Nomadic community in the shadow of Jargalant Khairkhan, Mongolia.
One with Nature Nomadic community in the shadow of Jargalant Khairkhan, Mongolia. © Bayar Balgantseren

Stories in Mongolia

Our Priorities for a resilient Mongolia

The Nature Conservancy's vision for Mongolia is a future where people and nature can thrive.

Mongolia possesses some of the world’s most captivating and unspoiled lands, home to snow leopards, Mongolian gazelles and one of the last-remaining nomadic herding cultures. Since 1992, the nation has developed a network of national protected areas that now total about 21 percent of all its lands. And the nation has committed to formally protecting 30 percent of its grasslands, forests, deserts, mountains, rivers and lakes by 2030.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been working in Mongolia for over two decades. Over the years with our partners, we have:

  • Completed Ecoregional Assessments mapping important areas to protect across Mongolia.
  • Supported national and local governments in establishing new protected areas in the Eastern Steppe grasslands. Around 45 percent of the Steppe, or 32 million acres, is now under some form of protection.
  • Demonstrated sustainable grassland management practices at Toson Hulstai Nature Reserve, gaining the participation of the 200 families while increasing important wildlife populations.
  • Trained hundreds of managers and herders in our science-based Conservation Action Plan methodology to help them improve management of their local protected areas.
  • Helped the government pass a law requiring companies to avoid, minimize or offset development impacts.

But to support the Mongolian Government's national target of protecting and sustainably managing 30 percent of its country by 2030, there is still much more to do.

Our Goals for 2030

We’re racing to hit these targets to help the world reverse climate change and biodiversity loss. Together, we find the paths to make change possible.

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    240K

    Avoid or sequester 240,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually on community-managed rangelands.

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    2.2K

    2,200 km of long riverine system of Delgermoron River is protected.

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    14M

    14 million hectares of important biodiversity areas are protected using a series of legal provisions.

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    10M

    10 million hectares of rangeland management is improved through community-based conservation.

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    10M

    10 million hectares of land is avoided from conversion through local-level protection.

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    300

    Support the leadership of 300 Community-Based Organizations involving 15,000 people in stewarding their environment and securing rights.

Our Priorities

For over two decades, TNC has collaborated with national and regional governments, local herding communities and other partners to conserve Mongolia's vast ecosystems.