During our presence in Mongolia for last 29 years, WWF-Mongolia has built a unique history of innovation, proud excellence, teamwork and genuine commitment to the conservation of biodiversity in Mongolia. As a part of WWF Network, WWF-Mongolia embraces the concept of being international and at the same time national. Because this country has a lot to offer for conservation and by doing conservation in this country the World can gain much more. Mongolia supports high diversity of life for a temperate zone and retains a substantial amount of its original biodiversity. Two of the WWF’s most important ecoregions worldwide, the Amur-Heilong Ecoregion and the Altai-Sayan Mountains, stretch into Mongolia.

WWF-Mongolia is proud to be one of the initiators of “Standard of Railroads and Roads on Passage for Migratory Ungulates” that enables famous migration still alive. Tens of thousands of Goitered gazelle inhabiting the desert steppes, and thousands of Asian of Wildlife. It is also home to the second largest population of mysterious and elusive Snow leopard and endemic to Mongolian Saiga population. Although heavily persecuted, populations of wolves persist across much of Mongolian territory. Mongolia supports headwater areas of such mighty rivers like Amur in the east and Yenisei in Altai Sayan ecoregion, and we at WWF-Mongolia are full of pride for our continuous involvement in conservation of these famous rivers with our initiative of  Mongolia’s wetlands support globally significant populations of  waterfowls, including threatened or endangered species such as Swan geese, Relict gulls, White-naped cranes, Siberian cranes and vulnerable Hooded cranes. Globally endangered Saker falcon still persist in good numbers across much of Mongolia’s territory. Rivers of northern Mongolia supports largest fresh water fish – Taimen, nicknamed as the river wolf, target species for WWF-Mongolia.

Another approach we pursue in our working is to be the best innovators and have a leadership role in conservation efforts. Under these approaches we have successfully initiated and carried out advocacy on a number of accomplishments such as having protection zones of water heads and sources designated and approved by local self-governing bodies; a public event “Great Gobi-6“ that brings all the stakeholders including governmental and non-governmental organizations, private entities, and individuals, who are willing to deal with environmental and wildlife conservation under an umbrella; and having Sub-Council for Prevention and Protection from Environmental Crimes established and put in operation by an Order of Minister of Justice and Internal Affairs in Mongolia to reduce and eliminate illegal wildlife hunting and trade. Despite many significant challenges to protecting biodiversity, such as overgrazing,  fragmentation of wildlife habitats, poaching, mining, and inadequate management, training and resources, several factors imply well for biodiversity conservation in Mongolia.

The World’s first protected area as such was established in 1778 in Mongolia is the Bogdkhan Mountain Strictly Protected Area. In 1992, Mongolia pledged a goal of protecting 30 percent of the nation’s area. WWF-Mongolia is very proud that over 30 percent of the country’s PAs’ territory is under special protection status due to the initiative and direct involvement of WWF-Mongolia. For the years to come, WWF-Mongolia will continue to work towards conservation of biodiversity of Mongolia for the benefit of not only Mongolia but also for the Earth.

Thank you.