On Tuesday (7 April), famous Mongolian botanists and delegates representing the public held a press conference protesting against the construction of the new fountain complex on the south side of Sukhbaatar Square in the center of Ulaanbaatar. They presented their demands to Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh and Mayor S.Amarsaikhan to protect the existing trees in the small park between the square and Peace Avenue.

Famous botanist, D.Bor PhD said that the construction of the fountain would ruin trees planted 80 years ago and would cost MNT 15 billion. The fountain is not the most needed thing in Mongolia especially at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is causing so much suffering across the world.  There are 8995 individual trees of 16 species in the park – most of them would die if moved to another site.  An on-line petition against the destruction of the trees has gathered considerable public support.

The construction of a garden at the south end of Sukhbaatar Square started on 1 April and is expected to be finished by 5 June. The new 2.5 hectare garden will be constructed according to the design concept by a team from ‘Tuvshinguud Construction’ LLC, which won first place at a contest announced by the Ulaanbaatar City B Administration in June, 2019. The construction of the new garden is to cost MNT 3.2 billion.