Mongolia is taking urgent steps to strengthen water resource protection and fight the rapid spread of desertification. Recently, lawmakers gathered to address environmental threats and propose targeted solutions. The Standing Committee on Environment, Food, and Agriculture led the session. It focused on land degradation, water pollution, and ecological risks tied to unsustainable development.
To begin, MP Munkhbayasgalan Luvsanbyambaa presented the “Blue Policy – Human-Centered Environment” report. According to the findings, 76.8 percent of Mongolia’s land suffers from desertification. In the Gobi region alone, over 50 percent of the land is classified as severely or very severely degraded.
Moreover, climate change, overgrazing, and mining expansion continue to drive these problems. As a result, traditional nomadic herding faces increasing pressure. Additionally, the report highlighted rising health risks linked to water contamination. Researchers tested 357 water sources across 44 soums in the southern provinces. Alarmingly, over 81 percent failed physical and chemical safety benchmarks. Furthermore, 73 percent showed unsafe heavy metal levels.
Consequently, communities face serious health risks, especially children and pregnant or nursing women. In response, T. Baljinnyam from the Ministry of Environment stressed the need for immediate water resource protectionmeasures. He called for better groundwater management and a reduction in land degradation across all regions.
At the same time, Ts. Munkhnasan from the Agriculture Ministry urged stronger legal protections for pastures. Without these, overgrazing and land exhaustion will continue. To move forward, the committee proposed region-specific strategies. In mountain zones, they plan to install solar-powered pumps and construct reservoirs. They also intend to drill new wells in permafrost-affected areas to support local herders.
Meanwhile, in the Gobi and steppe regions, the government will build engineered wells in underused pastures. They also plan to install water softening devices and increase the distance between wells to limit overuse. In central Mongolia, officials proposed large-diameter wells to meet growing demand for clean water.
In addition, the committee discussed preparations for COP17, where Mongolia will present new environmental proposals. These include sustainable pasture management, groundwater conservation, and nature-based infrastructure development. Going forward, the committee will reflect all recommendations in future legislation. They also plan to include key projects in the national budget to secure long-term funding.
Through these coordinated efforts, Mongolia aims to boost climate resilience and improve water resource protection for both people and ecosystems. Ultimately, the country hopes to protect its natural resources while ensuring a more sustainable future.
