Stories from the �eld

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Although forests cover only a littlemore than 11 percent of Mongolia,

they provide food and work for manypeople and they are critical to theenvironment. Yet, each year 60 000hectares (ha) of forest in Mongolia arelost to natural disasters and unsustainableharvesting practices. An FAO forestryproject is helping turn this situationaround by encouraging local communitiesto manage their own forests.

Forests have been disappearing at analarming rate since Mongoliatransitioned from a planned economyto a market one in the late 1990s.Illegal logging is the chief cause of forestdestruction. The country’s forestry sectorsuffers from a lack of investment, aninadequately trained workforce, obsoletemachinery and unclear institutionalresponsibilities. By establishing a modelfor local forest ecosystem managementthat can be replicated across Mongolia,the FAO project aims to reverse forestdegradation and reduce poverty amongforest users.

To save forests, Mongolia devolvesforestry management to locals

Today, over 10 community forest usergroups (FUGs) have been established.Livelihoods have improved and thewealth of participants has increased byat least 20 percent. Meanwhile, illegallogging in forests under communitymanagement has been stopped. FUGshave been established at 16 pilot sitesand all have management plans,constitutions and by-laws.

Independent analyses documentedpositive results. A June 2010 studyconcluded that the collective decision-making process is sound and that FUGgovernance arrangements are effective.A follow-up study in November 2011found that most of the FUGs resulted incollective empowerment.

Pilot FUGs have appointed voluntaryforest rangers with the authority toissue permits to harvest firewood.Eleven FUGs have begun forest cleaning.Sales of firewood have generatedUS$15 400. In some 20 000 ha of forest,conditions improved, timber waste was

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATIONOF THE UNITED NATIONSRegional Office for Asia and the PacificMaliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit RoadBangkok 10200, ThailandTel: (+66 2) 697 4000Fax: (+66 2) 697 4445E-mail: FAO-RAP@fao.orgwww.fao.orgwww.fao.org/world/regional/rap

For a world without hunger

The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONSleads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developingcountries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiateagreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information.We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improveagriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Sinceour founding in 1945, we have focused special attention on developing rural areas,home to 70 percent of the world’s poor and hungry people.

eliminated, fewer forest fires occurred and the overuse of non-wood forestproducts stopped.

The project has facilitated major changes to the regulatory framework,creating a more enabling environment for participatory forestry management(PFM). A national forest policy process is being drafted that will recognize PFM.User groups are aware of their rights under the new regulatory regime,including their right to have local government authorities and outsidersrespect their secure tenure.

The key components of a management planning system for FUGs havebeen developed and approved for national use. The institutionalization ofparticipatory forestry management was significantly strengthened with theestablishment of a PFM unit in the Forestry Agency in September 2011 witha mandate to scale up PFM nationwide. The project trained six people tosupport the implementation of PFM in Forest Units. Many other Forest Unitstaff received training through the project on PFM.

National and international consultants, researchers and project staffproduced more than 30 reports, publications and videos during the life ofthe project. The National University of Mongolia, Eco-Asia EnvironmentalUniversity and Eco-Asia Institute have incorporated the project’s PFM modulesinto their undergraduate course curriculum. PFM is a compulsory subject forforestry students. Study tours to Nepal and Finland contributed to an improvedunderstanding of PFM.

The Finnish forest institute METLA, the Mongolian Forestry Agency andthe National University of Mongolia signed a cooperative projectagreement to strengthen basic forestry research in Mongolia.

*Project: Capacity building and institutional development for participatorynatural resources management and conservation in forest areas of Mongolia(GCP/MON/002/NET)

Budget and donor: US$4 686 686 in initial funding was contributed by theNetherlands.

CONTACT

Percy MISIKAFAO Representative (residing in

China)Address: Room No. 502,

Orient Plaza G. ChagdarjavStreet 9, Sukhbaatar District,1st Khoroo, Ulaanbaatar 14210

Tel: (+976-11) 310248Fax: (+976-11) 320256E-mail: FAO-MN@fao.org

LINK

http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/en/?iso3=MNG