Term Papers on Mongolia

Term Paper Title	Mongolia
# of Words	1290
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.16

Mongolia
Final Exam!

May 13, 2004

Describe the different categories of protected areas in Mongolia and what activities are permitted in each. Describe how effective both the national and local government are in implementing their policies concerning protected areas.

            Mongolia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt the idea of protecting areas for the sake of the environment. In 1778, the Bogdkhan mountains to the south of Ulaanbaatar were designated as a protected area. Even before that, Chinggis Khaan made special note of the environment and created rules relating to the use of certain areas during his reign. Currently, the protected areas are categorized in four major areas, each with subsections: Strictly Protected Areas, National Parks, Natural Reserves and Natural and Historical Monuments. However, current protected areas are threatened by policy violations that remain largely unchecked by area officials. Overall, the national and local governments have relatively little effect in implementing policy regulations.

            The first types of protected area are called Strictly Protected Areas. This is the highest category of protection an area can afford. These areas are defined as “ecologically important, pristine wilderness areas with particular importance for science and human civilization.”[1] Strictly Protected Areas can be divided into three subsections: Pristine Zones, in which only research is permitted; Protected Zones, in which both research and conservation measures are allowed; and Limited Use Zones, where in addition to research and conservation measures, certain activities such as tourism, some plant gathering and traditional religious activities are allowed. Hunting, logging and construction are prohibited in all three zones.

            The second level of protected areas is called National Parks. These are “wilderness areas with historical, cultural or environmental education value.”[2] National Parks are also divided into three subsections: Core Areas, in which research and conservation activities are legal; Ecotourism Zones, in which tourism, fishing, and all of the activities permissible in Strictly Prohibited Areas are allowed; and Limited Use Zones, in which all of the above activities are allowed in addition to grazing and construction (with the parks’ permission).

            Natural Reserves comprise the third level of protected area in Mongolia. Unlike Strictly Protected Areas and National Parks, these can be divided into four subsections. Ecosystems protect natural areas. Biological areas conserve rare species. Paleontological spaces preserve areas with fossils, and Geological places preserve areas of geological importance. Some economic activities are allowed within Natural Reserves, but only if they do not harm the values for which the parks were established.

            The fourth and last type of protected area in Mongolia is the group of parks deemed the National and Historical Monuments. These are areas which attempt to “protect unique landscapes, historical and cultural sites for research, sight-seeing, [and] historical and cultural purposes.”[3] This is the most lenient type of protected area, with many uses and activities allowed, providing they do not adversely affect the monument.

            These national parks were designed to protect different aspects of the six major types of vegetation zones within Mongolia: desert, desert-steppe, steppe, forest-steppe, taiga and alpine regions. The protected areas comprise different percentages of the total land masses of each of these vegetation zones. 31.11% of all desert land in Mongolia is protected within these areas, for example, while only 1.97 per cent of the vast steppe land exists within the confines of these parks.

            In addition to the space allotted for the parks, a small “buffer zone” also extends around many of the parks. However, these buffer zones are currently somewhat arbitrary. The areas of the buffer zones themselves are clearly defined...

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