GERMAN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION HANDS OVER OFF-ROAD VEHICLES FOR MONGOLIAN PROTECTED AREAS

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On August 28, 2017, 15 off-road vehicles were handed over at Sukhbaatar square as part of the German-Mongolian project “Biodiversity and Adaption to Climate Change”. The ceremony was attended by Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Ms. D. Oyunkhorol, Deputy Minister Ts. Batbayar, Dr. Christian Glass, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany in Ulaanbaatar and representatives from other Ministries, of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and of the administration of Mongolian protected areas. The 15 vehicles were handed over to eleven protected areas, namely Otgontenger, Khan Khentii, Ulaan Taiga, Dornod Mongol, Zed-Kahntai Buteeel Mountains, Gorkhi Terelj, Onon-Balj, Orkhon Valley, Khangai Mountains and Khustai Mountains. Minister D. Oyunkhorol said in her opening address: “The support of the German Government in the context of development cooperation stands out due to its nature as financial support for specific protected areas in Mongolia. I am delighted that this project encompasses such diverse measures as improvement of equipment, infrastructure and labor conditions within the protected areas. Furthermore, regional development is encouraged and pilot schemes for sustainable management of natural resources are initialized and already successfully put into practice. The protected areas of Mongolia occupy vast areas, are hard to reach and often lack infrastructure. Therefore, it is important that the supervision, research and monitoring can be carried out using suitable means of transportation. The vehicles, which are handed over today, will provide the administration of the protected areas with the possibility to reach most places within the protected areas a lot faster. I am confident that this will also help to prevent administrative and criminal offences.” Minister D. Oyunkhorol on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism expressed her gratitude towards the German Government, German Embassy in Mongolia and KfW. Dr. Glass stated: “I am very happy that Germany can support the Mongolian Government in their efforts by handing over 15 off-road vehicles to enable better control in 11 protected areas. This is part of our project with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to strengthen protected areas. For this purpose, Germany provides EUR 25 million. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for the great cooperation.” The project “Biodiversity and Adaption to Climate Change” is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by KfW. Source: Embassy of Germany in Ulaanbaatar