Supporting Green Development in Mongolia: Development by Design

Bruce McKenney and Joseph KieseckerDevelopment by DesignThe Nature Conservancy

Conference on Green DevelopmentSeptember 6, 2013

Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia

Green Development requires a greener approach to mining

Source: EBRD 2012

Mineral Leases, 2010-2012 (area in km2)

2010 2012 net change

a. mining 4,752 0.3% 8,679 0.6% 3,927 83%

b. application 27,146 2% 25,580 2% -1,567 -6%

c. exploration 370,641 24% 199,238 13% -171,404 -46%

d. tender bid * 315,938 20% 404,388 26% 88,450 28%

subtotal 718,477 46% 637,884 41% -80,593 -11%

e. not a lease 843,374 54% 923,967 59% 80,593 10%

Mongolia 1,561,851 100% 1,561,851 100%

* tender bid = available but not currently leased

Growing public concern

• Loss of pasture lands and wildlife habitat; permanent changes to landscapes

• Loss and degradation of water sources

• Impacts to cultural heritage and way of life

A Vision for Green Development

How can a mining-focused economy support Green Development

objectives for people and nature?

Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

National PAs

Aimag borders

Conservation portfolio

National PAs

Aimag borders

conflict with conservation portfolio

Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2012

existing mining leases:

potential offsets:

607,000 ha

6,070,000 haMining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2013

new mining leases:

potential offsets:

121,400 ha

1,214,000 haMining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2014

145,700 ha

1,457,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2015

174,800 ha

1,174,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2016

209,800 ha

2,098,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2017

251,800 ha

2,518,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2018

302,100 ha

3,021,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

2019

362,500 ha

3,625,000 ha

new mining leases:

potential offsets:Mining leases

active mines

application / exploration leases

Conservation portfolio

endemic / restricited range

Landform classification

wet/salty depressions

key evolutionary processes

unique ecosystems

source: McCarthy et al. (2009)

source: : McCarthy (2000)

globally and nationally endangered

conservation portfolio = critical habitat

congretory and migratory

+

=

Avoid Minimize Offset

Landscape Level Conservation Planning

Use conservation vision to guide

mitigation decisions

Define conservation vision

Achieving Green Development: How DbD can help

Smart from the start

• Identify potential conflict before it happens

• Avoid impacts incompatible with Green Development

Challenge

Is the current protection classifications system adequate to support Green Development for people and nature?

Conservation portfolio

National PAs

Aimag borders

Herder Household Density

High

Low

National PAs

Aimag borders

High

Low

Conservation portfolio:mean Herder Household Density

Achieving Green Development: How DbD can help

Pragmatic offsets system

• Apply a consistent approach for identifying and implementing ecologically equivalent offsets

Challenge

To what extent can a national approach be automated and standardized for offsets implementation?

1) WellsLocs.shp uploaded

2) Pipelines.shp uploaded

Habitat typearea

(km2) % total

Semi Desert 55 2%

Desert Steppe 1368 51%

Dry Steppe 405 13%Wet Depressions 107 4%

Riparian 27 1%

Sand Massives 778 29%

TOTAL 2,682 100%

Habitat type area (km2) % total

Semi Desert 99 5%

Desert Steppe 894 45%

Dry Steppe 298 15%Wet Depressions 99 5%

Riparian 40 2%

Sand Massives 557 28%

TOTAL 1988 100%

A Green Future?

• Legal steps to support Avoidance & Offsets

• Building support and capacity for effective implementation

• Funding a vision for Green Development

THANK YOU