Dalanzadgad, Mongolia, 19 June 2019
Oyu Tolgoi LLC organised ‘Plants - the Root of Life on Earth-2019’ research conference on the topic “Research and Conservation of Flora in the Gobi Region” on the World Day to Combat Desertification, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Umnugovi Province Governor’s Office and “Amin Khelkhee Baigal” fund in Dalanzadgad, Umnugovi province during 17-18 of June, 2019. Last year the scientific conference was held under the theme “Research and Conservation of Fauna in the Gobi Region”.

Mongolia joined the Convention on Biological Diversity, approved in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, as the 30th country out of 160 countries in the world. Mongolia also has a sensitive ecosystem, and it has been ranked as the eighth most vulnerable country to the impacts of climate changes. In particular, the South Gobi region of Mongolia is an important habitat for rare mammals and plant species in the world in addition to its rich biodiversity. However, adverse effects on the biodiversity of South Gobi region due to lack of infrastructure development, irresponsible mining as well as climate changes are posing greater risk of scarcity and extinction of plant species.

As a responsible mining advocate and practitioner, Oyu Tolgoi LLC established the Native Plant Propagation Centre in Khanbogd soum, which includes the planting, protecting, growing of rare, native seeds of desert steppe region for use in rehabilitating land affected by mining and exploration. Since 2011, more than 131 thousand sapling seedlings, and 95 thousand woody plant seedlings planted at the centre had been planted at Oyu Tolgoi mine site and used for rehabilitating, green infrastructure and urban settlement in communities around the mine. Until now, Oyu Tolgoi LLC conducted technical rehabilitation in 1,520 hectares of areas and biological rehabilitation in 410 hectares of areas.


The research conference was significant for publication of research outcomes on biodiversity of the South Gobi region, accurate planning of research-based protection measures, identification of pressing issues with respect to state and local biodiversity policies and further biodiversity in regional areas by the government, private sector and research organisations, encouraging the relevant organisations to participate in environmental protection activities and active cooperation.


Approximately 150 representatives attended from different organizations such as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ministry of Food and Light Industry, local administrative organisations, representatives of other soums, administration of national parks, representatives of the mining companies in Umnugovi province, non-governmental organisations and more than 35 scientific and research papers were presented and discussed during the conference.

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http://ot.mn/oyu-tolgoi-contributes-to-the-research-and-conservation-of-gobi-region-flora/