SUBSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?



Mongolia has one of the world's oldest traditions of protected areas, dating back to CHENGGIS (Chenghis) Khan in the early 13th Century, the country retains vast areas of relatively unspoiled natural habitats, including boreal forest,steppe grassland dessert and semi-desert,and many important wetlands,one quarter of Mongolia's territory falls into one of more categories of what the world bank defines as'critical natural habitats'.



These habitats still support healthy populations of species that have declined or disappeared elsewhere,including large mammals such as Goitered gazelle, Saiga,and the last wild populations of Bactrian Camel and Prezwalski's horse,and internatioally significant populations of white headed duck,bar-headed goose,and relict gull.



Mongolia supports significant numbers of 18 threatened bird species including Swan goose,Lesser kestrel,and white necked crane,Saker Falcon,and most of the global breeding population of white-throated buchchat.


But as the country expariences economic growth,Mongolia's natural habitats look set to enter a period of unprecedented pressure. With funding from Japanese consultant trust funds,the world bank which works with the government of Mongolia on matters relating to sustainable economic development and undertaks a study of the impacts of mining,infrastructure and tourism development on Mongolia's critical natural habitats, and birdwatching the wonderfull time you can have there....