On Sunday February 9th, Cabinet passed a National program, “Clean forests”, which is to be implemented in provinces with forest basins in Mongolia. Resolution 04 made on January 15th, 2014 by the Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture ordered the Government to implement the program.

Currently almost 76 percent of forests in Mongolia are old growth forests that can be badly affected by forest fires, invasive insect species and disease. The number of trees that have fallen in the past few years due to weakness brought on by strong winds and permafrost has increased. In the past decade, over 1400 large forest fires occurred in the territory of Mongolia causing ecological damage estimated at 90 billion and 2 billion MNT socio-economic damage and it cost 1.5 billion MNT to stop the wild fires.

The lack of forest clearing is explained to be one of the main factors for the dangerous wild fires.  The risk of wild fire is increased when the ground of a forest is still partially or mostly covered by old needles, leaves, and decaying wood. Environment officials have ranked the lack of cleaning or clearing the old growth forests as badly affecting the forest and playing a big role in decreasing the quality of trees and economical significance of vitally important forest resource.

In the framework of the newly passed “Clean forests” program, the Ministry of Environment and Green Development was ordered to conduct a survey on affected forest areas to designate which areas need to be cleared of debris. The Ministry must also build a wall from unaffected areas using the budget every year, and coordinate the program for cleaning forest without negative affects to the ecosystem.

The Minister for Labor was ordered to help with implementing the program by creating “Green employment” with the purpose to provide qualified skills.

The Ministry of Industry and Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Development will be responsible for manufacturing furniture with the lumber provided by clearing the deadwood from the forest and to establish the latest technology industries. It is estimated that the program needs 15.5 billion MNT to be implemented.

The program to clear the forests that are badly affected by wild fire, insects, strong wind and snow cover, will be launched with the involvement of specialized organization, forest society and individuals this year.

Local governors have also promised to support the three stage program to be implemented between 2014-2016 and 2016-2020.