World Environment Day Mongolia
Tuesday 5th June 2018 marks World Environment Day including in Mongolia . The hashtag is #beatplasticpollution. With the slogan, ‘if you can’t reuse it, refuse it.’
These world environment awareness days started in 1974. Traditionally, this is a celebration of our environment but more recently has been the catalyst for bringing up awareness of issues and driving change.
For centuries in Mongolia, the traditional herding way of life helped to sustain the natural environment. By nature of their lifestyle, herders have an in-depth knowledge of conservation practises which was key to limiting any ecological impact. That knowledge has been a fundamental ingredient of the herding way of in Mongolia, even into the 21st century.
But, more and more challenges face the country. Mongolia’s rich oil and mineral deposits have caught the interest of developers. Environmental problems include desertification due to excessive grazing, inadequate water supply, and air and water pollution. And an increase in tourism (both domestic and international) has brought its own challenges as well.
Responsible tourism is a guiding principle that underpins everything at Eternal Landscapes. We are very conscious of the effect that we have on the environment especially when we are travelling and as a registered Mongolian company and a business working in tourism we have a responsibility to help combat problems including those created by tourism itself. We have been trialling a few methods to help reduce our impact but we haven’t found a perfect solution – until now.
We’re very happy to partner with Water-to-Go to offer our guests an exclusive discount on their refillable, filtration bottles. This is the perfect reusable alternative and sustainable solution to plastic pollution. To illustrate this, a 75cl Water-to-Go filter (200 litres) is the equivalent of 400 single-use plastic bottles.
Through our partnership with Water-to-Go, not only do our guests receive a 15% discount but from each purchase using the discount code, an additional 15% is donated towards the Mongolian well-project run by CAMDA (Cambridge Mongolia Development Appeal). This NGO directly supports Mongolia’s herders. Funds are not spent on cash handouts but on essential resources required by the herders.
(CAMDA is a UK based NGO dedicated to supporting and bringing resources to Mongolia’s herders. It was formed in 2000 following a countrywide severe weather event known as a dzud – a weather event unique to Mongolia. CAMDA provides support not just by providing financial aid, but real practical help, the sort that makes a long term difference. Part of their essential work includes the restoration and replacement of fresh-water wells.)
Our steps may be small steps but I believe they are a step in the right direction. To see how else we work to make sure our impact in Mongolia is a positive one, spend time exploring our Mongolia tours.
Jess @ Eternal Landscapes
