Helping Mongolia’s Wilderness: Our Annual National Park Community Clean-Up

Last updated 3 months ago by Jessica Brooks | Published: October 24, 2023

Helping Mongolia’s Wilderness: Our Annual National Park Community Clean-Up

Tour companies often promote Mongolia as a pristine, untouched wilderness. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality. This is precisely why we organise and fund our annual Mongolia National Park community clean-up—donning gloves, picking up trash bags, and getting to work.

Mongolia’s stunning landscapes and wilderness experiences are key attractions for visitors, making the preservation of these values essential for responsible travel. In fact, the long-term viability of Mongolia’s tourism sector heavily relies on the conservation of the country’s cultural and physical landscapes.

Since 2014, Turuu and I have coordinated efforts for members of the Tariat community to dedicate two days to cleaning the north shore and surrounding areas, including the Khorg volcano, of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, situated in the central Khangai Mountains.

An Introduction To Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur

White Lake National Park is a natural highlight of Mongolia, showcasing a stunning landscape of volcanic craters, rugged mountains, river valleys, and rolling steppe. This large freshwater lake, formed by the damming of the Chuluut River from the lava flow from the volcano Khorg Uul  – radiocarbon dated to about 4930 years ago – features 10 tributary rivers and over 6000 hectares of internationally important wetlands.

The numerous bays and peninsulas on the northern shore are home to Bar Headed Geese, Ruddy Shellducks, and Northern Lapwings. It is recognised as one of 70 Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Mongolia, designated by Bird Life International, and is part of the East Asian Australasian Flyway protecting migratory water birds. It was also included in the list of the Ramsar Convention of Wetland Protection in 1997.

The park is also home to populations of Siberian Marmots on the open steppe and Grey Wolves, primarily found in the larch-dominated coniferous forest in the mountains. – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/mongolias-terkhiin-tsagaan-nuur-national-park/

Why Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park?

The answer lies with Batbold and Jargaa—two of the kindest and warmest individuals you could ever hope to meet. We initially chose Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur due to the strong connections we have there, prioritising community involvement. As our hosts and owners of Surtiin Tulga Eco Camp, Batbold and Jargaa are at the heart of their local community.

Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur is a beloved destination for Mongolian families, especially during the five-day annual Naadam holiday, and is featured on the itineraries of most tour companies operating in Mongolia. However, this surge in tourism, particularly during peak season and unrestricted camping, has led to significant social, cultural, and environmental challenges. Issues such as poor waste management, soil erosion from concentrated tourist activities, and water pollution due to inadequate sanitation facilities have resulted in the degradation of the natural environment over the years.

Discarded rubbish poses a major challenge for local rural communities, many of which lack the funds and resources to manage waste effectively. During one of our trekking experiences in 2013, we were shocked by the sheer amount of litter. After discussing the issue with Batbold and Jargaa, we decided to facilitate a trial clean-up in 2014 at Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, committing to repeat this effort annually, including through the pandemic, with a brief hiatus in 2022 before resuming in 2023. This has become a long-term local initiative and 2024 was our tenth year.

2014!

2015!

2016!

2017!

2018!

2019!

2020! We didn’t let a pandemic stop us!

2021! We (still) didn’t let a pandemic stop us!

2023! (We had a short break in 2022.)

2024!

Our Annual National Park Community Clean-Up: Working Together

In 2014, we proposed dedicating two days to cleaning up waste at Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, a suggestion warmly welcomed by both the park administration and Altan Ochir, the director of the Tariat district. This collaborative effort laid the foundation for what has become a tradition.

In 2023, our team received local district medals and certificates of appreciation from the district governor, a testament to our ongoing commitment to this initiative.

The landscapes of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur provide valuable pastures for local herding families, with essential grass and water sources that support their livestock. For many of these families, their way of life embodies cultural pride and identity. Their intrinsic connection to the land drives their vested interest in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, directly impacting their livelihoods. That’s why we invite local herders to join us in our clean-up efforts. At the district governor’s request, we also include unemployed locals, ensuring that everyone receives a small financial incentive. Our team collaborates with the protected area rangers, and we arrange for a local 15-ton rubbish truck to collect waste, covering the fuel and driver costs. We also provide cooked lunches and urns of tea to keep everyone energised as we work together to fill the truck.

Over the years, we’ve faced all kinds of weather—from snow and thunder to lightning and even a massive hailstorm that drenched us in seconds! Our end-of-clean-up parties have become legendary (though the vodka flows freely, so we have no photos to share).

The end result? While it’s hard to make a 15-ton truck full of rubbish look exciting, here’s a snapshot from 2018:

In 2019, we filled the truck again, but we noticed a troubling trend: the biggest offenders were wet wipes, sanitary items, and hygiene products. Our beautiful wilderness areas are often marred by soiled hygiene products left behind. Disposing of these items under a rock or in a tree root hole is not responsible waste management. This observation inspired us to develop our “Be A Changemaker” Sustainable Tourism Strategy, emphasising that tourism can be a powerful force for good. However, it requires those of us in the travel and tourism industry to take responsibility for our environmental impact while promoting sustainable economic growth and decent work for all.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, we didn’t let it stop us. We continued our annual clean-up, albeit with a smaller rubbish truck due to the decrease in tourism. Unfortunately, we encountered an overwhelming number of plastic bottles. It’s well-documented that tourism contributes to the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste generated each year, much of which cannot be recycled. We must focus on reducing single-use plastics and shifting towards environmentally sustainable products.

Individuals can play a crucial role in this effort by minimising their plastic footprint, especially while travelling. While we may not be able to eliminate all single-use plastics, we believe that small steps can lead to meaningful change. That’s why we launched our Mini Plastic-Free Mongolia Challenge for our guests, focusing on five simple steps to reduce plastic use. Each step addresses one specific plastic product and outlines how both Eternal Landscapes and our guests can contribute to minimizing their plastic impact.

We believe our annual community national park clean-up is vital for fostering sustainable tourism in the Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur area. By actively engaging local residents in preserving their surroundings, we cultivate a sense of shared responsibility for the environment. This initiative not only enhances the natural beauty of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur but also helps maintain ecological balance and promotes a deeper connection to the land, underscoring the importance of respecting and protecting this precious area.

Is Our Annual National Park Community Clean-Up A Success?

Yes, we consider it so. While we still fill a 15-ton truck with rubbish each year, we’re proud to see the local community taking charge and actively working to mitigate the environmental impact of visitors to the area.  Each year, the amount of rubbish we collect decreases, which is a positive sign.

However, as we celebrated our tenth year of organising this event in 2024, we couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened. We anticipated other tour companies and operators would join our initiative and that similar events would emerge in other protected areas. While we are aware of spontaneous clean-ups at Gorkhi Terelj National Park, there is currently no regular or annual event.

As a small company, we lack the extensive contacts and reach of larger competitors to expand this initiative into something more impactful. If anyone reading this has ideas on how we can broaden our efforts and transform this into a wider concern, we would greatly appreciate your input!

For more information on the work we do within local communities as part of our responsible tourism Mongolia philosophy.

Jess @ Eternal Landscapes