Context
With its exceptionally harsh climate and extreme geographical conditions, Mongolia faces particular challenges. Although it needs to offset the negative impacts of climate change and the declining capacity of the natural environment, at the same time it must protect its limited natural resources, fragile ecosystems and unique biodiversity. The negative impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, decreasing rainfall and an increase in natural disasters, are much more noticeable in Mongolia than in most other regions around the world.
In many places, the environmental problems are already serious and are increasing, not least due to economic growth. Given Mongolia’s considerable economic momentum, energy and water consumption as well as land use are all rising sharply. The use of natural resources is neither sustainable nor adapted to climate change. Mongolia’s key forest ecosystems – the most important ecosystems in the country – are increasingly at risk due to climate change and to forests not being managed sustainably (as a result of unregulated forest use, fire and biotic factors). There is a lack not only of technical competence, expertise and resources but also of a coherent policy which combines the management and protection of forest ecosystems with biodiversity conservation.
Objective
The political and institutional conditions as well as the build-up of resources and skills have improved. Biodiversity can be preserved by protecting and sustainably managing selected areas of ecological significance (key ecosystems) while taking into consideration climate change and the living conditions of the rural population.
Approach
The programme is part of the biodiversity priority area of cooperation between Germany and Mongolia and comprises four components:
climate change and adaptation policy
forest certification and implementation of REDD+
vocational training of forest engineers and environmental engineers
sustainable pasture Management
The programme combines policy advice on issues such as climate, biodiversity and the use of natural resources at national level with the implementation of technical and organisational innovations at regional level in the aimags of the Khangai Mountains and those of Khövsgöl, Selenge and Bulgan. The programme’s target groups are as follows: rural populations working in both the public and private sectors and who are threatened by climate change and poverty; organisations, municipalities, households and organised groups of users in the programme region which manage forests and either use products derived from the forest or process and market such products.
Milestones have been set and the results chains mapped out. These steps have been carried out together with the lead executing agency, the Ministry of Environment and Green Development (MEGD), and with the Ministry of Education and Science as well as the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, the Forestry Authority, representatives of the private sector and the target groups. Together with the MEGD, a reform of the forestry and nature conservation policy is being developed. In addition, improvements are being made to the legal and institutional conditions for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. New, modern curricula are supporting the training that is being provided by vocational schools to forest engineers and environmental engineers for forest companies. An implementing order based on participatory methods aimed at sustainable pasture management in the protected areas is being developed.
The programme is primarily geared to the Mongolian Government’s Action Plan (2008 – 2012), its strategy for environmental reform up to 2021 and the National Action Programme on Climate Change. The programme plays an instrumental role in stabilising forest ecosystems where biodiversity is endangered and in developing a coherent natural resources policy, taking into account the impacts of climate change. The support provided by the programme lays the foundation for preserving the ability of forest ecosystems and biodiversity to adapt.
Results achieved so far
The implementation of the management and adaptation strategies in the sectors relevant to land use is helping to stabilise biodiversity. Improved financing mechanisms that accompany the sustainable management of the key forest ecosystems are supporting these processes.
The added value is also being increased. Opportunities to invest in businesses are being created and jobs are being secured.
The more transparent and more attractive wood trade arrangements are helping to establish a balanced approach to forest management and to improve the incomes of the local population. Biodiversity conservation in the protected areas in the Khangai region is being implemented more effectively as a result of improved inter-regional cooperation and common monitoring mechanisms.