Wildlife science and conservation center of Mongolia
Region
Asia
Country
Mongolia
Flyway
East Asian - Australasian flyway
Initiative
WLI Asia-Oceania
About
Name of organisation
Wildlife science and conservation center of Mongolia
Funding support
Grants, contracts, and donations
Number of staff
15
Number of visitors per year
~2000
Overall aims of the centre
The Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia (WSCC) is a non-government organization dedicated to preserving Mongolia’s wildlife and their habitat through research, conservation, and public education.
WSCC carries out its core wetlands activities at the Khurkh and Khuiten Nature Reserve and the Khurkh Ecological Research Station. Also we have wetland projects in western, central, and eastern Mongolia. All primarily focus on CEPA, threatened wetland dependent species like the White-naped Cranes, Siberian Cranes, Dalmatian Pelican, Swan Goose, Pallas Fish Eagle, waders, and several other conservation of wetland habitats.
Description of the centre
Location: Khurkh and Khuiten Nature Reserve
Size of site: 95,000 ha
Types of habitats and species supported: Wetlands, peatlands, and rivers. White-naped, Eurasian, Demoiselle, Hooded, and Siberian cranes, Swan Goose, Black Stork, and many other waterbird species. Khurkh and Khuiten Nature Reserve has designation of Ramsar Site, Important Bird Area, and EAAFP Flyway Network Site.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Khurkh and Khuiten Nature Reserve has designation of Ramsar Site, Important Bird Area, and EAAFP Flyway Network Site. Main species are White-naped, Eurasian, Demoiselle, Hooded, and Siberian cranes, Swan Goose, Black Stork, and many other waterbird species. We are now building a wetland research center facility in Khurkh Valley.
Top three successes
1. WSCC have established a wetland and climate change research station in Khurkh and Khuiten Nature Reserve. In February 2021, we organized a national conference on wetland and climate change sciences in Mongolia.
2. We have made several threatened species as flagship species for the wetland habitat conservation in Mongolia. These species has included White-naped Crane, Swan Goose, and Dalmatian Pelican.
3. We have had scientists and exchange visitors from all Northeast Asian countries including the Russia, China, Russia, ROK, DPRK, and also Germany, USA, UK, and Sweden. They learn from our wetland research and conservation activities and exchange their experiences vis versa.
4. WSCC is the national authority of the identification and promotion of the Important Bird Areas in Mongolia.
Top three challenges
1. Lack of experienced staff and sustainable funding mechanism, which we need to focus more in near future.
2. Not enough space and inadequate condition of the wetland center to facilitate visitors.
3. Mongolia’s wetland CEPA field activities are limited by the season. The wetland center can only operate from late spring til late September due to weather condition and harsh winter.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage / site information; Producing written materials; Using audio-visual tools; Developing nature trails
Visitor centres
Setting up a new visitor centre; Managing / creating habitat; Running a visitor centre; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Working with primary schools; Lobbying / running campaigns; Working with secondary schools; Developing resources / materials
General
Auditing / assessing effectiveness; PR and marketing; Running effective administration; Health and safety; Fund-raising; Project planning.
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