LocationsMongolia Marks Successful Completion of 7-Year Project to Boost Ecosystem Resilience and Community Livelihoods
September 28, 2025
Ulaanbaatar, 29 September 2025 - Mongolia today celebrated the successful conclusion of the project “Ensuring Mongolia’s Ecosystem Resilience and Stability,” a seven-year initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 2019 to 2025.
The closing workshop, held in Ulaanbaatar, brought together more than 100 participants, including government officials, local authorities, scientists, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and project beneficiaries. The event provided a platform to review the project’s outcomes, share lessons from the field, and discuss ways to sustain its achievements through strengthened collaboration and partnerships.
Speaking at the event, H.E. Batbaatar Bat, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the project’s role in advancing Mongolia’s green development agenda and stated, “This project has demonstrated that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand. By expanding protected areas, restoring rare species, and introducing innovative pasture management practices, we are laying the foundation for a greener, more resilient Mongolia that benefits both people and nature.”
H.E. Batbaatar Bat, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
The project significantly expanded Mongolia’s network of protected areas, bringing 1.2 million hectares across twenty sites under state protection and moving the country closer to its goal of safeguarding 30 to 35 percent of its territory by 2030–2050. It restored habitats for rare and endangered species, including the Siberian ibex, red deer, Mongolian marmot, and red squirrel, while introducing innovative pasture management practices that reduced livestock numbers in project areas by 30 percent without harming herders’ incomes. In addition, the project strengthened the legal and institutional framework for environmental conservation and enhanced the capacity of local authorities and communities to manage natural resources sustainably.
UNDP Resident Representative Matilda Dimovska commended the Government of Mongolia and local partners for their commitment and stated, “The success of this project shows what is possible when governments, communities, and development partners work hand in hand. Protecting ecosystems while improving livelihoods is not only achievable but essential for building a sustainable future for Mongolia. We are grateful for Global Environment Facility for the sustained support throughout the project’s implementation period.”
Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia
Governors from Zavkhan, Govi-Altai, Arkhangai, and Bayankhongor provinces, where the project was implemented, underscored the importance of continuing community-led conservation efforts, noting that they have strengthened both environmental protection and local resilience.
About UNDP
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About ENSURE Project
Implemented from 2019 to 2025 with financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the “Ensuring Mongolia’s Ecosystem Resilience and Stability” project focused on reducing forest degradation, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable livelihoods across some of Mongolia’s most ecologically significant and climate-vulnerable areas. These included the Sayan-Khangai Mountain Range covering the Tarvagatai and Bukhmurun Mountains and the Southern Gobi region, spanning the Ulaan Shalyn Valley and Zakhui-Zarmanguin Gobi. By integrating ecosystem protection with community-based livelihood initiatives, the project has played a key role in strengthening ecosystem services and advancing climate-resilient development in these critical landscapes. For further information, please visit www.ensure.mn or follow the Facebook page Let’s Be Kind to Our Nature.
For more information
Enerel T. | Natural Resources Specialist, Project Team | ENSURE Project | Tel: +976 9999 1645 | Email: enerel@ensure.mn
