From “Paper Park” to model protected area: the transformation of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

Abstract

Protected areas represent the most effective form of biodiversity conservation; however, many remain poorly managed and some exist only on paper without management -called "paper parks". We describe our collective efforts to transform Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (Ikh Nart) in Mongolia from a paper park into a model protected area. Resource constraints and lack of capacity precluded active management prior to our project. This paper outlines the process that ultimately led the United Nations Development Programme to designate Ikh Nart as a model protected area. Five overlapping and complementary aspects of our work included: 1) rigorous research; 2) a management structure, plan and process; 3) building local capacity; 4) cultivating local support; and 5) creating sustainable administrative policies and funding. Our efforts resulted in several successes, including reserve expansion, increases in wildlife populations, and strong local support. The lessons learned in Ikh Nart may offer guidance for protected area development in other areas.

Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon) Movement Corridors Between Critical Resources in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

“…Ikh Nart Nature Reserve is a 666 km 2 protected area located in Dornogobi Province (aimag) (Fig. 1) Reading et al, 2016). The reserve overlaps two districts (soums), Dalanjargalan (in the north) and Airag (in the south) and is administered locally by a Mongolian non-profi t organization (Argali Wildlife Research Center) with oversight by district and province authorities and some additional input from the national government.…”

Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) Neonatal Kid Survival and Morphometric Measurements in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia

“…Ikh Nart was established in 1996 to protect 66,760 ha of rocky outcrops and lies at the northern edge of the Gobi Desert, where dry steppe and semi-desert ecosystem meet (Reading at al., 2011). Ikh Nart's climate is strongly continental and arid, characterized by cold winters (to -40°C), dry, windy springs (to 25 mps), and relatively wet, hot summers (to 43°C).…”

“…Ikh Nart's climate is strongly continental and arid, characterized by cold winters (to -40°C), dry, windy springs (to 25 mps), and relatively wet, hot summers (to 43°C). The fl ora and fauna are representative of the arid regions of Central Asia, with a mix of desert and steppe species (Reading et al, 2011). Vegetation is sparse that xerophytic and hyperxerophytic semi-shrub, shrub, scrub vegetation and turfy grasses dominate, including Haloxylon ammodendron, Sympegma ergelli, Anabasis bervifolia, Ephedra prjewaliskii, Ilynia regeli, Stipa glareosa, S. orientalis, and Reumuria songarica (Reading et al, 2007).…”

Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve: Biodiversity, Ecosystem Features, Threats and Conservation Management

“…Resource constraints and lack of capacity precluded active management of many protected areas in Mongolia, especially immediately following their creation. Like some other countries, Mongolia established many protected areas before they acquired the capacity to adequately manage those areas, resulting in socalled "paper parks" that exist only in government documents (Reading et al, 2016). The Khar Yamaat Nature Reserve (hereafter Khar Yamaat) discussed herein is one of those paper parks, which was established with no active management or conservation eff orts (Fig.…”

“…1). More recently, environmental conservation eff orts in Mongolia have progressed successfully following the active involvement of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs; e.g., Reading et al, 2016). Currently, four protected areas are fully or partially managed by NGOs or through public-private partnership.…”