PROJECT TO CLIMATE PROOF FOREST RESOURCES KICKS OFF WITH WORKSHOP

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Mongolia today kicked off a USD 500,000 capacity development technical assistance project to increase the resilience of Mongolian forest ecosystems to climate change with an inception workshop. In attendance were M. Tungalag, Director for Department of Forest Policy and Coordination, MET, and Satomi Yoshini of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The conservation of forest genetic resources project will support the government in implementing national laws on forest conservation and management. The project is funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) financed by the Government of Japan. Increasing the forest cover to preserve the natural landscape and biodiversity is a key objective of the government. Sustainable forest regeneration depends on appropriate selection of and use of high-quality seeds for different vegetation regions. The project will identify official seed stock to supply high-quality forest seeds for more climate resilient forest regeneration. Capacity building in forest management by forestry personnel and local communities will be supported in three aimags: Khentii, Khuvsgul and Selenge. “The project is aligned with ADB’s broader strategy to make economic growth more environmentally sustainable and preventing degradation of key natural resources, while supporting livelihoods of local communities.” said Mrs. Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, ADB Country Director in Mongolia. Established in May 2000, JFPR provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in developing member countries of ADB while fostering long-term social and economic development. Over the past 17 years. JFPR has supported over 48 projects in Mongolia dealing with poverty alleviation, livelihoods, and the environment. ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB worked for more than 50 years in development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2016, ADB assistance totaled USD 31.7 billion, including USD 14 billion in cofinancing. Source: Asian Development Bank