Mongolia's Roadmap to 30 by 30

For thousands of years, Mongolia's nomadic communities have grazed their livestock alongside millions of migratory gazelles, birds, wolves and snow leopards. With its rich biodiversity and nomadic herding traditions, Mongolia has a strong history of conservation. In 1992, the country set an ambitious goal of protecting 30 percent of its grasslands, forests, deserts, mountains rivers and lakes, and so far, 21 percent of the country is designated as national protected areas (NPAs).

But land protection is not enough. Sustainable management and stewardship of protected lands are critical to return the grasslands to health and to reduce carbon emissions. Local herding communities, the traditional stewards of the land, continue to face challenges in securing their management rights.

Eternal Mongolia: Project Finance for Permanence

In April 2024, TNC launched the Eternal Mongolia initiative in partnership with the Mongolian government, local herding communities, and the Enduring Earth collaboration. This initiative provides the necessary upfront funding and policy commitments for Mongolia to achieve its "30x30" conservation goals while promoting nature-based tourism and ensuring equitable and sustainable livelihoods for future generations.