Conservation Coach Training
Information Sheet for Exercise on Ecological Drawing to include Climate
Change in a project
Project information
Scope
The scope is the Mongolian part of the Amur-Heilong Ecoregion Complex (AHEC).
The entire Ecoregion covers an area of
1.85 million square kilometres. It
includes the basin of the Amur-Heilong
River in Russia, China and Mongolia.
The Amur is the biggest river in
Northeast Asia and originates from
two sources. The northern source is
the Onon River in Mongolia and the
southern source is the Argun River,
which drains the western slope of Da
Xing’an Mountains in China.
Targets
There are five biodiversity targets: Boreal Forest, Steppe/ Grassland, Freshwater ecosystems,
Mongolian gazelle and Taiman (fish species).
Direct threats
Seven main threats have been identified: wildlife poaching, unsustainable non-timber forest
product (NTFP) collection, illegal logging, inappropriate water infrastructure, overgrazing,
anthropogenic fire.
1
Additional information
Altitude ranges from 13011700m (NW) to 501-900m
above sea level (SE)
Vegetation classes include:
 Green: Boreal Forest (Taiga)
and Tundra
 Dark
purple:
Wooded
grasslands
 Light purple: Grasslands/
meadows
 Yellow: Steppe
The three rivers relevant to the
AHEC: Onon, Kherlen and Khalk
2
Climate Information
Air temperature
Past & Current: Warming was observed with a speed of 0.029°С/year during 1940-2007 and
has become more intense during recent years. Currently the yearly mean air temperature
varies from -4.2°С to +1.1°С, and temperature decreases from S to N and with altitude.
Leading to:
 Vegetation growth period has became extended by 2 weeks;
 The number of extreme hot days has nearly doubled - see Table 1.3.
Future Projections: By 2080 the annual mean air temperatures will increase 4-5°C compared
to the average of 1961-1990. Summer warming is expected to be comparatively higher.
Precipitation
Past & Current: Increase of precipitation between 1940-1960, more or less stable between
1961 and 1990 and decrease from 1991-2006 - see Figure 1.4. Currently the yearly total
precipitation in eastern region ranges from 250 to 400 mm. In the southern parts of the
eastern steppe yearly precipitation amounts up to 200 mm, in northern parts 300-350 mm
and in the mountains 350-400 mm. More than 400 mm precipitation occurs only on the
northern slopes.
3
Future Projections: Varying projections from the HADLEY and ECHAM model for 2020, 2050
and 2080 (decrease, increase, same). In general, precipitation increase in warmer seasons
will not exceed 10-20% compared to the present level.
Evaporation
Past & Current: Total evaporation increased with a speed of 2-3 mm/year during 1961-2006
(range from 3.2% in desert regions to 15% in high mountain and forested regions).
Leading to: Increased aridity and droughts, leading to a 300% increase in number of days
with sandstorms compared to 1960’s (also due to intensification of land degradation).
Future Projections: Within the first half of the 21st century, it is projected that total
potential evaporation increase will be 6-10 times greater than precipitation changes.
Potential Changes in Mongolian AHEC








Changing ecosystems and geographical distribution of biodiversity. For instance, it is
expected to alter the current condition of wetlands, small lakes and springs due to
change in the water thermal balance of permafrost areas.
Water temperatures increase between 3.0°C-4.1°C by 2080, which will influence
decreasing dissolved oxygen content in water bodies, dramatic changes in fresh and
saline water ecosystems, diversity of water flora and fauna, and a reduction in water
quality.
Evaporation from water surfaces will increase between 106.4 mm - 193.4 mm by 2080
River discharges are projected to increase by 10 mm by 2020 in upper parts of the
Khentii mountain range and in other mountainous parts by 2-5 mm. But in intermountain depressions, steppe and Gobi desert regions they are projected to decrease by
2 mm.
Runoff of the rivers is expected to be reduced by 10 to 25%.
Shorter periods of ice cover and earlier start of ice-breakup.
In the coming 60 years desert and steppe zones’ northern boundaries will shift 350-450
km to the north. At present, the desert zone covers 36.5 million ha and is projected to
cover 122.7 million ha by the 2070’s, which is over 70% of the country – leading to:
o Disappearance of flood plains, wetlands, lakes, small rivers and dramatic
decrease of biodiversity and migratory birds in Onon and Ulz River Basins;
o Decrease growth and areal distribution of larch trees and other vegetation in the
current permafrost areas;
o Complete disappearance or dramatic decrease of biodiversity such as Mongolian
gazelle, marmot, red deer and many different plant species;
o Decrease number of days with constant snow cover.
Permafrost areas are projected to decrease by 77-94% by 2080 compared to the current
situation, which will impact considerably the change of water-thermal balances of large
areas, the formation of water resources, river ecology and existing engineering
constructions such as roads, bridges, electricity transmission lines and irrigation systems.
4
Sources:
 Programme ‘Conserving the Beauty of the Peaceful Black Dragon’ – Amur Heilong Ecroregion Complex,
Strategic Plan 2011-2020. WWF (internal document).
 Amur-Heilong River Basin Reader. Edited by Eugene A. Simonov and Thomas D. Dahmer. WWF, Ecosystems
Ltd. - 426 pages, 2008: http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/eng/299.
 Assessment of climate change and antropogenic (human) impacts into hydrological systems of Onon,
Kherlen and Khalkh river basins, Mongolia". WWF Mongolia, 2011:
http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/suuliin_huvilbar_1pdf.pdf.
5