As part of the large-scale initiative "A Billion Trees," implemented with the assistance of the Japanese Embassy in Mongolia, a decision was made to restore the saxaul forest.
This initiative officially launches a project to restore the saxaul forest in the Tsogt sum, which is part of the ambitious goal of planting 108 million trees in the Gobi-Altai aimag.
Igawaharu Masaru, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia, noted in his address: "I remember my trip to the Gobi-Altai aimag and was impressed by how well the unique nature and ecosystem of the Great Gobi National Park have been preserved. In some areas of the Tsogt sum, which has become a zone for forest restoration, the areas of saxaul forests have significantly decreased due to logging, and I hope that this project will contribute to the restoration of shrubs and forests, as well as help prevent desertification."
The project is funded by the Government of Japan and is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Environment of the Gobi-Altai aimag and the non-governmental organization "OISKA Mongolia."
The saxaul forest is the only type of forest in the Gobi and other desert regions of Mongolia. These forests play an important role in both the economy and ecology, protecting soils from erosion and serving as a valuable source of fodder for animals. Unfortunately, as a result of the active use of saxaul as fuel in the 1960s and 1970s, 125,000 hectares of these forests were destroyed, while 370,000 hectares lost their ability to regenerate.
The saxaul (Halóxylon) is a genus of woody plants belonging to the subfamily Chenopodioideae within the family Amaranthaceae; this genus was previously classified in the family Chenopodiaceae.
Tatar S. Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
