Describe a measure taken to contribute to the implementation of your country’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan
Mongolia has nine laws that specifically regulate effective use, protection, and restoration of water resources and water use fees and water supply. The 2004 Water Law initiated reassignment of many water functions from central to local government, with provincial and district governors being responsible for the matters related to use, protection, and restoration of water resources and first time introduced the IRBM concepts. The 2012 Water Law replaced the 2004 Water Law and introduced among others the mandates of state organizations that are in charge of development and adoption of integrated water resource management plans and introduced river basin organizations (RBOs) paving the way for decentralization of water management and facilitating involvement of citizens in water management.
Under the Water law 29 water basins were delineated and 21 River Basin Authority and River Basin Councils were established to prepare integrated water basin management plans for each river basin and to support implementation of these plans. To date 29 IWRM plans are already in place and approved by the Minister of Environment and Tourism.
One of major steps taken by these RBAs and Local governments are a delineation of a no-go zones along the river applying the Water Law provisions that set boundaries of limited and restricted use zones of along river bank. To date 5.2 million ha of riparian areas are delineated in western and eastern Mongolia with support of WWF Mongolia and approved as a no-go zone by the respective Local Parliaments under the Law on Water. All other River Basin Authorities are working with their respective government to set such zones in their respective areas.
The implementation of the Law on Water was supported by National Water Programme that aimed among others, include in the PA network the 80 percent of run-off forming areas of Mongolia by 2021 and minimize and halt any negatively impaction intervention in these areas.
Source: WWF Mongolia, 2014
Figure 14. Head water (run-off forming area)
In 2015 the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has delineated 9.1 million ha run-off forming area in 29 River Basins (figure 14). As of 2018, 3.3 men ha run-off forming areas were already included into the PA network (MET 2019).
According to the Environmental Assessment of 2017-2018 the water body area of Mongolia is estimated 686.1 thousand hectares or 0.4% of the total land area. This includes 228.5 thousand
hectares or 33.3% in rivers, streams, 443.6 thousand hectares or 64.7% in lakes and ponds, 12.4 thousand hectares or 1.8% in streams and springs, 1.6 thousand hectares or glaciers in glaciers and glaciers.
The national network of surface water quality monitoring of Mongolia carry out chemicals and quality control in 191 point in 94 rivers, 18 lakes and disseminate the report.
The surface water quality monitoring report in these 191 points showed (table 4) that during 2013-2016, 91-95% of river and lakes reported as “very clean and clean”, 3-5% as “slightly polluted”, 0-1%
as “polluted” and 3-4% are “very polluted”. However, the 2018 survey showed 88.5% are “Very Clean and clean”, 7.9% is "Slightly polluted", 2.1% as “Polluted” and for 1.6% as "Very polluted".
Table 4. Surface water quality change in (%)
Water Quality category 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Very clean, clean 93,0 95 93 91 89,2 88,5
Slightly polluted 5 5 3 5 5,9 7,9
Polluted 0 0 0 1 1,6 2,1
Very Polluted 3.0 3 4 3 3,2 1,6
Source: State of the Mongolian Environment, 2015-2016 & 2017-2018.
The Tuul, Khangal and Khuder river basins are becoming the three most polluted river basin. The pollution of former two river basins are caused by insufficient capacities of waste water treatments plants of Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet cities, while pollution on Khuder river basin caused by the gold mining activities in the upper part of the river.
In Mongolia the environmental assessment, soil quality is determined at throughout the country at 340 points every 5 years using key parameters such as moisture, humus, sulphate (SO4), phosphate (P2O5), nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4) and presence of heavy metals. In addition every 1-2 years samples are taken from the contaminated sites around central and local settlements and presence of 11 heavy metals such as lead (P), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and chromium (Cr) are checked.
The values set by the Mongolian National Standard MNS 5850:2008 “Soil Quality. Soil Pollutants Elements and Substances” are applied for assessing the level of contamination.
According to these assessments carried out in 2014, 2016 and 2018 presence of cadmium, lead, mercury, bromine, chromium, zinc, copper, cobalt, strontium and chlorine were found in soil samples at 85 points in four districts of Ulaanbaatar and 85 sites in 21 provinces. In addition, the soil microbial pollution is found prevailing in cities caused by ger district latrines, while in rural areas pollution are mostly caused by the mining. The soils in provincial and county centres also affected by the
unregulated solid wastes.
For the implementation measure, please indicate to which national or Aichi Biodiversity Target(s) it contributes
Assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation measure taken in achieving desired outcomes:
Measure taken has been effective
Measure taken has been partially effective Measure taken has been ineffective
Unknown
Please explain the selection and where possible indicate the tools or methodology used for the assessment of effectiveness above
The NPBD’s expected midterm output under this Objective was:
By 2018, implement integrated management of water resources, and particularly improve protection of areas with water resources and ensure enforcement of rules and procedures that follow.
By 2020, ensure governmental and public cooperation in implementation monitoring of
legislation concerning protection from urbanization, mining, and manufacturing related pollution.
Under the Water law 29 water basins were delineated and 21 River Basin Authority and River Basin Councils have prepared integrated water basin management (IWRM) plans for all 29 basins.
Currently RBAs and Local governments are working closely on a delineation of a no-go zones along the river applying the Water Law provisions that set boundaries of limited and restricted use zones of along river bank. To date 5.2 million ha of riparian areas are delineated and approved as a no-go zone by the respective Local Parliaments under the Law on Water.
The national network of surface water quality monitoring of Mongolia carry out chemicals and quality control in 191 point in 94 rivers, 18 lakes and disseminate the report.
In Mongolia the soil quality is assessed throughout the country at 340 points every 5 years and using key parameters such as moisture, humus, sulphate (SO4), phosphate (P2O5), nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4) and presence of heavy metals. In addition every 1-2 years samples are taken from the contaminated sites around central and local settlements to assess presence of 11 heavy metals. The values set by the Mongolian National Standard MNS 5850:2008 “Soil Quality. Soil Pollutants
Elements and Substances” are applied for assessing the level of contamination.
Relevant websites, web links and files (Please use this field to indicate any relevant websites, web links or documents where additional information related to this assessment can be found).
Mongolia National Program on Reduction of Air and Environmental Pollution (2017). Attachment to the Government Resolution # 98 of 2017.
Report of State of the Mongolian Environment, 2015-2016. (2017). Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Ulaanbaatar.
Report of State of the Mongolian Environment, 2017-2018. (2019). Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia: Environmental Performance reviews. (2018). Environmental Performance Reviews Series No. 49. UNECE, ECE/CEP/182. United Nations. New York and Geneva. pp. 193-251
Mongolia Water Security Assessment. (2017). ADB TA 8855: Country Water Security Assessment.
Mongolia Water Forum Uskhelts. Mongolia. pp. 121
Goal 6. Protect soil and water resources from chemical and nutrient pollution
Objective 14. Increase public awareness on direct and indirect effects on biodiversity by chemical