Building the sustainable wetland conservation and capacity of local communities through the “Gun Galuut Nature Conservation Center” in Central Mongolia
The aim of this project to build and develop sustainable wetland conservation through the Gun Galuut Nature Conservation Center (GGNCC) and the protection of the White-naped Crane as an umbrella species based on scientific monitoring surveys and capacity building of local communities.
The GGNCC is a research and educational & information center of the Gun Galuut Locally Protected Area (GGLPA) in Bayandelger soum, Tuv province, Central Mongolia. The GGLPA area it comprises lakes, river basins, streams, oases and rich in biodiversity including several threatened species. These wetlands are an important stopover and breeding sites for migratory birds, especially White-Naped Crane (WNC) and GGLPA is closest breeding area of the WNC with urban areas in Mongolia. The White-naped Crane (Antigone vipio), which is classified as globally and regionally “vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List. Ecologically, it is an umbrella species ensuring the conservation of biodiversity in broader ecosystem, especially wetlands. The Central Mongolian steppe is growing levels of overgrazing, and habitat degradation around wetlands areas is attributed to a decrease in rainfall and aridity that is the result of climate change. The main threats to the GGLPA are urbanization, climate change, Baganuur coal mining, overgrazing, habitat degradation, and lack of ecological knowledge of local communities about wetland ecosystems and WNC, and their conservation.
Therefore, it is an important to sustainability protect wetlands ecosystem under the umbrella species conservation and engagements of local communities based on scientific results. Thus, GGNCC runs monitoring surveys on local biodiversity and to provide sustainability to conserve the WNC with their natural habitat under cooperation with local administration and communities as well as raise awareness for school-aged children, visitors, and tourists.
Through this project, below activities will be conducted at the GGLPA:
- To study breeding and movement ecology of White-naped Crane using a mobile-based satellite;
- To study socio-economic survey of herder family using a questionnaire;
- To produce a conservation management plan of the GGLPA;
- To engage local communities in monitoring surveys and conservation activities of the GGNCC, and develop their capacity building
- To run educational training for eco-club students of local schools and communities.
