Today’s desertification state, State policy, Appropriate measures, Trouble and Difficulty
General attitude: Mongolia has a harsh weather condition and geographical position is a vulnerable part which can be easily impacted under desertification.90% of all territory of Mongolian covers dry and semi-dry, vulnerable land. Water area 36%, perpetual snows 31%, dry steppe 28%, forest area 8% are decreased but sand area 46%, desert field area 68% are increased because last 65 years our country’s average temperature has been increasing by 2.10C.Perpetual snows, glaciers of Altai spurs and Khuvsgul mountain of Mongolian are increasing the melting process because of Global warming.Scientist’s the last research shows that our country’s 71% area land has been impacted under desertification. The most impacted territory under desertification Dundgobi, Dornogobi, Khovd, Uvs, Bayan-Ulgii, Bayankhongor, Gobi-Altai, Uvurkhangai,
Available to determine by following factors the process affects in desertification of Mongolia. Including:
- Day numbers with heavy storm are increasing by 4.5 times to compare with 1960 time, sand movement is expanding, a ground affected under erosion and damage.
- Drought intensify because of Global warming, drought rate is increasing.
- Grow in number of rodent and insects to destroy grassland.
- Lost balance of domestic cattle structure, today's herdsmen don’t domesticate traditional methods from They ancestors so grassland is ground.
- A lot of forest or steppe fire, forest pests increase, shortage of reserve because illegal forest consumption do not decrease.
- Central area’s soil structure destroyed and generous soil quality lost because used an outdated technologies in agriculture.
- Generous soil parts damaged and Left recovery process behind during mining of natural resources.
Projects which taken to reduce the intensify of desertification
Certain projects have been taking from the government.
Mongolia joined to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 1966 for organize De-desertification projects by following international strategy, policy, aim and De-desertification program confirmed by Government act in 1997,2003 according to the Convention membership assignment. The projects successfully completed.
Today’s desertification cases are demanding new strategy plans for the future. De-desertification National Program confirmed by Government 90th act in 2010 withal UNCCD 10 year strategy, Mongolian National Security Council’s recommendation, Comprehensive National Development Strategy of Mongolia. This program has following 2 levels:
- 1st level 2010-2015 years
- 2nd level 2016-2020 years
Purpose of National De-desertification program is based on to keep balance of natural environment and increase living condition of local people which hit in desertification by take a precaution from land regression, combat desertification, reduce desertification and will complete following top priority. Including:
- To develop a skills of companies
- To improve a legal environment
- To expand of knowledge of science and technology
- To support education, increase involvement, promotion
- To add investment, support a projects to accomplish in local area
Therefore, working on new law projects about soil conservation, De-desertification to confirm by Parliament, for improve legal environment of De-desertification. Also certain jobs are done for develop a evaluate method of desertification status. Example, “Temporary rule to organize the process which to make a statement and to evaluate status of desertification and land erosion/damage/” and “Temporary method to make an evaluation of De-desertification status” confirmed by the Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism are being experimented.
Last few years, focusing to increase about an investments and budgets from Government into De-desertification projects. Example, 1 billion tugrug in 2008, 900 million tugrug in 2009, 900 million tugrug in 2010 took from the budget of Ministry Nature, Environment and Tourism and spent for spring conservation,create artificial lake, support a projects from local company and people, organize training and advertise, improve a base of research.
International organization and donor-countries have been giving an aid and support for De-desertification. Example, “Grassland sustainable management”, “De-desertification office’s stable management” projects of the UNDP, Switzerland Development Agency’s “The Project to reduce desertification”, “The Project to combat with resource of Yellow dust storm” from Japanese J-Green company,also Green Wall project funded by Republic of Korean government. These projects are giving a certain contribution over De-desertification.
Trouble and difficulties combat to De-desertification in Mongolia
- Policy to reduce desertification, legal, economical, management environment does not complete, coordination between sections does not reach for necessary level.
- Planing, Utilization and Management of agriculture which covers 70% of Mongolian territory have a poor organization.
- Financial shortage for reduce desertification.
- National and local abilities are weak to De-desertification.
- Desertification research, study, measures are not established completely.
- Local authorities, citizens, companies are not involving with active and innovation.
- Technology and experience are poor for reduce sand movement, recover degraded environment.
- Monitoring of government and public for stop illegal usage of natural resources is weak
- Public’s ecology education and training levels are low.
