Eastern Mongolian Protected Area

	Special features: example of last large undisturbed steppe ecosystem in the world; important habitat for Mongolian gazelle. Size and location: 570,000 hectares in Sukhbaatar and Dornod provinces. Established: 1992.
"The eastern steppes represent one of the last great unspoiled grazing ecosystems in the world. " -George Schaller, one of world's leading wildlife biologists EASTERN MONGOLIA STRICTLY PROTECTED AREA Imagine the verdant grasslands that covered the great plains of eastern Europe a thousand years ago or North America two hundred years ago-a place with few inhabitants, and no fences, roads, or livestock. Established in part to protect habitat for the Mongolian gazelle, the Eastern Mongolia Protected Area covers a representative part of the last of the great plain ecosystems. Gently rolling steppe is characteristic of the protected area, which extends for over 200 kilometers along the Chinese border. From the summit of Vangiin Tsagaan Uul (White Mountain of Vangi), a sacred Buddhist peak in the preserve, one looks out on a sea of grass that blankets the land as far as the eye can see.
The steppe here is dominated by the grasses and other plants characteristic of both Dagurian and Eastern Mongolian steppe. The preserve is surprisingly arid, with annual precipitation of less than 250 mm. Lack of fresh surface water keeps the land around and including the protected area almost completely uninhabited. The Eastern Mongolia protected area is home to 25 species of mammal, dominated by herds of Mongolian gazelle (see sidebar) that pass through the protected area on their annual migrations. Wolves, corsac and red fox, and badger all occur here. The protected area is home to 125 species of birds, 84 of which nest here. Birds include the endangered great bustard, a game bird that has been hunted close to extinction. Steppe eagles, upland buzzards, kites, and the rough-legged harrier all nest in the reserve. Two species of amphibian, including the endangered Asiatic grass frog, and five reptiles live here. The protected area is only a small part of eastern Mongolia's vast steppe. Though largely untouched today, change is just over the horizon for these areas, as oil exploration begins in the region and other developments, possibly including a new railroad line, are planned. Efforts are underway by MNE and WWF to expand this protected area to include more of the eastern steppe.	Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa The Eastern Mongolia Strictly Protected Area is the settingfor one of Asia's premier wildlife spectacles. Between 300,000 and I million gazelle, one of Asia's largest remaining wildlife populations, inhabit the steppes Of eastern Mongolia. During latefall, herds 40,000 strong pass through the reserve. just 50 years ago, biologists estimate that several million Mongolian gazelle covered the steppe of Mongolia However, this population has dropped sharply due to habitat loss and barriers to migration, including thefences that extend along existing railroad lines. The Eastern Mongolia Reserve protects only a small portion of Mongolia's pristine steppe area. The rest, including critical berthing areas for the gazelle, is unprotected.
NOMROG STRICTLY PROTECTED AREA Nomrog Strictly Protected Area covers the remote and uninhabited far eastern tip of Mongolia. Ecologically distinct from the rest of Mongolia, this preserve includes the westernmost end of the Khyangan mountain range, which extends into Mongolia from Manchuria, China. The area is relatively wet and one-fifth of the area is forested, primarily by small groves of Scotch pine, white birch, and willow.	Natural zones: mountain forest steppe, steppe. Special features: ecologically unique; Manchurian flora and fauna found here in addition to Central Asian species. Size and location: 311,200 hectares in Dornod province. Established: 1992
Biological diversity is high here, with 44 mammals, 234 species of birds, 24 fish, 3 reptiles, and 4 amphibian species identified. Manchurian flora and fauna which occur nowhere else in Mongolia are found here, including the Ussurian moose, black-naped oriole, white-breasted rockthrush, and great black water snake. The endangered hooded crane and Houbara bustard can be found here as can pheasant, otter, bear, lynx, and wild boar.
	Natural zones: steppe, riparian. Special features: part of international reserve created by Mongolia, Russia China to protect rare birds, particularly cranes. Size and location: 103,000 hectares in two parts, Dornod province. Established: 1994.
MONGOL DAGURIAN STRICTLY PROTECTED AREA Mongol Dagurian protected area was established to preserve a representative portion of Mongolia's Dagurian steppe and its characteristic flora, fauna, landscape, and endangered species. In 1994, the area became part of an international reserve for some of the world's rarest birds, including several endangered species of crane. The international reserve also includes nearby protected areas in Russia and China. The Dagurian preserve is divided into two parts. The larger northern part, contiguous to Russia's Daurski Reserve, takes in the rolling steppe and wetlands on the south shore of whitetinted Tari Lake. The southern part of the protected area encompasses a narrow strip of the clear, peaceful Uldz River and its pristine wetlands, protected for their high density of nesting white-naped cranes (Grus vipio).
Six species of cranes visit the preserve, including the threatened hooded and Siberian cranes, common cranes, demoiselle cranes, and the endangered white-naped crane. The preserve is used by 226 species of birds, many of which are endangered, including whoopee swan, relict gull, mandarin duck, and great bustard. Thirty-six mammal species include the Daurian hedgehog, roe deer, Mongolian gazelle, red fox, raccoon dog, and wolf. Amphibians include three species of Asiatic grass frogs, while golden and Amur carp are among the seven species of fish that occur here. More than 300 plant species have been identified. The preserve is uninhabited, although local people occasionally visit to water their livestock. Of the relatively few people living near the area, most are Buryat livestock herders.	White-naped Crane Grus vipio The Dagurian Protected Area is especially known for its high density of nesting white-naped cranes. The Uldz River (which flows through the southern part of the protected area) and nearby Onon and Khukh rivers support the largest breeding populations of white-naped cranes in the world. This endangered species now numbers only 4,500, and many of its breeding areas have been extensively damaged. According to Mongolian tradition, it is bad luck to kill or pester cranes and their nests. Even so, cranes face pressure from domestic livestock and dwindling habitat in areas outside the reserve.

Great Gobi Desert Protected Area