COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GER (YURT) CENTER

preventing and reducing existing environmental and tourism threats through Supporting the South gobi province people to maintain traditional nomadic way of life

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ATCF CONTRIBUTION: $20,000

GRANT AWARDED: 2019

LOCATION: Gurvantes Soum, South gobi Province, Mongolia

IMPACT: support local communities to improve their environmental awareness and stewardship and preserve their nomadic culture and values by implementing various conservation focused programs and activities among local youth and herders.

Mongolia is rich with mineral resources that are being extracted by domestic and international companies. Of the 21 provinces in Mongolia, Southgobi has the highest number of mines, and Gurvantes soum (small administrative unit) of this province has a total of nine coal mining companies in operation, which is the largest number in the province. Mining has quite destructive impacts on the environment, wildlife and local communities. This project aims to support Tost bagkh (smallest administrative unit in Mongolia) people in the Southgobi province of Mongolia to maintain their traditional nomadic way of life by preventing and reducing existing environmental and tourism threats related to mining and poaching. To achieve our goal, in cooperation with Tost people, the Mongol Ecology Center will establish community development ger center that enables local communities to improve their tourism, environment and economic education as well as income from tourism. The ger center will additionally serve as summer camp.

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The ATCF and its members have awarded Mongol Ecology Center $20,000 to provide long-term protection of an environmental resource, wildland, waterway or threatened species that benefits Mongolian herder families and their children through increased economic opportunities and improved environmental education.

the issue

In addition to big coal deposits in the area that warrant the mining industries presence, the Gurvantes region is also known for its unique and beautiful landscape as well as diverse wildlife and dinosaur fossils that attract many tourists who are seeking thrilling adventure. Gurvantes is one of a few places on earth where one could witness flaming cliffs and may spot incredible wildlife such as snow leopard, wild sheep, goat and camel as well as gobi bear. However, Gurvantes soum of Southgobi province has been greatly impacted by coal mining in the past decade, where three out of four bagkhs (smallest administrative unit) are occupied by mining companies/operation. Consequently, Gurvantes is faced with very challenging environmental issues such as wildlife habitat and population loss, poaching and pasture degradation. To prevent and reduce these environmental threats that are caused by mining, the Mongol Ecology Center works to support local communities to improve their environmental awareness and stewardship and preserve their nomadic culture and values by implementing various conservation focused programs and activities among local youth and herders.

the goal

The Mongol Ecology Center is very hopeful that Tost bagkh will remain as the only bagkh with no mining and its communities will be more empowered, educated and encouraged to protect their environment and wildlife while improving their livelihood and well-being. If Tost people remain strong and do not allow any mining in their territory and push for good management and practices of state protected area and get heavily and actively involved in the wildlife protection, and make the ger center more self-sustaining, that will be a true success for us. Lastly, if this project becomes successful and other organizations would like to implement the best practice to other parts of Mongolia, that would make us happy as well.

impacts

  • Prevention and reduction of mining impacts on the environment, wildlife and local communities. Improved livelihood and well-being of local herder households

  • Enhanced education, commitment and stewardship of local youth and adults toward the environment

  • Establishment of local brand products such as tea with native plants and felt products

  • Ensured preservation of nomadic culture and tradition, dinosaur fossils and other cultural heritages.

PROJECT UPDATES

Coming soon…

more about the mongol ecology center

Mongol Ecology Center (MEC), a 501(c)3 non-governmental organization based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Tucson, Arizona, was established to ensure a thriving future for Mongolia by transferring best practices to preserve the environment, natural resources and cultural heritage of Mongolia. MEC recognizes the international “best practice” to preserve a country’s natural and cultural heritage is through a national system of parks and protected areas. These places when properly managed often serve the dual purpose of supporting sustainable economic development and the perpetual preservation of nationally important resources.

“On behalf of the Mongol Ecology Center staffs and Gurvantes soum people, we would like to thank all members of the ATCF for voting for our project. Having generous funding of the ATCF means that together with Gurvantes communities, we would establish community ger center that benefits herder families and their children through increased economic opportunities and improved environmental education. Thank you very much for your generosity, kindness and hope you all will visit Gurvantes soum, Southgobi province, Mongolia in the future.” - MEC Executive Director