Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia

The 'Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia' project, led by FAO and WWF, targets nine soums in the Dornod, Khentii, and Sukhbaatar provinces. It aims to restore 0.25 million hectares of land and improve the management of 1.19 million hectares of protected areas. The project focuses on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable rangeland and forest management, and the development of sustainable value chains for livestock products like cashmere and meat. Key biodiversity targets include the conservation of the Mongolian gazelle and White-naped Crane. The project is funded by the GEF with a total budget of $56,299,586, including $50,945,000 in co-financing.

• The project targets the restoration of 0.25 million hectares of land and the improvement of 5.64 million hectares of landscapes under sustainable practices.
• The project aims to bring 1.19 million hectares of terrestrial protected areas under improved management to support the survival of the Mongolian gazelle and White-naped Crane.
• The project expects to mitigate 10.3 million metric tons of CO2e greenhouse gas emissions, consisting of 8.05 million direct and 2.25 million indirect emissions.
• The target area in the Eastern Mongolian Steppe covers 7.08 million hectares across nine soums in Dornod, Khentii, and Sukhbaatar provinces.
• Overgrazing is a primary driver of degradation, with national rangelands supporting 66.5 million head of livestock in 2018, exceeding the sustainable capacity of 25 million by 2.7 times.
• Severe soil erosion affects the majority of cropland in the region, with 61.4% subjected to severe erosion and 34.9% to moderate erosion.
• Climate change in Mongolia is marked by a 2.14 degree Celsius increase in annual mean temperature over the last 70 years and a tripling of extreme weather events like dzud.
• The project will establish a system of risk funds or user fees to finance local pasture management, building on models like the communal monetary fund in Bayan-Adraga soum.
• The project aims to benefit 25,241 direct beneficiaries, ensuring at least 40% are women and 40% are men.
• The project will support the development of sustainable value chains for livestock products, specifically targeting the certification of nine herder groups or cooperatives.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/954/21r0h07y97_Mongolia_Child_Projectprodoce.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/954/21r0h07y97_Mongolia_Child_Projectprodoce.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/954/21r0h07y97_Mongolia_Child_Projectprodoce.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndpromoting, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Promoting Dryland Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity Conservation in the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/954/21r0h07y97_Mongolia_Child_Projectprodoce.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }