
AKIPRESS.COM - The regular meeting of the Steering Committee for "Ensuring Sustainability and Resilience of Green Landscapes in Mongolia" (ENSURE) project took place on January 9, Montsame reported.
The meeting was chaired by State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia Battulga Erkhembayar. The participants reviewed the activity implementation report for 2024 and approved the 2025 action plan and budget.
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 districts in Arkhangai, Zavkhan, Bayankhongor, and Gobi-Altai provinces.
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 hectare area near Buuntsagaan Lake in Bayankhongor province was designated as a Special Protected Area for 30 years.
To support the natural regeneration of Saxaul forests and seed conservation, a 300-hectare degraded Saxaul forest in Shinejinst district, Bayankhongor province, 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 Council of Arkhangai province. A Passive Building-Eco Camp, which relies on local community participation, was launched in partnership with the governor's Office of Erdenemandal district.
In Gobi-Altai province, 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 province was rehabilitated and restored.