation of local protection and submit it to the appropriate the law. organization. The citizens representatives khural State protected areas are covered under the for aimag, capital city, soum and duureg decide on jurisdiction of Protected Area Division, Ministry taking certain parts of their territory under local of Nature and Environment and funded by State protection and set out its boundary and protection central budget and other resource of funding. rules. The state government establishes boundaries The Law on Protected Area was adopted in for Nature Reserves and Monuments. At the request November 15th 1994. The purpose of the Law on of the government, the state Ikh Khural (parliament) Protected Area is to regulate the use and decide on taking territory under state special procurement of land for special protection and the protection and include the territory under one of preservation and conservation of its original the State Special Protected Area classifications as condition. This is to preserve the specific traits of well as approving or changing Strictly Protected the natural zones, unique formation, rare and Area and National Conservation Park boundaries. endangered plants and animals, historic and cultural monuments and natural beauty, as well as research. International activities The Legislation on Special Protected Areas of Mongolia shall consist of the constitution of On 2 February 1990, Mongolia became a party Mongolia, the Mongolian Law on Land, the present to the Convention concerning the Protection of the Law and their legislative acts issued in conformity World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World with them. According to the Mongolian Law on Heritage Convention), accepting the terms of the Special Protected Areas, areas under protection are Convention. Since then Uvs Lake Basin, the ancient desert layer of Gobi Gurvansaikhan, part “A” of classified under the following categories: the Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area, Khovsgol lake together with the area supporting reindeer 1. Strictly Protected Areas: areas that can people of shaman religion, and Otgontenger, represent unique features and characteristics Bogdkhaan, Burkhan Khaldun mountains are being of natural zones, have preserved their accepted as word heritage sites. In 1991 the Great original conditions, and are of special Gobi Strictly Protected Area and in 1997 the scientific and cultural significance. Bogdkhan Uul Strictly Protected Area were 2. National Conservation Parks: areas where included in the UNESCO MAB site. Also some the original natural condition is relatively areas were recorded on the Ramsar Convention List preserved and which have historical, of Wetlands of International Importance. These cultural, scientific, educational and included Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area 50 Protected Areas of Mongolia in 1997, Terkhyn Tsagaan Lake, Ogy Lake, Lakes by the Council of Ministers; Valley (Orog lake, Tatshyn tsagaan lake, Boon • Wildlife Management Section was initiated in tsagaan lake, Adgyn Tsagaan lake) in 1998, and the Forest Research Institute (Anon., n.d. b). Khar Us Nuur National Park, Airag lake in 1999. Mongolia joined the Convention on Biological At the local level legislation is administered by Diversity. the aimag and soum authorities. Administration and management New Parliament and Government formed as a result of the first democratic free