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OUR HISTORY

We are WWF. The World Wide Fund for Nature.

© WWF Mongolia

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries.
THE BEGINNING

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. We work with communities, businesses and governments to help people and nature thrive. Together, we’re safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and enabling people to use a fair and sustainable share of natural resources.
Did you know?

While continuing to use its well-known acronym, WWF's name changed in 1986 from the World Wildlife Fund to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

© © WWF / Simon Rawles
Mission statement at country level

Since its First strategic Plan (2002), WWF-Mongolia set a vision that funnels our efforts to make “Mongolia is a safe home for wildlife and a place where present and future generations enjoy a high quality of life, living in harmony with nature.”

With this vision, WWF-Mongolia team has been spearheading to make sure that “Millennia old traditions of human wild life co-existence continue to thrive and adapted to the new development challenges posed by shift to market economy, globalization and impacts of climate change as well as changing lifestyles through educated and empowered local communities, paradigm shifts in private sector that are supported and induced by adequate government policies and regulations and their sound implementation on the ground”.

WWF-Mongolia’s vision is fully aligned and supportive to the WWF corporate vision “To build a future in which people live in harmony with nature” and Mission “To conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth” and aims to address the local drivers and threats together with all stakeholders.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
1992
WWF Mongolia was established and started its first project towards designing and expanding protected area (PA) network which resulted in approval by the parliament of Mongolia on establishment of number of protected areas in various years (e.g. Uvs Nuur Basin SPA -712,545 ha, Khar Us Lake NP - 850,272 ha, Onon Balj NP - 415,752 ha, Gobi Gurvan Saikhan NP - 2,694,737 ha, Gorkhi Terelj NP - 293,168 ha and Khan-Khukhii and Khyargas Nuur NP - 553,350 ha). As of 2016, 36.4% of total PAs were established thanks to WWF-Mongolia’s support.
1994
Snow leopard information management system (SLIMS) was introduced in Mongolia. The programme intended for monitoring of snow leopard was expanded to conservation efforts including mitigating human and snow leopard conflict – Irves Enterprise programme. The Irves Enterprise programme is continued to be one of the most successful programme that helps local livelihood with alternative income and wildlife conflict resolution.
1997
The first project on conservation of endemic and relict Mongolian saiga started using community based conservation principle. Thanks to enormous work of WWF Mongolia and other conservation organizations, Mongolian saiga antelope was already saved once from its extinction.
1998
WWF Mongolia conducted the first ever nationwide biodiversity gap analysis. In 2009, the gap analysis was updated using the latest methodology and identified number of biodiversity hot spots throughout Mongolia of which 34 hotspots are considered the high priority areas. Thus, the 2009 gap analysis became the most referenced research result for decision makers for protected area expansion and management.

Altay Sayan Field Office was established in Khovd city with main focus on conservation of Mongolian saiga, Snow leopard, Argali sheep, Freshwater and Forest conservation.
2001
The first mobile anti-poaching unit (MAPU) was established as a rapid and effective response mechanism to ever-growing poaching and wildlife trade in Altai Sayan Ecoregion. Considering the success of 12 years’ work of MAPU, the government promoted actively to increase the number of units throughout Mongolia.
2003
The first National Water Forum took place with a series of follow up lobby meetings and consultations that resulted in revision and approval of Law on Water which includes the concept of Integrated Water Resource Management. According to this revised Law on Water, 29 river basins were established with Water Administration Authority as a Government body under the Ministry of Environment.

Public advocacy campaign against misuse of chemical control of the Brandt’s vole, which resulted in damaging grassland ecosystem, undertook halting the massive use of Zync phosphate.
2004
The Education for Sustainable Development concept was introduced into the educational system of Mongolia. As a result, the National Trainers’ Network of Education for Sustainable Development established and 29 model curricula of different subjects were developed in close collaboration and support of the Ministry of Education and Sciences.

First forest community based organizations were established in the western Mongolia taking into account the importance of involving local communities for effective conservation. With close collaboration with different partners and active lobbying, the Law on Environmental Protection was revised to include the concept of the Community Based Conservation.
2006
Children's involvement to conservation strengthened by establishing eco-clubs to continuously spreads conservation messages across the public. Currently WWF-Mongolia supports 24 eco-clubs in western (ASER) and eastern (AHEC) Mongolia.
2007
WWF has initiated a community based wildlife management concept in “Gulzat” local protected area for assisting local communities to take over the wildlife management responsibilities and conservation efforts. Based on the successful examples, the Community Based Wildlife Management Concept was integrated into the Law on Fauna in 2012. Today Gulzat became the very first pilot area where community based wildlife management is officially recognized as the management scheme.
2008
Northeastern Field Office was established in Dadal Soum with special focus on conservation and sustainable management of Onon River, headwater of Amur River, Taimen, Mongolian gazelle and Boreal Coniferous Forest.
2009
First biodiversity monitoring software named as “BioSan” developed and piloted by WWF Mongolia. To date, the BioSan programme became the nationwide mandatory biodiversity monitoring tool approved by the Ministry of Environment.
2010
First Integrated Water Resources Management Plan for Khar us Lake - Khovd River Basin was developed and approved by the Ministry of Environment.
2011
First trans-boundary protected area network “Uvs Lake Basin” was established by Russian and Mongolian Government following a series of bilateral negotiations at state and protected area level.
2012
Thanks to continues conservation efforts transboundary population size of Argali in Gulzat area reached 2000 heads compared to less than 200 heads in 2003.
2013
First snow leopard collared in ASER. WWF-Mongolia caught and put satellite transmitting collars to snow leopard for comprehensive scientific data on physical existence and movements of the species for a basis of efficient conservation.
2014
The population assessment of the Mongolian saiga was estimated 14,600 in 2013 (+/-3,263) individuals. This was a remarkable conservation success that reversed the extinction of Mongolian saiga from 750 heads left after harsh winter in 2002 thanks to continues conservation efforts.
2015
The new standard for passages for wild ungulates along the highways and railways in steppe and Gobi areas was successfully approved by the National Standards Council decree. The ultimate goal of new standard is to save from habitat fragmentation and extinction the endangered and rare species of steppe and Gobi through building 3 types of wildlife passages. The new standard is seen as a historical milestone that would save wildlife if implemented appropriately.

WWF-Mongolia led the development of the second National Biodiversity Program for 2015-2025 that was approved by the Government of Mongolia.

“The Spirit of the Mountain”- fiction movie was produced to increase awareness of conservation needs using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) for reduction/mitigation of conflict between human and snow leopard. The movie received “The best short film” award of Mongolian Academy of Cinematography for the year of 2015.

WWF Mongolia supported a massive and unpredictable campaign titled “May wildlife be safe and happy” at initiative of ecoclub children from Mankhan soum of Khovd province, Western Mongolia where they collected over 200 hunting traps from herder families living in the vicinities of Jargalantkhairkhan Mountain, home to endangered snow leopards. Thanks to this campaign Khovd province officially announced to become the first trap-less province of the country. The Environmental Minister ordered to roll up Mankhan children’s initiative to national level.
2016
A total of 4.5 million ha riparian and floodplain areas of rivers and lakes in Altai Sayan and Amur Heilong ecoregion were delineated as a floodplain protection zone. Based on the results, the provincial parliament of Khentii province approved 758,342 ha area thus cementing it as no-go areas for mining.

The second zero poaching year of snow leopard in priority areas of Altai-Sayan Ecoregion announced thanks to active participation of local communities into conservation of the species.
2017
In order to lead the tree planting initiative, 1,200 pines were planted in the form of the WWF’s Panda logo on 1 hectare area, which became a real publicity event.
2018
Launched the “Plastic Free Rivers” initiative to eliminate plastic waste in the rivers.
2019
In order to reduce the number of snow leopard retaliatory killings, the “Protected Fence” pilot project was implemented in 37 herder households in Baatar Khairkhan, Bumbat Khairkhan and Darviin Nuruu, and the “Mongol Bankhar dog” pilot project was implemented in 12 herder households in Darviin Nuruu, Gobi-Altai province. The initiative aims to prevent an average of 400-500 animals from being caught by snow leopards per year, and to reduce the number of snow leopard resentments and build a positive attitude.

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” – Nelson Mandela

© WWF Mongolia