Nature Positive Travel Mongolia
Mongolia’s rich biodiversity and unique landscapes captivate travelers, yet this natural wealth is under threat—part of a global biodiversity crisis. Nature is our essential life support system, reliant on a balanced, thriving biosphere. However, human activities, including our demands for food, energy, and unsustainable land use, are “destroying, degrading, and fragmenting nature at an unprecedented rate” (Global Goal for Nature Group, 2020).
The biodiversity crisis is tightly linked to the climate crisis, making it crucial for solutions to address both. In addition to the UN Climate Convention’s “net zero” emissions target, governments worldwide have committed to a new biodiversity objective: to become “nature-positive” by 2030. This commitment entails urgent action to halt and reverse nature loss. In a powerful declaration at the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity in September 2020, the President of Mongolia and other global leaders pledged to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, a goal as ambitious and measurable as the net zero emissions target. The “30 by 30” initiative aims to safeguard 30% of the world’s land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, while recognizing and upholding the rights and leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Effective solutions require action across all sectors: government, industry, and individuals. As a small company, we stepped up by signing the Glasgow Declaration, with a commitment to reduce our carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. We are also members of the Get Nature Positive movement, which supports us in setting clear, measurable goals, including the upcoming Science-based Targets for Nature. This commitment involves actively reducing our impact and working to restore ecosystems—a crucial call to action for the future of nature.
Mongolia’s Living Landscapes
Mongolia is located at the crossroads of the Central Asian steppes, the Siberian taiga (forest region), and the Gobi Desert. It hosts a range of globally significant biodiversity within its boundaries.
Currently, 20% of the country is under special protection (see below), with a targeted increase of 30%. The global importance of Mongolia’s ecosystems is also recognised through its five UNESCO World Heritage Sites (with two designated as natural sites), two World Wildlife Fund Global 200 Ecoregions, eleven Ramsar Sites (Wetlands of International Importance), seven Biosphere Reserves, and seventy Important Bird Areas (IBAs – designated by Birdlife International).
PROTECTED AREAS IN MONGOLIA
In May 2019, the Mongolian Parliament approved a proposal to designate 22 new National Protected Areas spanning 8.4 million acres (3.4 million hectares). As the world’s 19th largest country, Mongolia now has 20% of its vast landscape under national protection. These protected areas are off-limits to mining, excavation, timber harvesting, and other activities that could harm ecosystem health. However, Mongolia’s commitment doesn’t stop there—the Parliament has set an ambitious “30 by 30” goal, pledging to protect 30% of the country’s territory by 2030.
PROTECTED AREAS IN MONGOLIA 2008
A comparison of protected areas before 2008 and in 2020. Maps from The Nature Conservancy
PROTECTED AREAS IN MONGOLIA 2020
A comparison of protected areas before 2008 and in 2020. Maps from The Nature Conservancy
Nature Positive Travel
Although Mongolia is famous for its open spaces, 50% of its population lives in Ulaanbaatar – Mongolia’s crowded capital city. In a March 2022 survey carried out by the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), 33% of Ulaanbaatar’s population are aged 17 or younger and these statistics were our motivation in setting up, in partnership with Association Goviin Khulan, a free nature club for Mongolian kids designed especially for kids based in an urban setting. (The DTM survey also highlighted that a percentage of kids in Ulaanbaatar struggle to access clubs as well as a lack of green spaces.).
Our work with the Heroes of Nature Eco Club is an ongoing journey, and we’re eager to see it grow and evolve. After completing our first two projects, we’ve taken a pause to focus on finding the ideal community location for the club. If you have suggestions or connections that could help us in this search, please reach out—we’d love to hear from you! You can find out more here – https://www.eternal-landscapes.co.uk/introducing-our-heroes-of-nature-eco-club/
Simultaneously, Jess co-founded a local wildlife group in her hometown. Since the pandemic, she has been supporting her mother full-time, which has meant spending more time in Devon, UK. Wanting to give back to her community, Jess teamed up with a local parish councillor and conservationist to create Wild Oke—Okehampton’s Wildlife Group. Find out more here.
Helping To Fund Conservation
Nature-positive tourism fosters connections with communities capable of safeguarding natural environments. We’re proud to partner with the Association Goviin Khulan, a grassroots NGO in Mongolia focused on protecting the Khulan (wild ass) and its habitat. This innovative, multidisciplinary approach addresses local needs, challenges, and culture, engaging the community in research for lasting conservation impact.
Mongolia, with its vast mountainous landscapes and diverse ecosystems, is home to an estimated 700-1,000 snow leopards, making it one of the world’s most important habitats for this endangered species, whose global population numbers only around 4,000-6,500. Understanding travellers’ interest in observing and photographing snow leopards, we prioritised partnering with an organisation dedicated to their conservation, ensuring our work aligns with active efforts to protect these magnificent animals and their habitat. In Western Mongolia, we collaborate with a community group of herders who, thanks to World Wildlife Fund training and support, now act as “citizen scientists,” monitoring and safeguarding snow leopards and other wildlife. This community also serves as skilled wildlife spotters, providing visitors with unique opportunities to experience Mongolia’s extraordinary wildlife firsthand.
When you travel with us, you’re not only funding conservation but also investing in local communities—an essential aspect of nature-positive tourism. For conservation to succeed long-term, it’s crucial that local people benefit, reinforcing the sustainable future we’re working to build.
Making Every Trip Count
While promoting tourism to Mongolia—a remote and unique destination—contributes to global carbon emissions, nature-positive tourism enables travellers to journey in ways that minimise their environmental impact. We’re focused on making each trip count, which is why we’ve removed unnecessary internal flights and developed a “foodprint” plan to reduce food-related emissions. We’ve also introduced homestay experiences that provide meaningful cultural engagement and can be accessed via public transport. Our ‘Wild Tracks’ offerings promote longer, slow-travel experiences that emphasise deeper connections with the land. Importantly, our entire team is based in Mongolia, and we work in long-term partnerships with herding families across the country, ensuring each experience we offer creates direct economic benefits and sustainable employment opportunities for local communities.
Our Tourism Manifesto For Mongolia
The magnetic appeal of Mongolia’s natural beauty and rich cultural history is undeniable. However, as Mongolia prepares to potentially welcome a million visitors, maintaining a balance between promoting tourism and safeguarding its natural and cultural heritage is imperative. If not responsibly managed, the potential surge in tourism presents risks of environmental and cultural degradation.
The key to reconciling the goals of economic benefit from tourism with environmental and cultural conservation lies in sustainable tourism practices. This is why we advocate for the creation of a sustainable tourism manifesto for Mongolia. Here’s what we envision for both domestic and international tourism in Mongolia:
- Implementing Visitor Caps: Enforcing visitor limits in sensitive areas, particularly the habitats of the snow leopard and other vulnerable species, is crucial to minimising ecological disturbance. These measures should be complemented by educating tourists on the vulnerability of these environments.
- Establishing A Visitor Etiquette Code: This would guide interactions with wildlife and cultural practices. Given the mix of visitors’ cultural backgrounds—some seek solitude while others travel in large, noisy groups—a clear code could help balance these impacts.
- Enhancing Sanitary Education: With the scarcity of public toilets, an online training academy for guides, drivers, and tour companies could significantly improve sanitary practices. Additionally, an education campaign aimed at domestic tourists on the importance of properly disposing of waste would help manage the environmental impact of increased domestic tourism. This initiative could also benefit Mongolia’s ger camps and tourism hotels by encouraging them to make simple yet impactful changes. These changes include installing dual-flush toilets and adopting an ‘if it’s yellow, let it mellow’ philosophy.
- Domestic And International Awareness Campaigns: We advocate for the use of influencers and targeted awareness campaigns to educate visitors on minimising their environmental footprint while traveling in Mongolia. Promoting responsible behaviours such as sticking to designated trails and reducing the use of single use plastics—especially important in Mongolia where recycling facilities are limited, can significantly mitigate adverse effects.
- National Volunteer Days: A designated day two or three times a year where tourism businesses of all sizes come together and collectively focus on enhancing their environment through litter clearing as well as other environmental improvement efforts. This collaborative initiative not only helps beautify and preserve natural landscapes but also fosters a sense of community and responsibility among businesses in the tourism sector.
Many tour companies promote Mongolia as a pristine, untouched wilderness, but the reality is more complex. While Mongolia’s scenic beauty and wilderness draw many visitors, preserving these qualities is essential for responsible tourism. Much of the tourism sector’s sustainability depends on safeguarding Mongolia’s cultural and physical landscapes.
Since 2014, Turuu and I have organised an annual two-day clean-up for the Tariat community along the north shore and surrounding areas, including the Khorgo volcano, at Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park in the central Khangai Mountains. This annual clean-up fosters sustainable tourism by involving local residents in preserving their environment, instilling a shared responsibility for their surroundings. Beyond improving the area’s aesthetics, these efforts help maintain its ecological balance and promote respect for the natural beauty of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur.
Has our clean-up been a success? We believe so. Each year, we still fill a 15-ton truck, but this is a measure of our commitment and progress. We’re proud to see the local community taking ownership of the area’s environmental impact. These may be small steps, but each is a move in the right direction. Learn more about our community clean-up here.
