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The Nature Conservancy in Mongolia

Who We Are

Starry night over the Mongolian Gobi Desert.
Starry night over the Mongolian Gobi Desert. © Erdenebulgan Battsengel

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Founded in 1951 in the United States of America, The Nature Conservancy works in more than 70 countries across six continents with a science-led approach to create nature-based solutions for the environmental challenges facing our planet. The representative office of The Nature Conservancy in Mongolia has been operating since 2008 in the conservation field.

Grounded in Science and Collaborative from the Beginning

The Nature Conservancy began when leading scientists, committed citizens and dedicated leaders came together with a shared vision to protect and care for nature. Our work in Mongolia began 16 years ago. We are proud of our history, which serves as a foundation for the goals and partnerships that drive our work today.

The Nature Conservancy Through the Years

2008 - 2011
2012-2015
2016 - 2019
2020-Present

Our Roots

More than a decade ago, leaders gathered, debated, and laid the groundwork for what would become our global representative, The Nature Conservancy.

Misty mountain ridge in Laohegou Nature Reserve in China.
Misty mountain ridge Laohegou Nature Reserve, Pingwu County, Sichuan Province, China. © Nick Hall/TNC
Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia Modern Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, shows signs of new wealth from the mining boom among the more traditional buildings and monuments of the city. © Ted Wood
2008

The Mongolia Representative Office of The Nature Conservancy opened in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolian gazelle in Toson Khulstai.
Mongolian Gazelle Grazing on a hillside in the grassland steppe of Eastern Mongolia’s Toson Hulstai Nature Reserve. © Nick Hall
2009

Launched activities to support the management of Toson Khulstai Nature Reserve as well as introducing participatory management approach with the representation of multi-stakeholders.

A study group, Mongolia Stopping at dusk on hills which overlook Point Sur, a study group from Mongolia (on a Conservancy sponsored visit) listen to Gala Davaa translate information about the area. © Mark Godfrey/TNC
2011

Conducted eco-regional assessment of the Eastern Grassland of Mongolia. It identified ecologically significant and conservation priorities in the eastern region of Mongolia.

2012-2015

The Nature Conservancy completed to conduct a nationwide landscape-level study called “Eco-regional assessment” in cooperation with the Government of Mongolia and other stakeholders.

Canoe on a foggy pond in Adirondack Park in New York.
Adirondack Park The Conservancy's purchase protects Boreas Ponds as well as more than 415 miles of waterways and 300 lakes and ponds. © Blake Gordon
Camels in Gobi Eco-regional assessment in Mongolian Gobi was conducted by TNC Mongolia. © Tseveenravdan Damdindorj/TNC
2012

Started eco-regional assessment of Mongolian Gobi in accordance with a joint decree made by Minister of Environment and Tourism, Minister of Mineral Resources, and other ministries.

Gobi region Sand dune in Mongolian Gobi. © TNC
2013

Completed eco-regional assessment of Mongolian Gobi. Co-organized a training on “Ecosystem services value” in cooperation with the Government of Mongolia.

Mining TNC Mongolia encourages responsible mining practices with low environmental impact. © Nick Hall
2015

Developed a web-based Mitigation Design Tool for estimating the impacts of mining to apply mitigation hierarchy and offset decision-making. The tool was introduced to all relevant stakeholders.

2016 - 2019

Supporting the management of some local and national protected areas by developing their management plans, its implementation and furthermore, encouraging the efficiency of Protected area management.

Close-up of ferns at a nature preserve.
Neversink Preserve Vegetation at Neversink Preserve in the Catskills region of New York. © Carl Heiman II
Jerboa Long-eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso) at sunrise. Gobi Desert, Mongolia. © Klein & Hubert / Nature Picture Library
2016

Implemented a project titled “Capacity building for Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongolia in relation to biodiversity and conservation in the Southern Gobi” with the funding from the EBRD.

Khuvsgul Lake One of the biggest lakes in Mongolia. © Erdenebulgan.B
2017

Completed ecoregional assessments of Western and Central regions of Mongolia and launched implementation of “Community-based Conservation” project on empowering the local community’s involvement in conservation measures.

Bee farm TNC Mongolia supports community-led Conservation and their alternative incomes. © TNC
2019

Provided scientific and technical supports to Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia for successful approval of 22 new national protected areas of permanent designation.

2020-Present

Growing in size and scope and driven by science, we expand our conservation work while continuing to protect special places in Mongolia.

Tall trees point skyward under fading light and glow from sunset at dusk.
Alerce trees Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) trees stand toward the sky at dusk in the Alerce Coastal National Park, Los Rios, Chile. © Nick Hall/TNC
Eg Selenge Belchir, Bulgan Beautiful river named Eg Selenge in Bugat soum, Bulgan province, Mongolia. © Erdenebulgan Battsengel
2020

Provided scientific and technical supports to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia and other stakeholders for the successful approval of 9 new national protected areas.

Eternal Mongolia PFP TNC and the Government of Mongolia made an agreement to implement “Eternal Mongolia” PFP. © MoET
2021

Feasibility assessment for implementing “Project Finance for Permanence” (PFP) has launched. Its report have finalized in early 2022. The parties agreed to develop further development of Eternal Mongolia PFP in 2023.

Healthy livestock Using nutrition-rich food for lambs, helps them grow faster, larger and healthier, which reduces the burden on the land and increases herders profits. © D. Tseveenravdan/TNC
2023

Currently, conducting research on the feasibility of assessing carbon opportunities in the grassland and peatlands of Mongolia.

Botanists conduct research in Toson Hulstai, Mongolia grasslands.
Mongolia grasslands Botanists conduct research in Toson Hulstai, Mongolia grasslands. © Tuguldur Enkhtsetseg/TNC

Science

Research and Publications

We are working toward solutions that are good for people and our underlying natural systems. Our collection of research shows the breadth of our expertise.

Explore Our Research
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A vast expanse of green grasslands.
An eternal vision for nature A winding stream meanders through the grasslands of northeastern Mongolia. © Bayar Balgantseren