Project Summary

This project will apply the GEF multi-focal area approach for the first time in Mongolia by simultaneously integrating biodiversity conservation and sustainable land and forest management, through the application of best practice and innovative green development approaches at landscape scale. The project Objective is to enhance ecosystem services in multiple landscapes of the Sayan and Khangai mountains and southern Gobi by reducing rangeland and forest degradation and conserving biodiversity through sustainable livelihoods. Land degradation and desertification, exacerbated by climate change, is Mongolia’s most serious environmental problem, impacting the nation’s productivity and efforts for equitable and sustainable development, as well as its rich biodiversity. Achieving the project objective is constrained by the following barriers: inadequate policies, legislative framework, tools and capacity to enable green development at the local level; insufficient capacity and knowledge to apply best practices in sustainable rangeland and forest management and biodiversity conservation by local stakeholders at the landscape scale; insufficient linkage between livelihoods and sustainable rangeland and forest management and biodiversity conservation, and; inadequate knowledge management and M&E systems for green development.

The project strategy will therefore be to engage multiple stakeholders in removal of these barriers to deliver four project outcomes, as follows.

1) Enhanced enabling framework and systemic tools help conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Key results will include strengthened legislation and financial mechanisms for green development, incorporation of measures to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services into local development plans, development of new tools for enhanced capacity for green development, and improved systemic measures for conservation of globally threatened / iconic biodiversity.

2) Rangelands, forests and biodiversity are restored and protected areas strengthened at landscape scale.

Key results will include reduced degradation of 300,000 ha of rangelands, plus 20,000ha of boreal and 25,000 ha of saxaul forests, protected area system expanded by 0.94 million ha and strengthened, and threats to globally threatened / iconic biodiversity reduced.

3) Sustainable livelihoods provide benefits to local communities and support biodiversity.

Results will include strengthened community groups, more sustainable livelihoods, public - private partnerships and raised public awareness for green development approaches.

4) Improved knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation supports sustainability and up-scaling.

Results will include new and effective mechanisms for knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation and gender mainstreaming.

Overall the project aims to demonstrate how green development can deliver improved biodiversity and ecosystem services and resilience at landscape scale within the context of a changing climate.

Project Objectives

To enhance ecosystem services in multiple landscapes of the Sayan and Khangai mountains and southern Gobi by reducing rangeland and forest degradation and conserving biodiversity through sustainable livelihoods.

Expected Results

The project is expected “to enhance ecosystem services in multiple landscapes of the Sayan and Khangai mountains and southern Gobi by reducing rangeland and forest degradation and conserving biodiversity through sustainable livelihoods”. This will be achieved through applying ecosystem-based approaches to engage national and local authorities, communities and the private sector in novel green development approaches that reduce threats to globally significant biodiversity and ecosystem services while supporting sustainable livelihoods. More effective application of existing regulatory and financial mechanisms will be achieved, capacity for green development will be built and livelihoods made more sustainable in the project demonstration landscapes through participatory landscape-based planning and management of natural resources.

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