Introduction
“GREEN BELT” ECO-STRIP
NATIONAL PROGRAMME
Mongolia’s forest reserve comprises 18.3 million hectares, with 12.9 million hectares of
forest coverage, or 8.2 percent of the country’s total territory. This includes 2.4 million hectares of
saxaul forest, bunch of shrubs and twigs in the Gobi desert and steppe zones, which is equivalent
to only about 2.5 percent of this region. These facts show that Mongolia is low forest cover
country in the world.
Mongolia is categorized by highly fragile landscapes. It is an arid region due to its
geographical location, topography and ecological systems and it has been affected by
desertification processes over the time.
Given the specific features of Mongolia, e.g. its location in the heart of Central Asia,
landlocked, low precipitation and elevation of 1,580 meters above the sea level, the Gobi desert
region constitutes 42.5 percent of the country’s territory. This is a region of poor fertility which is
dominated by semi-desert and Gobi soils, covered with sparse vegetation.
Intensification of the desertification process in the wake of climate change has resulted in
perpetual snow melting, drying up of lakes, rivers and streams, a sharp decline in the yield of
pastures, salinization of soil and water, soil erosion, land degradation, loss in fertility, acceleration
of sand migration and movement, and an increase in the frequency of natural disasters.
In addition to natural factors, multifaceted antropogenic impacts have also added to the
desertification process. A significant factor for desertification is said to be the increase in livestock
numbers, changes in the traditional livestock regime, decline in pasture water supply, and
overgrazing, which leads to exceeding the carrying capacity.
Over the last decade, the scope of arid areas has expanded by 3.4 percent with areas of
“strong desertification” increasing by 5.4 times and “very strong” by 1.8 times.
Overuse of saxaul trees, endemic in the Gobi desert region, is marked by 125,000
hectares of saxaul forest being totally eliminated. Use as fire-wood of ligneous plants, shrubs,
bushes and wormwoods around settled areas in the Gobi desert and arid regions still exists.
Today we are encountering the challenge of combating the negative outcomes, when the
adverse impacts of global warming and climate change are significantly affecting the country’s
economy, social life and the population livelihood, when sand movement, dust and sand storms
and desertification are intensifying.
The goal of this programme is to create a “Green belt”, which totally covers the junctional
area between the Mongolian Gobi and steppe regions, in an effort to reduce the present
intensification of loss in forest reserves, desertification, sand movement and dust and sand
storms, caused by climate change and inappropriate antropogenic activities. The long-range
programme will be realized in a step-by-step process involving the local community, harmonizing
environmental and socio-economic development policies and measures with specific features of
the respective areas.
The “Green belt” national programme has 3 phases and will be implemented over a 30
year period. The “Green belt” or “Eco-Strip” will be built, crossing the Gobi desert and steppe
regions with a total length of up to 2,500 kilometers and a width of not less than 600 meters. The
total area covered is 150,000 hectares. In addition, sub-stripe covering 50,000 hectares will also
be planted in adjacent areas of the Gobi and steppe regions synchronously with the main ecostrip, with the purpose of preventing sand movement and desertification.
To support this whole programme, practical activities of reforestation will be implemented,
expanding the range of forestation in the Gobi and steppe regions by way of planting trees and
bushes and establishing nurseries in desertificated areas.
The funding required for the programme will be obtained from the state central and local
budget, donor governments, loans from international organizations, technical assistance, gratis
aid, donations from institutions, economic entities, and others.
A detailed plan of the programme implementation will be reviewed and approved by the
Cabinet every two years, and planned activities will be reflected in the Annual Basic Trend of
Socio-Economic Development.
Local citizens, organizations and economic entities will be encouraged to develop project
and action proposals which reflect their local features in accordance with the format for planting
trees, bushes and vegetation and building protection zones in the Gobi and steppe regions. The
proposals will be reviewed for compliance with relevant procedures.
Projects and action proposals for building the green stripe or forestation in Gobi regions
shall also be reflected in bilateral and multilateral agreements to be made with foreign countries
and international organizations. Afforestation components shall be included in relevant projects in
harmony with the programme to create a synergy.
The expected outcome of the programme is the increase in Mongolia’s forest reserve by
1.6 percent and positive changes in the Gobi and steppe ecosystem. In addition, saxaul forest
reserve will be conserved, area of deciduous forest expanded, a favorable climate condition will
be formed and ecological balance will be maintained. The legal environment of cultivated forest
and forest stripe in the Gobi and steppe regions will be improved as a result of the successful
implementation of the “Green belt” programme.
A progress report of the programme shall be compiled every two years and submitted to
the Government.
A draft Government resolution on Definite Measures for Adopting and Implementing the
“Green belt” Programme shall be developed every two years together with the Biennial Action
Plan and submitted for Cabinet consideration.
MINISTRY FOR NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT
MONGOLIA