climate
Average annual temperatures in Mongolia warmed 2.1 degrees Celsius between 1940 and 2014 – around triple the global increase over the same period.
The Mongolian tree-ring records indicate that the 20th century was one of the warmest centuries of the last 1200 years.
GLOBAL IMPACT SNAPSHOT
Mongolia Boreal forests make up 29% of the world’s total forest area. 32% of global land-based carbon stocks.
A FOREST LARGER THAN RUSSIA
16.6 mil
If the boreal forests were a country, it would be the largest in the world – they cover 16.6 million km², an area larger than Russia.
CARBON STORAGE COMPARISON
2x
Compared with tropical forests, boreal forests store twice as much carbon per hectare – much of it below ground.
14.2M
HECTARES
Mongolia’s boreal forests are dominated by larch and birch trees, and cover 14.2 million hectares.
181
SPECIES
The forests are rich in biodiversity — home to 181 species of threatened mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
$12M
Collection of products like pine nuts, berries, and medicinal plants is estimated to be worth $12 million annually.
$142M
Timber and fuelwood harvested from Mongolia’s boreal forest every year is worth an estimated $142 million — more than half of it harvested by unlicensed operators.
$25M
IN GRAZING SUPPORT
At least 35% of Mongolia’s livestock graze in or near forest areas. The role of forests in supporting grazing is worth and estimated $25 million a year.
52,000
HECTARES LOST
About 52,000 hectares of Mongolia’s boreal forest were lost and 1.4 million hectares degraded between 2005 and 2015. Because of the harsh climate, trees grow slowly and are vulnerable to droughts, fire and insect infestations.
2.1°C
TEMPERATURE INCREASE
Average annual temperatures in Mongolia have increased 2.1 degrees Celsius since 1940 — more than double the global average.
95%
OF FOREST FIRES CAUSED BY HUMANS
An estimated 95% of forest fires in Mongolia are caused by human activities. Once burnt, forests are more susceptible to damage from pests.
29.1 M
TONNES OF CO₂ REMOVED
Deforestation and forest degradation in Mongolia have been estimated to emit more than 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents each year, but much more — 29.1 million tonnes — is removed from the atmosphere by planted forests and natural growth.
