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Environment News
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Environment News
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Monday, 25 January 2010 23:11 |
25 January 2010 – Mongolia is currently threatened by a “Dzud”, which is a multiple natural disaster consisting of a summer drought producing small stockpiling of fodder, followed by very heavy winter snow and lower than normal temperatures.
Heavy and continuous snowfall and blizzards have resulted in a sharp fall in daily temperatures - dropping to below -40°Celsius in 19 out of a total of 21 ‘aimags’ (provinces) in Mongolia.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the extreme cold and heavy snow have already caused the death of more than one million livestock, worsening food security and predicted subsequently to result in a deepening of poverty and increased internal rural-urban migration for many families. According to the World Bank, livestock herding today, accounts for around 35% of employment in Mongolia.
In addition to a concern for the situation of isolated herding families, the agencies making up the United Nations Team are assessing the situation of the poor, particularly those living in the 94 soums (villages) considered to be most affected and inaccessible. “The poor did not have the resources to stockpile food or fuel for heating and the supplies in the now inaccessible village as a whole are stretched”, said Rana Flowers, the Resident Coordinator a.i. in Mongolia. “The UN agencies have mobilized to assess the situation and coordinate our efforts to reach the most affected populations. In addition to the impact this is having on livelihoods now and into the future, we are worried about the immediate plight of the isolated population. Among health concerns are pregnant women cut off from facilities and trained care (three women have reportedly already died in childbirth); increases in ARI and pneumonia in the light of the H1N1 in the country among children and pregnant women; and malnutrition levels with lowering levels of access to food and nutrition in affected areas”, she added.
In addition, children who have been ordered to remain in dormitories due to the danger they would face trying to travel to their families in such conditions, are living with limited and extremely poor heat and limited food supplies in many schools. There are approximately 22,200 children in 265 dormitories in need of assistance.
In the last dzud of 2001, not considered to be as severe as the current 2010 experience, an increase in malnutrition and acute infections of children and pregnant mothers were documented. The plight of populations in the post-dzud period which lasts from late February to early spring is also a period of concern with food supplies having been exhausted and the animal supply severely depleted, and the risk of disease heightened. The trauma of losing livelihoods results in families and children at high risk of developing extreme fatigue and psychological stress.
The Government has appealed to the donor community for food, flour, rice, medicines and equipment, candles, heating supplies, warm clothing, as well as for funding to buy and deliver fodder for livestock. The United Nations in Mongolia was formally requested to coordinate all donor contributions.
The United Nations agencies and specialized agencies actively contributing to the relief efforts in Mongolia include FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO and UN-HABITAT.
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For more information please contact:
Rana Flowers, Resident Coordinator a.i and UNICEF Representative, phone: +976 11 326221
Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn, WHO Representative, phone: +976 11 327870
Argentina Matavel, UNFPA Representative, phone: +976 11 323665
Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative, phone: +976 11 327585
N. Oyundelger, FAO Assistant Representative, phone: +976 11 352512 |
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Last Updated on Monday, 25 January 2010 23:11 |
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Monday, 25 January 2010 15:00 |
1. S. Purevsuren, Senior biologist, Snow Leopard Conservation Fund Mongolia will give a talk entitled: The snow leopard research conservation center talk will be about Tserendeleg snow leopard research conservation center located in the Mongolian south Gobi. It is the first ever long term study of snow leopards, which consists of an international team of scientists and students, aiming to improve their conservation. They used many research methods such as sign survey, remote cameras, satellite-GPS collars to identify the home ranges etc. In addition, you will hear about their snow leopard enterprise program and so on.
2. Batmunkh Davaasuren from NUM, will give a talk entitled: The status of the Pallas's fish eagle in Mongolia The Pallas's fish eagle is distributed throughout central and southern Asia. This species is classified as Vulnerable by IUCN. The survey objectives were to determine the distribution and status of PFEs in Mongolia, identify the threats to the Mongolian population, assess local recognition of the species and describe preferred habitat in Mongolia. This study has shown many results such as observation of PFEs in 9 out of 13 historic sites visited, a preference for freshwater sites with good fish stocks etc. In addition, they identified many threats to this species.
on *Thursday, February 4, 2010.* at 6:30 pm
Biobeers is held on the first Thursday of every month at Sweet Cafe (located behind the Information and Technological National Park and next to the Admon Printing Company, west of Internom Bookstore Building). People are requested to arrive after 6pm, in time for the talk to start at 6.30.
Biobeers is a monthly gathering of government and NGO staff, biologists, researchers, and other professionals interested in conservation. Each month, Biobeers sponsors a half-hour presentation on a topic relevant to Mongolian conservation, followed by an informal gathering to discuss activities and issues of interest. Biobeers is an opportunity to find out what is happening in the field of conservation in Mongolia, talk informally to other researchers and peers in your field, and share information about issues critical to the environment and people of Mongolia.
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Last Updated on Monday, 25 January 2010 15:00 |
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 20:56 |
1. Jadamba, Kirk Olson from WCS will give a talk entitled
"SURVEY OF MONGOLIAN GAZELLE 2008-2009"
2. Andrew Dixon from International Wildlife Consultants, UK Ltd will present a talk entitled
"CONSERVATION OF THE SAKER FALCON THROUGH SUSTAINABLE USE"
3. Gankhuyag Purev-ochir from WSCC will give a talk entitled
"PRODUCTIVITY OF SAKER FALCON AT THE ARTIFICIAL NEST AND NATURAL NEST SITES IN CENTRAL MONGOLIA"
on *Thursday, January 7, 2009.* Talk will start at 6:00pm
Abstracts are attached
Biobeers is held on the first Thursday of every month at Sweet Cafe
(located behind the Information and Technological National Park and
next to the Admon Printing Company, west of Internom Bookstore
Building). People are requested to arrive after 5:30pm, in time for the
talk to start at 6:00.
Biobeers is a monthly gathering of government and NGO staff,
biologists, researchers, and other professionals interested in
conservation. Each month, Biobeers sponsors a half-hour presentation
on a topic relevant to Mongolian conservation, followed by an informal
gathering to discuss activities and issues of interest. Biobeers is an
opportunity to find out what is happening in the field of conservation
in Mongolia, talk informally to other researchers and peers in your
field, and share information about issues critical to the environment
and people of Mongolia.
Biobeers is organised by the Zoological Society of London's Steppe
Forward Programme and sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
At Biobeers the beer is on us!
CONSERVATION OF THE SAKER FALCON THROUGH SUSTAINABLE USE
Andrew Dixon
International Wildlife Consultants, UK Ltd
Abstract
There is a demand for Saker Falcons for use in Arabic falconry. This demand is met by commercial trade, either through captive-breeding or by wild harvesting. The trade in wild-sourced Saker Falcons can be a legal, CITES regulated trade or it can be an unregulated, illegal trade. Mongolia is the only country that operates a significant legal, CITES regulated harvest (virtually all other international trade in wild Sakers is illegal). However, the Mongolian trade has been subject to a CITES Trade Review because the harvest is potentially detrimental to the Saker population in Mongolia. Conservation through sustainable use is enshrined within the Convention on Biological Diversity and has great potential in its application to Saker Falcon conservation in Mongolia, whilst the continued existence of a sustainable, CITES regulated wild harvest has potential conservation benefits for Sakers internationally. In this talk I will describe the potential for developing a conservation programme for the Saker based on a sustainable harvest in Mongolia and the problems that need to be overcome to implement this conservation strategy.
PRODUCTIVITY OF SAKER FALCON AT THE ARTIFICIAL NEST
AND NATURAL NEST SITES IN CENTRAL MONGOLIA
Gankhuyag Purev-ochir
Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre
We have been studying breeding success of saker falcon at the artificial nest and natural nest sites in central Mongolia since 2007. In line with breeding density, the clutch size, brood size and fledging success of Saker Falcons was lowest at the natural nest grid compared with the artificial nest site. The number of pairs of saker falcons at the artificial nest site is increasing in each year. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2010 20:56 |
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Tuesday, 05 January 2010 13:40 |
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By Lynn Rhodes
 The Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in the northwestern part of Dornogobi aimag was visited last month by a team from California State Parks. Since Mark Jorgensen, Superintendent (retired) of California’s Anza Borrego Desert State Park® first visited Mongolia in 2006; the relationship between the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and California State Parks has been on-going. Ikh Nart and Anza Borrego Desert State Park® in California became official Sister Parks last year when the California State Park Commission voted unanimously to pass a Resolution of Support for the relationship between the two parks. Joint efforts include wildlife studies, natural and cultural resource protection, enforcement, training and ecotourism.
State Parks representatives, some for the first time and some returning, traveled on their own time and at their own expense to the official Sister Park. This year’s delegation included Jorgensen, and Lynn Rhodes, Chief, Law Enforcement Division (retiring), three State Park District Superintendents: Mike Wells, Ronie Clark, and Pam Armas, in addition to Anza Borrego Desert State Park® Ranger Steve Bier.
The visit helped to reinforce responsibilities these land mangers have to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources. Both old and new strategies were shared during the visit in order to continue successful stewardship of the sister parks.
Last year, staff from the two sister parks decided one of the best ways to improve protection at Ikh Nart was to better identify the reserve’s boundaries. The State Parks’ team had boundary signs made and brought with them for installation around the Reserve’s perimeter.
 Coordinates for all signs were entered into a GIS system for ease in locating and monitoring. New signs were placed around approximately 1/3rd of the reserve’s boundary during the joint work project. The team hopes to complete the boundary sign project during next year’s visit.
The new signs will help those who visit the reserve. Additionally, illegal mining and trespassing are some of the challenges in managing the reserve and good boundary signs will assist Ikh Nart’s Ranger staff in protecting the area.
The visit included a treat for the State Parks team to attend a local Naadam Festival near Ikh Nart. While there, a young boy received an eye injury and was provided first aid by State Park Ranger Steve Bier who was able to stabilize the injury.
The California State Parks team also brought several first aid packs for the Ikh Nart Rangers and shared a joint first aid training session the following day.
 While working at the Reserve, the team also met and supported several local women who have started a crafts cooperative called “Ikh Nart is Our Future”. The women, led by their new Director, Boloroo, set up a table at Ikh Nart’s research camp with their newly made felt works. In addition to helping support the women, a portion of the proceeds from their work helps to provide on going support for the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve.
In March of this year, Ikh Nart’s camp manager Amgaa Sukh Amgalanbaatar, traveled to California’s Anza Borrego Desert State Park® for the second time, to assist with efforts there. The Ikh Nart and State Parks’ team said the joint project work increases awareness of what can be gained when working together to protect valuable resources. The measure of success, in part, will be that places like the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and California’s State Parks will remain protected and accessible for the public to enjoy today and for generations to come.
Ikh Nart Nature Reserve: http://www.ikhnart.com
Lynn Rhodes has most recently been the Chief of California State Parks Law Enforcement Division. After 30 years with California State Parks, she is retiring at year’s end and will spend more time with her family, writing and supporting natural and cultural resource protection and enforcement in California and other locations such as the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia, California State Parks’ Sister Park
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 January 2010 13:40 |
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Thursday, 27 August 2009 03:41 |
NEW BIOBEER SEASON STARTS!
Batbayar.G, Munkhjargal.M, will present a talk entitled "Monitoring Mongolian Biodiversity Wildlife Picture Index (WPI)"
on *Thursday, September 3, 2009.*
We will describe our Wildlife Picture Index (WPI) pilot project just completed in Myangan Ugalzat in Western Mongolia and present our preliminary findings. The WPI, developed jointly by the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society, uses camera stations to reliably and systematically detect many types of terrestrial vertebrates. We set up 2 20 sq km grids with 20 camera stations each; one in the Buffer Zone and one in the core area of the Park for 30 days. Interestingly, human disturbance was much higher in the Core Area of the Park and less so in the Buffer Zone. We detected numerous vertebrate species including passerine birds, small rodents, pikas, marmots and also larger vertebrate species such as Argali. We also used other wildlife detection techniques such as avian point counts, mist netting and small mammal trapping. We discuss future plans for expanding this project as well.
Biobeers is held on the first Thursday of every month at Sweet Cafe
(located behind the Information and Technological National Park and
next to the Admon Printing Company, west of Internom Bookstore
Building). People are requested to arrive after 6pm, in time for the
talk to start at 6.30.
Biobeers is a monthly gathering of government and NGO staff,
biologists, researchers, and other professionals interested in
conservation. Each month, Biobeers sponsors a half-hour presentation
on a topic relevant to Mongolian conservation, followed by an informal
gathering to discuss activities and issues of interest. Biobeers is an
opportunity to find out what is happening in the field of conservation
in Mongolia, talk informally to other researchers and peers in your
field, and share information about issues critical to the environment
and people of Mongolia.
Biobeers is organised by the Zoological Society of London's Steppe
Forward Programme and sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
At Biobeers the beer is on us! |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2009 03:41 |
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