Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Trans-Altai Gobi Desert of Mongolia

Abstract

From ancient times Mongolians have had a custom to "worship" nature. The first law on the protection of environment was issued in the 12 th century when Khaan Tooril of the Khereid aimag took over the protection of the Bogdkhan Mountain, which surrounds Ulaanbaatar, the present capital of Mongolia in the south. At present, there are 48 protected areas in Mongolia, covering 20.5 million hectares, 13.1 percent of the country's territory. Among others they include twelve Strictly Protected Areas (SPA) (Oyungerel 2001). [...]