To translate into Mongolia
1. Mongolian
fauna and flora
Flora
and fauna
Mongolian diverse and distinctive vegetation includes an important part of
plant life in Asia. Species representing Siberian coniferous taiga forest,
Central Asian steppe and desert, and the Altai and Sayan Mountains all occur
here. Steppe plants from Kazakhstan grow beside Manchurian steppe flowers. More
than 3,000 species of vascular plants, 927 lichens, 437 mosses, 875 fungi and
numerous algae have been recorded. Many other species, however, remain to be
classified.
Mongolia's flora includes almost 150 endemic plants and nearly 100 relic
species. Over 100 plant species are listed in the Mongolian Red Book as rare or
endangered. Like its vegetation, fauna of Mongolia represents a mixture of
species from the northern taiga of Siberia, the steppe and the deserts of
Central Asia. Fauna includes 136 species of mammals, 436 birds, 8 amphibians,
22 reptiles, 75 fish and numerous invertebrates.
Species endemic to Central Asia are found primarily
in the Gobi and desert steppe including the Mongolian subspecies of the Saiga
antelope tatarica mongolica, four species of jerboa and a vole that are endemic
to Central Asia. The birds include the Altai Snowcock Tetraogallus altaicus and
Kozlov's accentor Prunella kozlovi. Reptiles endemic to Central Asia include
eight species. Endemic fish include the Altai Osman Oreoloeuciscus potanini and
the Mongolian grayling Thymallus brevirostris. Numerous globally threatened and
endangered species occur in Mongoli
MONGOLIAN
FLORA
There can be said to be three distinct types of
ecosystem related to flora - grassland and shrubs (52% of land surface), forests
(15%) and desert vegetation (32%). Crop cultivation and human settlements make
up less than 1% of Mongolia's territory. Although there is so much grassland
here, used for grazing, overgrazing is a problem in some areas.
Forests - The natural regeneration of Mongolian
forests is slow and the forests are often damaged by fires and insects due to
the harsh climate. 8.1% of Mongolia's territory is covered by forest totaling
140 species of trees, shrubs and woody plants. Trees are used as a source of fuel,
whether it is the larch, pine or birch in the north or the saxaul in the Gobi
Desert. Timber is cut in the north of the country for building.
Vascular and Lower Plants - There are 2823 species of
vascular plants, 445 species of moss, 930 species of lichen, 900 species of
fungi and 1236 species of algae. 845 species of plants are used in Mongolian
medicine, 1000 species for fodder, 173 for food and 64 for industry. There are
now 128 species of plant listed as endangered and threatened in the 1997 Mongolian
Red Book. These include 75 medicinal species, 11 for food and 16 used in
industry.
MONGOLIAN
FAUNA
Anyone traveling in Mongolia may find it difficult to
distinguish between wild and domesticated animals as both roam freely on the
open steppe, for example, Wild Ass are seen among domesticated horses. Although
Mongolia doesn't have the large game such as lion, elephant and rhino that
attracts visitors to African parks, it does have many very rare and endangered
species such as the snow leopard, Argali and Ibex.
Mammals - There are 133 mammals in Mongolia, many of
which are endemic to Central Asia and Mongolia, including the Mongolian Vole,
Mongolian Gerbil, Gobi Jerboa, Kozlov's Pygmy Jerboa, Mongolian Jerboa and the
Mongolian Hamster. The white-tailed gazelle, Saiga Antelope, Przevalski horse,
Beaver and Siberian Ibex have been re-introduced to the areas where they have
become rare.
Wildlife.
The wildlife flourishes in Mongolia despite an extreme climate, the nomadic
fondness for hunting, the communist persecution of Buddhists who had set aside
areas as animal sanctuaries, and a penniless government, which lacks resources
to police nature protection laws. Your chances of seeing some form of wildlife
are good, though the closest you will get to a snow leopard, argali sheep or
moose is museum.
Despite the lack of water in the Gobi, some species
(many of which are endangered) somehow survive. These include (in Mongolian)
the wild camel (khavtgai), wild ass (khulanf, Gobi argali sheep (argal),
Gobi bear (mazalaii, ibex (yangir) and black-tailed gazelle Ikhar
stiult zeer). In the wide open steppe, you may see the rare saiga antelope.
Mongolian gazelle, the jerboa rodent (endemic to Central Asia) and millions of
furry marmots (tarvag) busy waking up after the last hibernation, or
preparing for their next.
Further north in the forests live the wild boar,
brown bear Ikhuren baavgai), antelope.
Birds.
Mongolia is home to over 400 species of birds. In the desert you may see the
desert warbler, houbara bustard and saxaul sparrow, as well as sandgrouse,
finch and the cinereous vulture (tas).
On the steppes, you will certainly see the most
common bird in Mongolia - the grey demoiselle cranes (ovogt togoruu) —
as well as varieties of hoopoes (ovoolj), the odd eagle (shonkhor)
and vulture (yol). Other steppe species include the upland buzzard,
steppe eagle, saker falcon, black kite and some assorted owls and hawks (sar).
Some of these will even swoop down and catch pieces of bread in mid-air if your
throw it up high enough.
These magnificent creatures, perched majestically on
a rock by the side of the road, will rarely be disturbed by your jeep or the
screams of your guide ('Look. Eagle!! Bird!! We stop?') but following the
almost inaudible click of your lens cap, these birds will move and almost be in
China before you have even thought about apertures.
In the mountains, you may be lucky to spot species of
ptarmigan, finch, woodpecker, owl and the endemic Altai snowcock (khoilog).
The lakes of the west and north are visited by Dalmatian pelicans, hooded
cranes, relict gulls, and bar-headed geese.
Eastern Mongolia has the largest breeding population
of cranes, including the hooded and Siberian varieties and the critically
endangered white-naped crane, of which only 4500 remain in the wild.
Fish.
Rivers such as the Selenge, Orkhon, Zavkhan, Balj, Onon and Egiin, as well as
dozens of lakes, including Khovsgol Nuur, hold about 380 species offish. They
include trout, grayling (khadran), roach, lenok (eebge), Siberian
sturgeon (khilem), pike (tsurkhai), perch (algana), the
endemic Altai osman and the enormous taimen, a Siberian relative of the salmon,
which can grow up to 1.5m long and weigh 50kg.
ENDANGERED
SPECIES
According to conservationists, 28 species of mammals
are endangered. The more commonly known species are the wild ass, wild camel,
Gobi argali sheep, Gobi bear, ibex and the black-tailed gazelle; others include
otters, wolves, antelopes and jerboas.
There are 59 species of endangered birds, including
many species of hawk, falcon, buzzard, crane and owl. Despite Mongolian belief
that it's bad luck to kill a crane, the white-naped crane is threatened with
extinction. Serious numbers of falcons continue to be smuggled from Mongolia to
the Gulf states, where they are used for sport.
One good news story is the resurrection of the takhi
wild horse. The takhi - also known as Przewalski's horse - was actually extinct
in the 1960s. It was successfully reintroduced into two national parks after an
extensive breeding program overseas. For more on the takhi see the boxed text
"Takhi - The Reintroduction of a Species" in the Central Mongolia
chapter.
In preserved areas of the mountains, about 1000 snow
leopards remain. They are hunted for their pelts (which are also part of some
shamanist and Buddhist traditional practises), as are the snow leopards' major
source of food, the marmot.
Every year the government sells licenses to hunt 300
ibex and 40 argali sheep, both endangered species, netting the government over
US$500,000.
PROTECTED
AREAS
For centuries, Mongolians have been aware of the need
for conservation. The area around Bogdkhan Uul mountain, near Ulaanbaatar, was
protected from hunting and logging as early as the 12th century, and was
officially designated as a national park over 200 years ago.
Today the Ministry of Nature & Environment (MNE)
and its Protected Areas Bureau (PAB) control the national park system with a
tiny annual budget of around US$100,000 per annum. This is clearly not enough,
but through substantial financial assistance and guidance from international
governments and non-governmental organizations, the animals, flora and
environment in some parts of the country are being preserved. Unfortunately, in
many protected areas the implementation of park regulations are weak, if not
non-existent.
The MNE classifies protected areas into four
categories which, in order of importance, are:
- Strictly
Protected Areas
Very fragile areas of great importance; hunting, logging and development
is strictly prohibited and there is no established human influence.
- National
Parks
Places of historical and educational interest; fishing and grazing by
nomadic people is allowed and parts of the park are developed for
ecotourism.
- Natural
Reserves
Less important regions protecting rare species of flora and fauna and
archaeological sites; some development is allowed within certain
guidelines.
- Natural
& Historical Monuments Important places of historical and
cultural interest; development is allowed within guidelines.
In 2000 the government created five new national
parks and one new natural reserve. The 48 protected areas now constitute an
impressive 13.2% of the total land. The government is aiming for 30% coverage,
which will create the largest park system in the world. At the time of independence
in 1990, some put forth the proposal that the entire country be turned
into a national park!
The Bogdkhan Uul, Great Gobi and Uvs Nuur Basin
strictly protected areas are biosphere reserves included in Unesco's Man and
Biosphere Project.
Permits.
To visit these parks - especially a strictly protected area or national park
-you will need a permit, either from the local Protected Areas bureau office,
or from rangers at the entrances to the parks. The permits are little more than
an entrance fee, but they are an important source of revenue for the
maintenance of the parks.
Entrance fees are set at Т1000 per foreigner per day, plus an extra T300 to T3000 for a
vehicle, depending on whether it is driven by a Mongolian or a foreigner
(though just having a foreigner in the car is enough to qualify for the T3000
fee).
If you are not able to get a permit and are found in
a park without one, the worst penalty you're likely to suffer is being asked to
leave or pay a fine to the park ranger.
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