The Coping with Desertification Project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

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The Coping with Desertification Project

of the Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation in

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Gratitude

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the public, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, projects and programmes, the private sector, the media, individuals, herders, farmers and youth who have supported our activities and cooperated with us. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

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The Coping with Desertification Project in Mongolia

Preamble

In the past century, the average global temperature has risen by 0.7С. Mongolia has witnessed a faster rate of climate change, with temperatures rising by 2.14С in the period from 1940-2008 - three times faster than the world average. According to a 2011 Mongolian sur-face-water census, 180 rivers and springs, and 481 lakes and ponds had dried up. This affects every social and economic sector of the country, and in particular direct-ly impacts on the livelihoods of herders and agricultural producers who are engaged in animal husbandry and crop production and who do not have irrigation systems. As a result of dzuds - a climate phenomenon involving dry summers followed by heavy snow in winter - from 4-11 million livestock have perished nationally, costing thousands of herder families their income source and forcing many to migrate to urban areas, placing a heavy burden on already overstretched social services in cities. About 90 percent of Mongolia’s total territory is classi-fied as arid and semi-arid zones that are prone to desert-ification; 72.3 percent is at present affected by desertifi-cation in some form.

In facing these challenges, the Government of Mongolia asked the Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera-tion to support its efforts to combat desertificaCoopera-tion with a combination of both technical and financial support, resulting in the implementation of the Coping with De-sertification Project in 2007.

In the past six years, CODEP has undertaken a range of initiatives that have produced real and tangible outcomes in the Project’s target areas. This success has come about by closely working with other Mongolian projects and programmes and donor countries carrying out activities in Mongolia, including capacity-building at the national level, promoting the sustainable and more-effective use of natural resources, providing children and youth with eco-education, providing citizens with reliable informa-tion about desertificainforma-tion, and introducing knowledge management as a means to combat desertification. These photographs illustrate the tangible results that were reached within the framework of those activities. In addition to illustrating our project activities, making them reader-friendly and easy to understand, we also want to make it possible for others to use our work and results as a model and set of guidelines.

If you would like more detailed information about CODEP’s activities and outcomes, go to the www. greenmongolia.mn website or contact us via email at ulaanbaatar@greenmongolia.mn.

We deeply thank readers of this album for taking the time to become acquainted with our activities and the success we have thus far achieved.

Yours sincerely,

G. Davaadorj, Doctor, Professor and Project Director, Honored Agronomist of Mongolia

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The Coping with Desertification Project

of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Outcome 1:

Favorable policy

and action oriented

program are in place

to effectively combat

desertification and

National Committee

for Combating

Desertification

(NCCD) is the leading

competency centre

on desertification

issues in Mongolia,

effectively supervising

the implementation of

NAP

Outcome 2:

Local communities

empowered

in sustainable

management of

natural resources

and diversification of

livelihoods to cope

with desertification.

Field reality based

knowledge generated

and appropriate

approaches,

technologies and

tools for combating

desertification

developed, piloted

and prepared for

dissemination.

Outcome 3:

Environmental

awareness and

knowledge about

desertification and

other challenges raised

among Mongolia’s

youth as well as in

the general public and

behavioral changes

initiated

Outcome 4:

Appropriate

knowledge,

technologies,

approaches and

tools to cope with

desertification

in Mongolia are

identified, tested,

collected, compiled

in a database and

disseminated in order

to support project

implementation

and scaling up at

grassroots level and

informed decision

making at policy level

PrOjeCT ObjeCTIve:

To support Mongolia’s capacity to improve the effectiveness of national

and international efforts on coping with desertification and promote

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Strengthening institutional and structural frameworks

The Khovd aimag sub-programme “Combating Desertification” was developed and approved by the aimag’s Citizens’ Representative Khural in order to implement the National Action Plan for Combating Desertification adopted by the Government of Mongolia in 2010. This sub-programme is dynamic, each year reflecting the changes that have taken place and reflecting those in its activities.

In 2011, 12 aimags had developed their sub-programmes and had them approved by their respective aimag Citizens’ Representative Khurals. Implementation is underway, with reports on the results achieved submitted annually to the National Committee for Combating Desertification.

Aimags with Action Plan for Combating Desertification (APCD)

APCD approved APCD is under elaboration APCD is not yet elaborated

Government session in Gobi

Arkhangai Dundgovi Dornogovi Sukhbaatar Khentii Dornod Selenge Darkhan Bulgan Orkhon Ulaanbaatar Govisumber Bayankhongor Govi-Altai Khovd Uvs Zavkhan Bayan-Ulgii Khuvsgul Uvurkhangai Umnugovi Tuv 3

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Assessment, monitoring and mapping of

desertification and land degradation

Since 2011, CODEP has cooperated in the devel-opment of a draft Law on Soil Protection and Combating Desertification initiated by the Min-istry of Nature, Environment and Tourism (now the Ministry of Environment and Green Devel-opment).

Parliament’s adoption of that law on 17 May, 2012, established a favourable legal environment within which to implement rational policies and interventions aimed at combating desertification in intensely arid conditions.

In order to support coordination of the legis-lation’s implementation, CODEP has published simplified reference books on this law that are designed for the general public, parts of which are illustrated with comics.

A simplified guide of the Law on Soil Protection and Preventing Desertification

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With support from CODEP, and in collaboration with the Desertification Study Centre of the Geo-Ecology Institute of the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Environment and Green Development’s (MEGD) Environmental Infor-mation Centre has been mapping desertification and land degradation in Mongolia since 2011 and has been

entering those results into a specially created database. It has also developed a new assessment methodology, appropriate for Mongolian conditions, that is based on international methods. It will enable researchers to ac-curately chart the current situation and predict future desertification trends.

As a result of this national-level mapping, it is now pos-sible to map rates of desertification and land degrada-tion at the soum and bagh levels, as well as plot the causes and impacts.

The MEGD has decided to conduct comprehensive national-level mapping on desertification and land degradation and estimations of future projections every 10 years. Under this time line, the next round of mapping will assess the desertification situation and future projections for the period from 2010-2020. In supporting this initiative, the MEGD highlighted the valuable contribution of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in establishing a national desertification monitoring network.

Presentation of thematic maps for producing Desertification Map During revision of land cover map

General outlay for assessing desertification and land degradation

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The “Database on Desertification and Land Degradation” (www.eic.mn/DLDbase) has also been opened to the general public, through which people can access a range of infor-mation about desertification and land degradation and read reports, research and relevant academic studies.

With support from CODEP, a “Monitor-ing Model for Desertification” was de-veloped to identify quality indicators for pastureland plants and soil - an initiative led by the National Agency for Meteo-rology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) with participation from other organisations involved in conducting de-sertification assessments and monitoring activities. This model was adopted under Minister’s Order A-144 of 2011 after dis-cussions among the Science and Technol-ogy Committee of the Ministry of Na-ture, Environment and Tourism (now the MEGD).

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Engineers and technicians during regional trainings

Soil sampling Team of engineers and technicians

The NAMEM network has more than 1500 permanent monitoring posts across the na-tion undertaking plant assessments, and 130 posts plotting the primary indicators for soil quality.

With CODEP support, regional trainings have been held for engineers and technical staff at NAMEM central and local branches that aim to improve knowledge and expertise in identifying pastureland plants and soil-qual-ity indicators.

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Prior to these initiatives, and with funding from CODEP, 11 NAMEM laboratories were fully equipped with soil monitoring and research equipment in 2011. The information gathered on plants and soil quality as a result of this monitoring and obtained with the use of this technolo-gy will be reflected in the 2020 map of desertification and land degradation.

Soil sample analysis Laboratory equipments

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1st place Strom again by T. Tuvshin 2nd place A sole color by E. Khartsaga 3rd place

Long way in search of water by U. Odbayar

2009

AWARD-WINNING CONTEST PHOTOS шагналт байр шагналт байр шагналт байр

Photos from the exhibition “Desertification in my eyes”

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Improving water management in Khovd aimag

reducing water shortages and promoting

more efficient use of available resources

The lack of water resources in Mongolia has become a critical problem and has led to disputes among farmers and meagre harvests. An MNT 6 million state-funded ir-rigation system was established in the Bulgan River basin of Khovd aimag in 1991 along with a water-pipe facility named “janjin boolt” (or “chief sluice”) to distribute wa-ter to Khovd and Buyant soums.

At the start of Mongolia’s transition to a market econo-my, all of the property of agricultural cooperatives was privatised to members and employees, however irrigation systems comprised of more than 500 ha were left as local property which left unresolved issues such as po-sitions and salaries for the organisations or people who were tasked with protecting and maintaining the system.

As a result of this, systems lacked ownership and under-ground pipes were stolen and sold to scrap-metal mer-chants, resulting in an overall operational failure. Farmers were then forced to dig ditches from the Buyant River by hand to irrigate their crops, and despite the renewal of the chief sluice facility in 2006, farmers from two soums came into conflict over water-supply issues and subsequently broke the facility.

The period since then has been marked by constant con-flicts over water use, particularly in dry years and in the summer months of June and July when water shortages are common. Farmers at the head of the river receive the majority of the water, while those further downstream face water shortages.

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Water conflicts among farmers

Given these circumstances, CODEP conducted a study based on the feasibility of building a new irrigation system, and in conjunction with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light In-dustry (now the Ministry of InIn-dustry and Ag-riculture), the first phase of construction of a system capable of providing water for 2400 ha of land - the installation of a head facility and main and branch pipes servicing 395 ha – was completed in 2011.

The second phase, covering 309 ha, has also been completed and, with approval given by the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, the third phase, covering 367 ha, will be completed in 2013. When the irrigation system is finished in 2016, a total of 2400 ha of land will be cov-ered by the irrigation system.

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Side irrigation channels, 395 ha, Buyant River Delta, Khovd aimag

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Main irrigation channels, 395 ha, Buyant River Delta, Khovd aimag

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during the construction of branch pipes and pipes to famers’ fields which were primarily the result of a lack of registration and the poor coordination of the land distribution process.

To overcome these issues, CODEP worked with the Khovd aimag land authority to establish an informa-tion system centred around land ownership and land allocation, and organised the redistribution and certification of farm land with the newly installed irrigation system. As a result of these activities, land use has doubled.

The principle of land re-allocation is to provide 3 hectares of land per household under possession right. Nowadays new irrigation system of 395 ha is used by 108 farmer house-holds, covered with new land distri-bution system.

Land re-allocation in 2012 (3ha of land per household) Land allocation in 2008

As a result of the renovation of the irrigation system’s head facility covering 2000 ha in Erdeneburen soum in Khovd aimag, 200 ha of land was har-vested in 2012 – an increase of 129 ha from the previous year. Five enterprises and six fami-lies in the soum formed Wa-ter-User Groups and are using water according to a mutually agreed upon schedule.

During rehabilitation of irrigation system in Erdeneburen soum, Khovd aimag

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Besides supporting only infrastructure part water user groups are also provided with series of group and capac-ity development trainings.

Consequently, the project have supported the farmers to join into water user groups in order to promote equal water sharing and modern soil and water conservation technologies, which have potential to alleviate harvest and thus increase farmers’ income.

Farmers at the trainings

At the Inception meeting of Water User Groups

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At the Inception meeting of Water User Groups

Farmers are discussing water sharing issues

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These groups have established the Buyant River Water-Users’ Association in a bid to offset water shortages, increase harvests, protect pastureland from soil erosion, and carry out their activities within a legal framework.

By 2012, 76 percent, or 759 families, of the total number of farming families in the Buyant Riv-er basin in Khovd aimag had joined WatRiv-er-UsRiv-er Groups and are now jointly resolving such issues as improving soil fertilisation, the efficient use of water resources, and the sale of harvested vegetables.

In 2013, the association secured a 200 sq/m workplace in which to carry out its activities, en-abling them to undertake sustainable operations well into the future. The workplace will operate a small plant to process farmers’ raw materials and will feature a sales centre from which to sell products.

756 80%

1161

381 ₈₇

45 1652

118,000

118km

Building of Water Users’ Association Members of Water User Groups

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Khukh Tsutsgiit (Blue Sour Cream) event organised by the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture, and in 2012 were active at the Namrin Nogoon Udruud (Autumn

At the latter event, the groups received a number of awards, including “Best Farmer”, which fostered a great-er level of enthusiasm to continue working collectively.

Farmers during Harvest festival

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“Green Garden” in Khovd aimag

A collective effort on behalf of farmers and the local community resulted in the es-tablishment of a 3.5 ha “green garden” extending from the Khovd aimag airport to the aimag centre.

Prior to its establishment, the area was full of stones and gravel and was devoid of vegetation. Now it grows more than 20 different kinds of berries, fruits, and woody and shrubbery plants, including sea buckthorn, cherries, apples, raspberries, tamarisk and maples.

in 2008

in 2009

in 2010 in 2011 in 2012

In order to sustain annual growth in relation to harvest and incomes, it is estimated that there needs to be a MNT 10 million profit margin. To achieve this, CODEP will continue to provide trainings and on-site piloting, and build knowledge on arboricul-ture and planting for members of Water-User Groups.

Green house in 2009

Green house in 2012

Drip irrigation

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Mulching technology

Plastic mulching, which can re-duce water use by up to 30 per-cent and increase harvests by up to 24 percent, was introduced on 87 ha of land used to grow cabbages and tomatoes for 381 farmer families living in the Buy-ant River basin of Khovd aimag.

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Mulching technology on tomatoes

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Shelterbelt against wind erosion

In total 62 farmer households from 30 WUGs planted additional 18’222 seedlings for shel-terbelt, protecting 91 ha of land. As of now, in total 600 hectares of cropland is protected with 100 km long shelterbelt. To summarize in total 117 487 seedlings were planted on 1652 hectares (69% of total cropland area), making 1174 km long shelterbelt.

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756 80%

1161

381 ₈₇

45 1652

118,000

118km

During tree counting, planted for shelterbelt

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Crop rotation

Farmers living along the Buyant River in Khovd aimag rely on dung composting, however dung is often in short supply and is generally not well decomposed, which leads to pest infestations and the subsequent loss of crops. In addition, there is a reduction in the level of soil humification which adversely affects soil composition. The crop rotation of leguminous plants can increase the harvest of a particular plant.

electric stove project

Public-utility service providers and schools and kin-dergartens in Khovd aimag routinely burn saxaul trees, elms, bush and brushwood, which strips the land of vegetation and valuable topsoil and increases desertification. To address the problem, CODEP gave electric stoves and water boilers to 43 different organisations, such as school dormito-ries, hospitals and kindergartens, which has helped to prevent land degradation.

School children enjoying harvest, School No.2, Khovd aimag

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Soya bean production

During the growing process, soya beans can in-crease soil fertilisation by accumulating nitrogen in the soil because of the tuberose bacteria in their roots. Soya beans have been widely used as a food source in recent years. Most farmers grow only potatoes and vegetables, and many lack access to markets at which to sell their har-vests. As a result, they are often forced to sell their products at a low price, which impacts on the income they derive from farming. By chang-ing farmers’ growchang-ing habits and increaschang-ing the range of crops grown, including soya beans, it is possible to increase their income. At present, one kilogram of soya beans sells for MNT 5000.

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Charge irrigation in autumn

Water use peaks during spring sow-ing. A reserve autumn irrigation system can offset the overuse of water in this period and can help to alleviate con-flicts. In addition, following harvesting in autumn, farmers can use reserve irrigation in the field and in so doing protect soil from dust storms in spring and autumn and enable early seeding. This will allow farmers to harvest early and increase their overall income and profit margin.

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1st place In Dornogobi by N. Diunhar 2nd place Desertification in town by G. Erdenetuya

2010

шагналт байр шагналт байр шагналт байр 3rd place What to drink? by B. Amarzaya

Photos from the exhibition “Desertification in my eyes”

organized annually on the occasion of the World Day for Combating Desertification, June 17 AWARD-WINNING

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eco-school programme

and public awareness

There are 77 eco-schools, operating in Mongolia and involving over 60000 students and almost 3500 teachers. The project, by supporting the na-tional operator NGO, aims at increasing the num-ber of schools, by promoting a volunteer-based engagement of interested schools into a country-wide eco-school network.

In January 2013 the “Mongolian Eco-school Cer-tificate” was granted to the nine pioneer eco-schools in recognition of their definite member-ship in the eco-school programme since 2008. It as well accredits the schools’ continued merit in improving the environmental performance based on the Eco-school Seven-step management plan. The Certificate is the first step towards the ab-solute Accreditation of eco-school and a “Green Flag” award, which is an internationally admitted symbol of eco-school programme, initiated by the World Federation of Eco-schools.

Flower festival

Bins made out of garbage

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eco-school initiatives

In order to encourage students’ and teachers’ initiative, to help apply theoretical knowledge in practice, and reach out to the communities the project annually an-nounces implementation of small Eco-initiative grants at eco-schools. Major achievements of such eco-initiatives include better school yards, establishment of eco-infor-mation centers, construction of greenhouses and im-provement of green area around schools.

At the exhibition of best eco-initiatives

Documentation of activities

School greenhouse for organic food

Protection of spring Outside of schools

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Hand drawings of eco-school students

eco-schools forum in Khovd aimag

Being financially capable and independent at the de-cision-making level in order to educate people about environmental issues are major factors prompting the establishment of eco-schools. Seventy people from eco-schools in 10 aimags gathered in Khovd aimag for a forum aimed at sharing experiences, knowledge and information in this regard. Participants agreed to shift emphasis from the manner in which eco-school concepts are currently being implemented towards the creation of active movements, enabling them to maintain their activities over the long term and hence ensure sustain-ability and the generation of tangible results. The cre-ation of such movements will also help strengthen school administrations and allow them to continue indefinitely irrespective of the level of external support from projects and programmes.

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Support for education for Sustainable Development

The shift to a 12-year education system in Mongo-lia in 2010 enabled the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) concept to be integrated into the education curriculum. This was made possible by CODEP’s provision of both technical and finan-cial support for the ESD team, who were then able to integrate the concept into curricula for the 4th and 9th grades. As a result, the curriculum for all grades in both primary and secondary schools now includes an ESD component.

The ESD is a UNESCO initiative, and as a member country Mongolia is obliged to uphold certain re-sponsibilities. The main concept underpinning ESD is to enable the active participation of students in environmental protection and social affairs and to foster a positive and proactive mindset among youth.

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Media and

public awareness

Working with the media

CODEP is working closely with the media in Khovd aimag to disseminate information and generate news reports about desertification. CODEP has also doc-umented the best practices currently being used to combat desertification in the aimag through the pro-duction and broadcasting of documentaries at both the local and national levels.

CODEP is also proactive in raising public awareness about state policy and results achieved in combat-ing desertification through a series of environmental programs that have gained a popular following na-tionally, including Mongolian National TV and Radio’s “Green Development” program and UBS TV’s “Green Future” program.

An annual photographic competition and exhibition entitled “Desertification Through My Eyes” is held each year on 17 June to mark the United Nations’ World Day to Combat Desertification.

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CODEP has also supported talent-ed journalists from the Mongolian Jour-nalists’ Association in running a special news section in daily newspapers ded-icated to environmental issues, which enables them to regularly publicize is-sues related to desertification and oth-er key environmental issues. The jour-nalists’ work can be viewed at www. ecosetguulch.mn.

In order to further raise awareness about desertification and other environmental challenges through the medi-um of dramatic art, CODEP supported the staging of the musical drama “An Agony of Yellow Sea” held at the State Academic Drama theatre. Delivering messages about environmental concerns through such an artistic medium is a complex undertaking, however it proved to be a unique approach that could significantly influence the public to change their attitudes and behaviours while there is still time to do so.

The aim of the competition is to visually illustrate desertification and land degradation in Mongolia and to portray the fight to save the environment, and in so doing to raise public awareness of the issues and to demonstrate that desertification is not necessarily Mongolia’s future destiny.

Best environmental journalists

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Youth Culture and recreation Park in

Khovd aimag

CODEP contributed to the building of a Youth Culture and Recreation park in Khovd aimag and provided fi-nancial support for the landscaping of 1.5 ha of land. Within the framework of this support, a number of activities were undertaken, including the building of a sunshade, the installation of stools and soft flooring for small children, and the planting of decorative trees and bushes.

This initiative involved participation from eco-school children led by the Green Khovd NGO, which is at the core of Khovd aimag’s eco-schools. The children erect-ed a board bearing their schools’ logos in the land-scaped areas. As a result of this effort, the site is now able to host small events and gatherings in the warmer summer months.

CODEP also supported another artistic foray aimed at raising environmental awareness with the staging of the puppet theatre play “Life of the Flower” in Khovd aimag, based on a novel by children’s book writer D. Batjargal, who is also the recipient of a Mongolian Journalists’ As-sociation award. The play, which depicted Mother Na-ture taking out her wrath against humans and animals over their treatment of the environment, was staged by artists from the Erdenet City Puppet Theatre and was performed by actors from Khovd aimag’s Musical Dra-ma Theatre. The play was well received by parents and children alike..

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Children’s Recreation Park in Khovd aimag

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Knowledge management

Since 2008, the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation has been providing both technical and finan-cial support for the Desertification Study Centre of the Mongolian Academy of Science’s Geo-Ecology Institute, which has included enabling Study Centre researchers to take part in both national and international and national trainings. In addition, Mongolia has become a member of the “World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technology” (WOCAT) global network (www.wocat. org).

Researchers from the Geo-Ecology Institute conducted a study on possible methods and technologies that could be adopted to combat desertification and land

degra-dation in Khovd aimag. In undertaking this study, the researchers assessed and mapped the level of desertifi-cation and land degradation in Chandmani and Buyant soums in Khovd aimag, which will be reflected in the soums’ future action plans.

A “Database on Methodologies and Technology to Protect Soil and Water in Mongolia” (www.moncat.mn) was established at the Desertification Study Centre, which will serve as a central re-pository for information compiled on technology, methodologies, mapping and equipment related to combating de-sertification. An information centre to raise public awareness about these issues was also set up by the Geo-Ecology In-stitute’s library.

Planting of saxaul tree Members of Water User Group tested construction of fence out of mud

Presentation of land degradation and desertification map, Chandmani soum, Khovd aimag

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“Desertification Study

Cen-tre in the Field” in elsen

Tasarkhai in rashaant

soum, bulgan aimag

The Desertification Test and Study Centre established at the initiation of the Geo-Ecology Institute in Elsen Tasarkhai in Rashaant soum, Bulgan aimag, is implementing such activi-ties as defining the major factors in-volved in desertification, identifying rational methods and mechanisms with which to combat desertifica-tion, testing advanced technologies to protect soil and water and reduce land degradation, and raising public awareness about best practices. The establishment of the centre is enabling the planning and imple-mentation of activities based on a detailed long-term field study on desertification, a study on natural evolution and changes over time, the testing and researching of dif-ferent methodologies, and expe-rience and technology to combat desertification.

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Ulaanbaatar 2012

The Coping with Desertification Project of the Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation in