Deforestation of Mongolia

 

MUCHOVÁ M.1, JUŘIČKA D.1, BRTNICKÝ M. 1, KYNICKÝ J. 1 and CIHLÁŘOVÁ H.1

 

Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno 61300

 

Abstract:

The study brings a comprehensive overview focused on deforestation of Mongolia. Deforestation of Mongolia is caused by several factors such as, illegal harvesting, human made fires and overgrazing. The effects of deforestation of Mongolia are fatal and contribute to the process of desertification. Results of survey show that 52% of Mongolian forests were damaged in last 100 years.

 

Key words:

Deforestation, Siberian larch, quarrying, desertification

 

1. Introduction

Mongolia is a mountainous country located in Central Asia. It is a landlocked country with an area of ​​156.65 million hectares (Ykhanbai et al., 2010).

The climatic conditions of Mongolia are very unfavorable. The harsh continental climate is characterized by long, cold winters (daily temperatures around -40 ° C), a small amount of annual precipitation (on average 400 mm, in mountainous desert areas even below 100 mm) and temperature fluctuations (in summer 40 ° C to -45 ° C, at night when clearing the temperature can drop to -58 ° C) throughout the year (Dashkhuu et al., 2014; Batkhuu et al., 2011).

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Mongolia is classified as a low-resource country (with only 8.1% of the fully involved stands) (Kynický et al., 2010; Batkhuu et al., 2011) . The lack of regular forest inventories makes it impossible to know the actual size and quality of forest stands (Batkhuu et al., 2011). Therefore, the total cover of all forest communities is reported to be around 19 million hectares (Ykhanbai et al., 2010). The total forest volume is a total of 1377,700,000 m3 (average volume 132m3 / ha) with an annual increase of about 140,000 m3 (Batkhuu et al., 2011; Sankey et al., 2006).

In recent decades, Mongolia has lost approximately 4 million hectares of forests, which corresponds to an average of 40,000 ha / year. However, the most destructive rate of deforestation took place between 1990 and 2000, when the excavated area increased to 60,000 hectares per year. The final report on the state of the forest in Mongolia, produced by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), states that the most serious deforestation took place between 1974 and 2000, mainly due to environmental stress and targeted deforestation (Batkhuu et al., 2011). .

 

2 Forests in Mongolia

The Mongolian forests are located at the border of the great Siberian taiga and the Mongolian steppes. These forests play an important role in preventing soil erosion, spreading desertification, modifying soil water regimes and, last but not least, creating habitats for animals (Sankeyet et al., 2006).

Forests in Mongolia are divided according to their ecological and economic importance into three zones: (1) strict forest zone - about 48.2%, (2) forest protection zone - about 45% and (3) usable forest zone - 6.8% (Batkhuuet al., 2011).

 

 

Giant. No. 1: Map of Mongolia's forests (Source: Batkhuu et al., 2011)

 

Most of the forests are located in the northern part of Mongolia, which is divided into seven provinces. The largest area is in the provinces of Khuvsgul (29%), followed by Selenge (16%), Bulgan (14%), Khentii (11%), TUV (10%), Arkhanhai (8.5%) and the smallest provinces of Zavkhan (5%) (Batkhuuet al., 2011). The southern part of Mongolia, where deserts and steppes stretch, is mostly without a tree layer. Several tree species can only be found in oases with a significant predominance of steppe Saxaula (Haloxylonammodendron), which is characteristic of Gobi Desert ecosystems (Batkhuuet et al., 2011). The steppe Saxaula is also known in our country as the sagebrush bush from the family Chenopodiaceae. It is a specific type of fuel in semi-desert areas together with dry ungulate droppings (argalem) (Kynický et al., 2010).

The wood composition of forests (see Tab. No. 1 and Fig. No. 1) is composed mainly of Siberian larch (Larixsibirica), which covers 60% of the forest area (Batkhuuet al., 2011). Other important tree species are pines, which occupy about 5 to 8% of the forested area. Specifically, Scots pine (Pinussylvestris), Siberian pine (Limba) (Pinussibirica Du Tour) or birch sp. (Betulasp.) Occupying approximately 9% of the forest area (Batkhuu et al., 2011; Kynický et al., 2010).

 

 

3 The beginnings of deforestation

The onset of forest degradation in Mongolia is associated with the onset of intensive grazing and the beginning of the second millennium (Lkhagvadorj et al .; 2013, Kynický et al., 2010).

Over the hundreds of years, forests have been degraded due to overgrazing, misuse of wood, overuse of firewood, forest fires, logging, pests and tree diseases (Batkhuuet al., 2011). For these reasons, the Mongolian government has been paying more attention to forest protection since 1970. In 1990, political and economic conditions in Mongolia changed. Forest resource management has shifted from state administration to local government systems. This situation has led to the development of a new system of laws, rules and regulations (Sankeyet et al., 2006). The last valid law regulating forest issues was issued in August 2007 (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010).

 

4 Reasons for deforestation

4.1 Fires

Forest fires are one of the main causes of disruption of forest ecosystems in Mongolia (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010). Impacts on forests vary from year to year. Graph 1 shows the sum of areas in Mongolia affected by forest fires, where the most devastating fires took place during 1996 and 1997 (Batkhuuet al., 2011).

In total, about 647,000 hectares of forest land were damaged by fires between 1990 and 2007 (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010). 90% of fires are reported to be caused by human factors (Batkhuuet et al., 2011).

Due to the arid inland climate and strong winds in the dry season, Mongolia is very prone to forest and steppe fires. The most probable period of fire is always in dry spring from March to May and in autumn from September to November (Kynický et al., 2010).

4.2 Diseases and pests

Forest pests and diseases also lead to extensive deforestation (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010). Graph No. 2 indicates an increasing tendency of forest areas planted with pests. Many authors agree that the most harmful insects include Dendrolimussuperanssibiricum, Ocneriadispar and Orgiaantiqua (Linn.) (Ykhanbaiet et al., 2010; Batkhuuet et al., 2011).

4.3 Logging

The history of industrial wood processing in Mongolia has a long tradition and has been recorded since 1924 (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010). Today, Mongolian forests are being disturbed (see Chart 3) to a lesser extent by legal logging, but mainly by illegal logging (Batkhuuet al., 2011). Illegal logging in Mongolia is estimated at 36-80% of the total annual logging (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010). According to the World Bank, illegal logging in Mongolia can be divided into three categories: (1) basic living wage needs, (2) livelihood enhancement, (3) commercialized illegal logging (Ykhanbaiet al., 2010).

The forests of the northern (coniferous) and southern (saxaul) parts of Mongolia are thus exposed to great pressures from the point of view of mining companies and individuals who harvest timber illegally. Coniferous forests are mainly used as firewood, firewood for construction of family houses and export abroad (Batkhuuet al., 2011). Exports to China account for a significant share of timber exports abroad. In response, the government imposed a high tax on timber exports in order to develop national industry and improve domestic timber stocks (Tsogtbaataret al., 2004).

Wood from the southern part of Mongolia's forests is used only as firewood, livestock feed admixture or building material (Batkhuuet al., 2011).

Estimated annual wood consumption in Mongolia ranges from 1.74 to 5.5 million m3, due to incomplete data from annual statistics (Batkhuuet et al., 2011).

 

Logging (especially Siberian larch) in the taiga area takes place mainly in the form of clear-cut logging (see Fig. No. 1) (Kynickýet al., 2009). In general, clear-harvesting has negative effects on soil, biodiversity and the water regime (Baláž, 2008).

In the Trans-Baikal or West Siberian regions, clear-cutting does not have to mean ecological and economic damage (as in other countries) in the absence of other negative effects. Clear-cutting does not have to be a dangerous method of tree harvesting for forest stands if there are permanent stands in their vicinity as sources of seed materials (Kynický et al., 2009).

 

Giant. No. 2: Remains after illegal logging (left), bite of woody plants by cattle (right) (photo Juřička, 2014)

4.4 Pastoralism

Pastoralism has been a major source of livelihood in Mongolia for centuries (Sankeyet et al., 2006). The ever-increasing numbers of cattle not only graze on pastures, but also graze in forests. Cattle grazing (see Fig. 2) disrupts forest ecosystems together with other negative impacts (Lkhagvadorjet al., 2013).

One of the reasons for the decline in larch forests is the taste of grazed herbivores, which in winter destroy vegetation up to a height of 220 cm (Sankeyet et al., 2006).

 

5 Consequences of deforestation

The process of deforestration changes the spatial structure of the landscape. Individual plant species subsequently react differently to the consequences of habitat disturbance (Malansonet et al., 2007).

A survey of human impacts on Mongolian ecosystems over the past 100 years has found that 40-52% of all forests have already been damaged (Batkhuuet et al., 2011). According to Ykhanbai, total deforested area will increase gradually by 2021 and total forest resources will decrease significantly (Ykhanbaiet et al., 2010).

Forest loss leads to deteriorating ecological conditions of the habitat accompanied by increased wind and water erosion (see Fig. 3), increased soil evaporation, reduced snow retention, all of which leads to aridization and extensive desertification (Batkhuuet et al., 2011).

The issue of desertification in Mongolia is defined as land degradation caused by many factors (Zhaoet et al., 2005). Desertification has been described as one of the most critical global issues, as potential landscape resources are declining (Helldén et al., 2008). In order to prevent desertification homeostasis in Mongolia, as well as in other parts of the world affected by desertification, it will be necessary to maintain and support the growth of natural forest outbreaks in the future (Kynický et al., 2009).

 

Giant. No. 3: Erosion furrows in the Goricho locality (Source: Juřička, 2014)

 

6 Conclusion

Conservation of forest resources and biodiversity is one of the main principles of Mongolia's national forestry policy (Tsogtbaataret al., 2004). The State Forest Administration was abolished in Mongolia in 1990 and forest management has been ineffective since then (FAO, 2001).

There have been dramatic changes in the political and economic system. The state system moved from a centrally planned socialist system to a free market economy. During this transition, the approach to forestry has changed considerably. Research and educational institutions were divided into other ministries, authorities and universities were subdivided. The main changes have been a lack of funding, continued deforestation and forest degradation due to illegal logging (Batkhuu et al., 2011). Illegal logging has become a common practice. Fortunately, despite these problems, there are still large areas of quality forest (FAO, 2001).

Despite a number of forestry problems, Mongolia still has strong potential in the country's economic and environmental development, which could remedy the current deforestation problems (Batkhuu et al., 2011).

 

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