Total Area: 604,247 Sq Mi (1,565,000 Sq Km)

1. Site Summary
2. Background of Mongolia

Mongolia lies in central Asia between Russia on the north and China on the south. It is slightly larger than Alaska.The productive regions of Mongolia—a tableland ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 ft (914 to 1,524 m) in elevation—are in the north, which is well drained by numerous rivers, including the Hovd, Onon, Selenga, and Tula. Much of the Gobi Desert falls within Mongolia.Mongolia is divided into 21 Aimags (provinces), which are in turn divided into 315 Soums (districts).

Total area: 604,247 sq mi (1,565,000 sq km)

Longitudes and Latitudes of Mongolia:

The Eastern point: 46045’ 06”N; 119055’27”E

The Southern point: 41034’ 03”N; 105002’04”E

The Western point: 49010’29”N; 87099’56”E

The Northern point: 53009’15”N; 98055’13”E (Google Earth)

Population (2008 est.): 2,996,081 density per sq km: 1

Capital and largest city (2003 est.):Ulaan Baatar, 804,200

Monetary unit: Togrog

Languages:Mongolian, 90%; also Turkic and Russian (1999)(

Khentii is one of the 21 Aimags (provinces) of Mongolia, located in the east of the country. Its capital is Öndörkhaan. The aimag is named after the Khentii Mountains.The Aimag borders with Russia in the north. The neighboring Aimags are Töv in the west, Gobisumber in the southwest, Dornogobi in the south, Sukhbaatar in the southeast, and Dornod in the east. The northwest of the Aimag is covered by the eastern part of the Khentii Mountains, towards the southeast the landscape changes into the eastern Mongolian steppe plains. The mountain Burkhan Khaldun in the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area is considered sacred, and assumed to be the birthplace of Genghis Khan.South of Burkhan Khaldun the Kherlen River originates. A little further east is the spring of the Onon River. The Onon-Balj National Park is located in the northeast of the Aimag.(

1.2.Location and Topography of Onon River Basin

The Onon River originates on the North-East slope of the Khentii Mountain range with a total river basin of 94,000km2. 30,000km2 is located within Mongolian territory. The total length of the Onon River is 808km with 298km in Mongolian territory. The site Longitudes and Latitudes are: (In the East: 49029’88”N; 112045’36”E). (In the South: 47052’13”N; 110040’11”E) (Google earth). (In the West; 48043’55”N; 107058’34”E). (in the North: 49020’26”N; 109018’58”E). Several rivers on the Russian side, such as the Khuya, Ashinga, Balj, Agats, Kher and Teren drain into upper reaches of the Onon River. The confluence in Russia of the Ingode and Onon rivers forms the origin of the Shilka River. Upon convergence with the Argun River the Amur River is born. The Onon River Basin as a sub-unit of the much larger Amur River basin (see Figure 1) that forms the Amur/Heilongjiang Freshwater Eco-region of North-East Asia. The Onon River and its tributaries directly drain into the Amur through the Shilka River, all of which are ultimately destined for the Pacific Ocean (Dorjgotov and Tseveenmyadag, 2006).

The Mongolian part of the Amur River (Pacific Ocean) basin encompasses all of Khentei and Dornod Aimags and part of Sukhbaatar and Tuv Aimag. This includes 14 Soums in Dornod, 17 of 19 Soums in Khentei aimag, four Soums in Tuv aimag as well as four northern Soums of Sukhbaatar Aimag. The total area of the Mongolian part of the Amur River Basin is 235,000km2 (15% of the Mongolian land area). This makes up approximately 11% of the total Amur River Basin. Except Onon River the Mongolian part of Amur River Basin consists of four main rivers. At the end of the 2005, the permanent population of Mongolian part of Amur River basin was 165.1 thousand people living with average density 0.83 person/sq km(Dorjgotov and Tseveenmyadag, 2006).

The Onon River flows for 298 kilometers in Mongolia and its watershed covers 2.8 million hectares. For the purposes of the RARE Pride Campaign, we will be focusing on approximately 160 river kilometers of the Middle Onon, or approximately 200,000 hectares largely along or near the river itself.The Onon river flows through seven local administrative units known as Soums before entering Russia. Because of recent attempts at decision making decentralization, these Soumscan to a certain extent chart their own course where conservation and natural resources management is concerned. Significant direction, technical expertise, leadership, and resources, though, come from both the Aimag centers and the Ministry of Nature and Environment in Ulaanbaatar. The Onon River Basin is part of the Daurian Steppe Global 200 Eco-region identified by WWF. The Daurian Steppe Eco-region encompasses a large portion of Eastern Mongolia, as well as parts of the Russian Far East and North-Eastern China.

Figure 1. Terrestrial Eco-regions of the Amur-Heilong basin (WWF US)

1.3.Climate

Climate of the Onon watershed is harsh continental, with mean annual air temperature varying from +0.50 to +30 С. The monthly mean temperature for January is between -200С and -240С. The monthly mean temperature in July is +160С to +220С. The lowest temperature is -40.10С to -46,70С and the warmest is +38.90С to +40.10С. The annual temperature variation may reach 700С. The number of days in a year where air temperature is below -300С in the winter period is 25-35 and the number of days in a year where the air temperature is above +300С in the summer season is 10-25 days. In this area, penetration of forest vegetation to the steppe side often occurs. In comparison with other regions of Mongolia, this region is more humid, with a higher annual precipitation of 350-450 mm (Dorjgotov and Tseveenmyadag, 2006).

1.4.Infrastructure

The Onon area has more than 250 km of electric energy lines. All of these lines carry 35 kWt. In 2008 all soums of the Onon Basin linked to the central power line. Therefore, the area has a higher density of power lines relative to the Mongolian state average. There is no any thermal station and line.

There are no irrigation systemsor water supply. Each soum has several deeper drink wells with autopump and most family has simple domestic wells. Also there is no recycling and all waste go to open trash area.

The campaign site has anundeveloped transportation sector relative to other parts of Mongolia.

There are no paved roads. But the area has regular passenger transportation by small bus and load transportation by track through the dirt road to Ulaanbaatar and Ondorkhaan.

In 2008, also reached to all Onon soums, 3 national mobile phone operators, and one of them serves a internet. In the all soum center works post offices.

The area has no regular air connections with Ulaanbaatar,

1.5.Site history

The Onon is the most culturally and historically important river in Mongolia. The Onon is born on the northeastern slopes of Mongolia’s holiest mountain, Burkhan Khaldun. The Mongolian Great Emperor – Chinngis Khanwas born on the banks of the Onon. Mongolia’s cultural icon, Chinggis Khan, would come to Burkhan Khaldun – approximately 40 miles from his “hometown” on the banks of the Onon River itself near the town of Dadal – to find solace and contemplate his next plan of action as he extended his empire from the Pacific Ocean to Middle Europe. The Great Khan’s caretakers washed his head with the waters of the Onon immediately after his birth. The Genesis story for the Mongols, the Secret History of the Mongols, is peppered with accounts of the great Khan’s early exploits along the Onon. The region’s cultural history remains a very important part of life for local people.The Onon area has lots of historical places connected with historical events of Chinngis Khan.

The State Great Khural of Mongolia (parliament) established the Onon-Balj National Park (OBNP) by the Resolution No. 29 of 14 April, 2000. The OBNP has two sections Part A and B that comprises a total area of 415,700 hectares. The ONNP extends out to the territories of Dadal, Bayan-Adraga, Binder, and Norovlin Soums of Khentii Aimag and Bayan-Uul Soum of Dornod Aimag.(Amgalanbaatar, Tsedendash, Erdenebat, Dulamtseren, Giikhnaran, Shiirev-Adiya & Batdulam, 2001)

Educate local peoples from the seven soums of the Onon River drainage on the ecology, identification, conservation need, and benefits of taimen. Local community outreach and education will be one of the most vital parts of this taimen conservation program – we can only succeed with the cooperation and understanding of local authorities and local people. WWF has an outstanding rapport with the Soums in the Onon River basin and this will greatly facilitate the work we do there. Importantly, local people value WWF’s presence and see education as a viable and productive tool for driving change.

There are some scientific works that studied fauna and flora of the Onon-Balj area, however, any particular study of the OBNP has not been done. Findings of the following studies and researches on the OBNP have been published:

The short-term survey conducted in the Onon area in early autumn of 1978 by Scientist of Biology Institute of Mongolia (Author Bold and others, 1980).

Study along Ononrivers that is carried out by a joint team from Mongolian and Russian Biology Institutes in the warmer seasons between 1976-1990 (Author Ostapenko and others, 1978, 1980, 1988;

Author Fomin and Bold, 1991; Author Tseveenmyadag 1988).

Hunting Management Expedition from the MNE Forest and Fauna Institute completed a study of mammals (e.g., Brown Squirrel, Siberian Marmot, Red Deer, Roe Deer) in the area on abundant in animals per 1000 hectares. (Amgalanbaatar, 1990)

Carried out studies of globally endangered and vulnerable cranes in the Onon-Balj National Park.(Author Gombobaatar, 1996; Author Goroshko and Tseveenmyadag, 2000, 2001; Author Tseveenmyadag, 1999, 2000, 2001; Author Tseveenmyadag and Goroshko, 2001, Fujita et al., 1994, Bold et al., 1995).

1.6.Biodiversity summary

Biodiversity of the Onon River Basin is unique and rich due to its location in the transition zone – from Siberian taiga to Daurian and Manchurian dry steppe. There are 946 plant species recorded, 51 mammal species, 223 bird species and 23 fish species. Its plant coverage is particularly unique and 831 species of them are herbaceous. Three coniferous forest species, Krylovii pine, Daurian larch and Chekanovskii larch cannot be found anywhere in Mongolia outside the territory of the Onon watershed. As endemic species these three trees are endangered and listed in the Mongolian Red Book.

Also, WWF Mongolia Programme Office has a contribution to the WWF Global Conservation Programme related to “Freshwater”. This is the additional 3 million ha of freshwater habitats will be more sustainable managed in the Onon River Basin. Onon River has really endemic and unique freshwater ecosystem including several species recognized IUCN red list.Recognizing the importance of preserving headwaters, the WWF Mongolia and Rare Pride Campaign would focus on the regional conservation context so as to help secure the ecological integrity particularly freshwater ecosystem of the Amur watershed as a whole. Although two primary drainages ultimately contribute to the waters of the Amur (the Onon and Balj Rivers), because of taimen, relatively low human population densities, and high levels of biological diversity, the campaign focuses on the Onon drainage. In the case of the Onon, we are using an approach based on the concept of the indicator species. Indicator species are proxies for measuring the overall health of an ecosystem unit – the Onon watershed in this specific case. And for the Onon we will measure success based on the taimen – which is not only an indicator species, but a top level predator and therefore a keystone species critical to the ecology of the watershed. In conserving taimen, we are also committed to addressing the threats of the Onon ecosystem and the ecological needs of the upper Amur basin in their entirety(Collins, 2007).The magnificent taimen once stretched from Eastern Europe to Japan’s Hokkaido Island. Northeastern Mongolia is the last stronghold for the fish (WWF’s Daurian Steppe Ecoregion.2006).

Table 1: Threatened species in the Onon River Basin (Woolley, 2006)

1.6.1.Flora

As for the flora, the Onon watershed is unique as it has the elements of Daurian forest steppe and Manchjurian grassland ecosystems– the northernmost edge of Central Asia, recognized by WWF and TNC. Named by N. S. Turchannov as Daurian, this area is where Central Asian steppe meets Siberian taiga and is distinguished from others by the influence of and location in the Amur River Basin.Over 40% of the Onon area is forested in Siberian taiga – the remaining acreage is unadulterated rolling steppe grassland. Mongolian-Daurian forest steppe extends to eastern side of Khentii Mountain taiga along the Onon River Basin and larch, pine and birch forest dominate the back slopes of the hills. There is also pure pine forest growth along the sandy river valleys (Amgalanbaatar, Tsedendash, Erdenebat, Dulamtseren, Giikhnaran, Shiirev-Adiya & Batdulam, 2001).

1.6.2.Fauna

In the Onon area there are many globally endangered species such as red crowned crane, white napped crane, and the last large scaled migratory species in Eurasia – the Mongolian gazelle. The freshwater ecosystem in hosts taimen and specific to the region species like Arctic Lamprey Eel (Lampetra japonica), Amur Sturgeon (Acipenser schrencki),Khadary Whitefish (Coregonus chadary), Haitej Sculpin (Mesocottus Haitej),Paracottus Kessleri, river Crayfish (Cambaroides Dauricus), Dahurinaina Dahurica. Onon River is considered the upper most habitat area of Kaluga sturgeon that migrates through the entire Amur River Basin.

The word “taimen” will cause heart palpitations to almost any fly fisherman in the United States. Known for its enormous size and aggressive strikes on unsuspecting fish, fowl, and mammals, the taimen is the ultimate predator in the Onon River and is given the nickname “riverwolf” among the local Buriad ethnic group.Mongolian people say taimen is so large that during the harsh Mongolian winters they become lodged in the river ice, stripped of meat by the local Buriad, only to reconstitute and swim freely in the Onon with the thaws of May. Although there are confirmed reports of 80 inch fish weighing well over 100 pounds, most adult taimen in Mongolia are in the 30 to 60 inch range. Very little is known about taimen population dynamics, spawning, migration, or behavior. Although taimen do appear to migrate distances up to 50 miles between Spring and Summer, they are not anadramous save for the sea-run subspecies (or, alternatively, Hucho perryi) in the Koppi River and neighboring drainages of the eastern Sikhote Alin mountain range in Russia (Collins, 2007).

1.7.Land Use

1.7.1.Agriculture

Land use categories include agriculture, forest, water resource, residential area, roads, mountain tundra, rocks, mountain top and grasslands. The medium and low mountain valleys and rivers valleys are the main type of pasture which dominates this area of steppe land.Once the Onon River Basin had good soil and vegetation, it had broad possibilities to develop agricultural and fruit entities. While on the southern slope of hills, mountain valleys, and on high floodplains, black soil is present. In the central valley regions, in relatively lowlands, meadow and meadow-marsh soils can be observed. In the forest, forest brown soil dominates. Nowadays, there is just three agriculture company in Norovlin, Bayan-Adraga and Binder Soums theseoccupy only a small area of the basin. In Dadall soumworking timber processing company "Baljkhaan" and in all others soums working small forestry. They produce about 3,000 cubic metres of timber per year and contributes around. However, the company was cutting trees without getting the appropriate license to use the forest resource from the Ministry of Nature and Environment just 3-4 km from Dadal soum(Amgalanbaatar, Tsedendash, Erdenebat, Dulamtseren, Giikhnaran, Shiirev-Adiya & Batdulam, 2001). This is in conflict with Forest Law. Now the company has been processing the cut trees and is now required to make nature and environment impact assessments on the company's activities and to indicate places where the company may cut trees in the future. For example: table 1 shows how land use classification In terms of OBNP is.

Table 2: Classification of Onon-Balj National Park territory (Dorjgotov and Tseveenmyadag, 2006).

No / Classification / Area (sq.m) / Percentage
1 / Hay making & pasture / 2319375067,122 / 58.17
2 / Forest / 1635806238,340 / 41.02
3 / Canatory, mineral water resort / 15592793,917 / 0.39
4 / Agriculture area / 15375984,367 / 0.39
5 / Lakes / 1406253,277 / 0.04
Total / 3987556337,023 / 100.00

In terms of private land, In Mongolia land privatization started since 2005 and in Onon area has private lands only within some residential area. This private land is a family house fence. Since 2007 in the Onon area a designation of community managed pasturelands and forests have been started. These community managed areas are not private but herders can use and manage this area according to agreement between Soum governments and community during several ten years.