Plastic bags will be prohibited from the dawn of 2010

(Translated by Solongo. S)

On the first quarter of the year, the government drew some pivotal conclusions in regards to which actions shall be taken on the environment in the near future.  Issues relating to efforts to slow down the desertification in Mongolia, future goals and implementation of the Water National Program, and several other projects were discussed, at which point recommendations were made by the National Security Council.  As a result the State Great Hural (State Great Assembly) approved the draft of a bill banning the use or import of plastic bags for packaging or wrapping from 2010.

In addition to this important decision the government has approved several other environmental initiatives.  Among other things, it will be prohibited to cut down trees to construct piers or other structures.  Hunting licenses will be allocated to limit the numbers to 50 head of ibex, 200 head of mountain goat, 50 head of roe deer, 80 head of gazelle, 200 head of game bird and 240 head of live falcons per season.

The government is also aiming to decrease the harmful impact on the environment caused by the wrongful activities of mining industries. Within the frame of its work, grounds poisoned with chemical substances are being cleaned and wastes are being buried under the ground. These kinds of actions have already been taken in the aimags of Tov, Sukhbaatar and Dornogobi. The next aimags to implement these measures will be Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, and Umnugobi.

Other projects to be undertaken in 2009 are as follows:

• Restore forests to 8539 hectares
• Research the impact of dangerous insects covering an area of 1200 thousand hectares
• Take measurements in the forests of 174.6 thousand hectares, cut down trees covering 1428.2 thousand hectares for fuel

About 700 citizens, teams and NGOs have participated in the project titled 「Environment Reform –2」 while an additional 35 projects with budgets of 230 million tögrög are being implemented.

The government is also preparing to open 24 regional councils in national parks such as in the regions of Otgontenger, Hangai, Travagtai and Orkhon Valley. 15 entities and organizations have been extracting gravel and sand from the settling zone where the development activities of Ulaanbatar city will take place until 2020. Also there is a gold deposit on the source of the Tuul River. In accordance with that decision to cancel the license was sent to the relevant organization.

Contests between kindergartens were also announced to carry out the national program called 「Green Wall」.  About 400 thousand trees and 20 thousand flowers were planted and a lawn was laid down on a 1500m area. Nineteen streets, parks and the Tuul and Bulgan Rivers are being protected under this initiative.

6 entities are working under contract to carry out restoration works covering about 389.0 hectares in the green zone of Ulaanbaatar city. Studies to kill dangerous insects in a 2000-hectare area and poisonous pests in a 20,000-hectare area of the green zone have been made.

Within the frame of the national program 「Water」 research was done to find out accurate places to dig about 50 pits near the biggest rivers and lakes in 88 soums of 20 aimags.

Some salt and feed were provided in certain national parks for wild animals living in difficult conditions because of disappearing pastures and bad weather.

Actions related to this issue were taken right away. The presentation, also mentioned that projects were underway to find out the character, number of heads and locations of Gobi bears and Spotted Leopards in Mongolia.