forest water research centre (frc)...1. silviculture and forest science (98 terms) 2. seed...

Forest Water Research Centre (FRC) Ministry of Nature and the Environment of Mongolia (MNE)

GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT 2010

MONGOLIA

Country Progress Report:

Recommendation for harmonization and

standardization of MAR terms

PREPARED: BY CHIMIDNYAM DORJSUREN, responsible consultant for

development of recommendations for harmonization/standardization of Monitoring

assessment and reporting terms.

Ulaanbaatar, 2008

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Forest Resources Assessment Program and MAR Terms and Definitions

Forests are a major natural resource on the Earth and crucial for the well being of

humanity. Forests provide a wide range of economic, social, environmental, and

cultural benefits and services to human societies. Precisely, they provide foundations

for life on earth through ecological functions, by regulating the climate and water

resources and by serving as habitats for plants and animals. Forests also furnish a wide

range of essential goods such as wood, food, fodder and medicines, in addition to

opportunities for recreation, spiritual renewal and other services.

Forest resources and lands should be managed sustainably to meet the social,

economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual functions, and the maintenance and

enhancement of biological diversity. Sustainably managed forests have multiple

environmental and socio-economic functions important at the global, national and

local scales, and play a vital part in sustainable development. Reliable and up-to-date

information on the state of forest resources - not only on area and area change, but

also on such variables as growing stock, wood and non-wood products, carbon,

protected areas, use of forests for recreation and other services, biological diversity

and forests contribution to national economies - is crucial to support decision-making

for policies and programs in forestry and sustainable development at all levels.

Today, forests are under pressure from increasing demands for land-based products and

services, which frequently leads to the conversion or degradation of forests into

unsustainable forms of land use. When forests are lost or severely degraded, their

capacity to function as regulators of the environment is also lost, increasing flood and

erosion hazards, reducing soil fertility and contributing to the loss of plant and animal life.

As a result, the sustainable provision of goods and services from forests is jeopardized.

Global forest resources assessments have been carried out by FAO since 1948 that is

practically since FAO was created. The Global Forest Resources Assessment relies on

information provided by the individual countries. FAO, at the request of the member

nations and the world community, regularly monitors the world's forests through the

Forest Resources Assessment Program.

The Last Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 reviewed the forest situation by

the beginning of the new millennium. FRA 2005 have included country-level information

based on existing forest inventory data, regional investigations of land-cover change

processes and a number of global studies focusing on the interaction between people and

forests.

The new FRA 2010 was officially launched during a Technical Meeting of the

National Correspondents to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA 2010) held

in Rome from 3 to 7 March 2008. The 1st meeting of the Task Force for the FRA

2010 Remote Sensing Survey was held in Rome from 4 to 5 March 2008. To date,

175 countries have responded to FAO’s request to officially nominate a national

correspondent.

In a forest resources assessment, definitions draw boundaries around various sets or

subsets of data on the extent, structure or characteristics, stocks, goods, services,

management and use of forest resources. Variations in definitions, however minor,

increase the likelihood of divergent outcomes. Definitions are, therefore, the corner

stone of any information and knowledge system. The definitions draw contextual and

conceptual boundaries around various subsets of a data set as well as around the

elements of the data set as a whole. The usefulness of a definition in any given

context depends on its ability to prevent the rest (subset or elements) from intruding

into the boundary. The description of the parameters of these boundaries constitutes

the definition.

The global forest resource assessment reports have always provided a set of definitions as the basis for their information content. The development of such a set of definitions is necessary for producing compatible information across countries and time and to facilitate harmonization of information with that provided to/by other international agencies and processes.

In order to carry out the forest resource assessment in Mongolia, it is necessary to standardize terms and definitions related to forest management, importance of forests, forest resource and other criteria at the international standard.

Current international terms and set of definitions used in forest resource assessment, haven been developed in 2000 and in 2005. The introduction, adoption and adjustment of these terms and set of definitions are required for forest resource assessment in Mongolia 2010.

This paper presents progress report of National Consultant as a part of country report of

Mongolia for FAO initiated project “Strengthening Monitor Assessment and

Reporting on Sustainable Forest Management (MAR-SFM) in Mongolia

(GCP/INT/988/JPN)”

1.2 Purpose of this document

The purpose of this document:

• To review standardization of Mongolian forest terms and definitions.

• To develop recommendation for harmonization and standardization of MAR terms for Mongolian Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

2. THE REVIEW OF STANDARDIZATION OF MONGOLIAN FOREST TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Since 1960, Mongolia has translated and adopted forest terms and definitions used in

Russia.

In 1984 the Institute of Forest Research and Project Development of Ministry of

Forestry and Wood Industry developed the definitions on forestry and forest terms for

the first time, which was approved by the desicion No. 382 of the December 30th,

1984 of the State Bureau of the Value and Standard of the Mongolia as Mongolian

State Standard No. UST 9797-84-Forest terms and Definitions.

This standard consists of four parts, which includes a) basic terms, b) planting

material, c) nursery and d) tree planting. This standard contained 79 terms and

definitions related to nursery and tree planting operations both in Mongolian and

Russian languages.

In 1991, this standard was revised and approved as Mongolian State Standard No.

UST 4118-91- “Forest Terms and Definitions”. This standard No. UST 4118-91

consists of 304 forest terms and definitions in Mongolian, Russian and English

languages. This standard consists of following seven parts:

1. Silviculture and forest science (98 terms)

2. Seed production (95 terms)

3. Nursery (19 terms)

4. Afforestation and reforestation (9 terms)

5. Planting materials (10 terms)

6. Tree planting (40 terms)

7. Forest management and forest measuration (33 terms)

Some definitions in the above mentioned standard are given incorrect, as well as

outdated. Therefore, nowadays it is required to revise and update this standard with

modern terms such as sustainability, biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, GIS

and more.

Moreover, many English terms are given incorrect. For example (the correct terms are

written in the parentheses):

1. Middle age tree (Middle age stand)

2. Felling strip (Stripe clearcutting).

3. Scribing trees (Nurse tree).

3. RECOMMENDATION FOR HARMONIZATION AND

STANDARDIZATION OF MAR TERMS FOR MONGOLIAN

FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2010

Below are materials used for developing a recommendation on standardization united

terms of the assessment and monitoring of the Mongolian forest in 2010.

1. Working Paper 83 of the UN Agricultural Organization called as “Global

Forest Resources Assessment Update 2005. Terms and Definitions (Final

version)”. Rome, 2004

2. Country Report 2010/136 (Rome 2008) called as “Global Forest Resources

Assessment 2010. Mongolia Country Report in the www.fao.org./forestry/fra

Table T1. Extent of Forest and Other wooded land

1.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions

Category Definition

Forest Land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and

a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these

thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under

agricultural or urban land use.

Other wooded land Land not classified as “Forest”, spanning more than 0.5 hectares; with trees

higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of 5-10 percent, or trees able to

reach these thresholds in situ; or with a combined cover of shrubs, bushes

and trees above 10 percent. It does not include land that is predominantly

under agricultural or urban land use.

Other land All land that is not classified as “Forest” or “Other wooded land”.

Other land with tree cover

(Subordinated to “Other

land”)

Land classified as “Other land”, spanning more than 0.5 hectares with a

canopy cover of more than 10 percent of trees able to reach a height of 5

meters at maturity.

Inland water bodies Inland water bodies generally include major rivers, lakes and water

reservoirs.

Comments. Mongolian national classification and definitions are as follows:

Тайлбар. Монголын ойн фондын талбайг дараахи байдлаар ангилдаг.

National class Definition

Natural Forest All forest stands with a Relative Stock Density above 0.3 are registered as

natural forests.

Open Forest

All forest stands with a Relative Stock Density less 0.3 are registered as

natural forests.

Non Forest Area in Forest

Land

All non-forest area within forest land which does not support Natural

forests and Open forests, such as hayfield, pasture land, grassland of

mountain, lake, river, marshland, alpine grassland, sand and etc.

Non-forest area should be excluded from forest fund area during the forest inventory.

In the future, international categories and definitions such as Forest, Other wooded

land, Other land and Other land with tree covers should be used in the forest

inventory. Results of latest investigation show that relative stock density of 0.3 is

equal to a canopy cover of 25-30 percent.

1.2 Classification of forest land in Mongolia

Table T2. Forest ownership and management rights


Category Definition

Public ownership Forest owned by the State; or administrative units of the public

administration; or by institutions or corporations owned by the public

administration.

Private ownership Forest owned by individuals, families, communities, private co-

operatives, corporations and other business entities, private

religious and educational institutions, pension or investment funds,

NGOs, nature conservation associations and other private

institutions.

Individuals

(sub-category of Private

ownership)

Forest owned by individuals and families.

Private business entities and

institutions


ownership)

Forest owned by private corporations, co-operatives, companies

and other business entities, as well as private non-profit

organizations such as NGOs, nature conservation associations, and

private religious and educational institutions, etc.

Total area of Forest land (thousand ha) 18291.8

Forestland 16686.9

Non-forestland 1604.9

Closed forest 12887.7

Open 3799.2

Coniferous and deciduous 10465.3

Saxaul forest 2040.9

Sparse stand 2929.7

Burnt forests 289.0

Logged area 189.5

Forest glade 391.0

Shrubs 381.4

Figure 1. Forestland of Mongolia (2002)

Local communities


ownership)

Forest owned by a group of individuals belonging to the same

community residing within or in the vicinity of a forest area. The

community members are co-owners that share exclusive rights and

duties, and benefits contribute to the community development.

Indigenous / tribal

communities


ownership)

Forest owned by communities of indigenous or tribal people.

Other types of ownership Other kind of ownership arrangements not covered by the

categories above. Also includes areas where ownership is unclear

or disputed.

Categories related to the holder of management rights of public forest resources

Public Administration

The Public Administration (or institutions or corporations owned

by the Public Administration) retains management rights and

responsibilities within the limits specified by the legislation.

Individuals/households Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from

the Public Administration to individuals or households through

long-term leases or management agreements.

Private institutions

Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from

the Public Administration to corporations, other business entities,

private co-operatives, private non-profit institutions and

associations, etc., through long-term leases or management

agreements.

Communities

Forest management rights and responsibilities are transferred from

the Public Administration to local communities (including

indigenous and tribal communities) through long-term leases or

management agreements.

Other form of management

rights Forests for which the transfer of management rights does not

belong to any of the categories mentioned above.

Recommendation. International definitions of forest terms should be directly adopted

in Forest Resources Assessment in Mongolia. However, according to the Mongolian

Law on Forest, forest resources are the property of the State. Although right of forest

management has various versions. Forest area is possessed to administrative units as

Capital City, Aimag, Soum, District, as well as economic entities and local

communities.

Table T3. Forest designation and management


Term Definition

Primary designated function The primary function or management objective assigned to a management unit

either by legal prescription, documented decision of the landowner/manager, or

evidence provided by documented studies of forest management practices and

customary use.

Protected areas Areas especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological

diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through

legal or other effective means.

Categories of primary designated functions

Production Forest area designated primarily for production of wood, fibre, bio-energy

and/or non-wood forest products.

Protection of soil and water Forest area designated primarily for protection of soil and water.

Conservation of

biodiversity

Forest area designated primarily for conservation of biological diversity.

Includes but is not limited to areas designated for biodiversity conservation

within the protected areas.

Social services Forest area designated primarily for social services.

Multiple use Forest area designated primarily for more than one purpose and where none of

these alone is considered as the predominant designated function.

Other Forest areas designated primarily for a function other than production,

protection, conservation, social services or multiple use.

No / unknown No or unknown designation.

Special designation and management categories

Area of permanent forest

estate (PFE)

Forest area that is designated to be retained as forest and may not be converted

to other land use.

Forest area within

protected areas Forest area within formally established protected areas independently of the

purpose for which the protected areas were established.

Forest area under sustain-

able forest management

To be defined and documented by the country.

Forest area with

management plan

Forest area that has a long-term (ten years or more) documented management

plan, aiming at defined management goals, which is periodically revised.

Recommendation. Utilization Zone Forests (according to the terms of the Mongolian

Law on Forests) should be included in the category of Forests of Primary Designated

function. Special Protected Area Forests, Green Zone Forests, Prohibited Strip Forests

and other protected zone forests (according to the terms of the Mongolian Law on

Forests) should be classified as Protected Forests.

Table T4. Forest characteristics

4.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions*

Term / category Definition

Naturally regenerated forest Forest predominantly composed of trees established through

natural regeneration.

Introduced species A species, subspecies or lower taxon, occurring outside its natural

range (past or present) and dispersal potential (i.e. outside the

range it occupies naturally or could occupy without direct or

indirect introduction or care by humans).

Characteristics categories

Primary forest Naturally regenerated forest of native species, where there are no

clearly visible indications of human activities and the ecological

processes are not significantly disturbed.

Other naturally regenerated

forest

Naturally regenerated forest where there are clearly visible

indications of human activities.

Other naturally regenerated

forest of introduced species

(sub-category)

Other naturally regenerated forest where the trees are

predominantly of introduced species.

Planted forest Forest predominantly composed of trees established through

planting and/or deliberate seeding.

Planted forest of introduced

species (sub-category)

Planted forest, where the planted/seeded trees are predominantly

of introduced species.

Special categories

Rubber plantations Forest area with rubber tree plantations.

Mangroves Area of forest and other wooded land with mangrove vegetation.

Bamboo Area of forest and other wooded land with predominant bamboo

vegetation.

Comments and recommendations. In Mongolia characteristics categories, such as

“Other naturally regenerated forest of introduced species”, “Rubber plantations”,

“Mangroves” and “Bamboo” are absent. Thus, in case of Mongolia, following

reclassification of characteristics categories is recommended: 1. “Primary forest”, 2.

“Naturally regenerated forest” and 3. “Planted forest”.

Table T5. Forest establishment and reforestation


Term Definition

Afforestation Establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate

seeding on land that, until then, was not classified as forest.

Reforestation Re-establishment of forest through planting and/or deliberate

seeding on land classified as forest.

Natural expansion of forest Expansion of forests through natural succession on land that, until

then, was under another land use (e.g. forest succession on land

previously used for agriculture).

Comments and recommendations: International classifications and definitions can

be directly adopted in the forest resources assessment 2010 in Mongolia. In Mongolia,

natural expansion of forest is widely observed near to the forest wall.

.

Table T6. Growing stock


Category Definition

Growing stock Volume over bark of all living trees more than X cm in diameter at

breast height (or above buttress if these are higher). Includes the stem

from ground level or stump height up to a top diameter of Y cm, and

may also include branches to a minimum diameter of W cm.

Growing stock of

commercial species

Growing stock (see def. above) of commercial species.

Recommendation. International classification and definitions of forest terms can be

directly adopted in Forest Resources Assessment in Mongolia.

Table T7. Biomass stock

7.1 FRA 2010 Categories and definitions*

Category Definition

Above-ground biomass All living biomass above the soil including stem, stump, branches, bark,

seeds, and foliage.

Below-ground biomass All biomass of live roots. Fine roots of less than 2mm diameter are

excluded because these often cannot be distinguished empirically from soil

organic matter or litter.

Dead wood All non-living woody biomass not contained in the litter, either standing,

lying on the ground, or in the soil. Dead wood includes wood lying on the

surface, dead roots, and stumps larger than or equal to 10 cm in diameter or

any other diameter used by the country.



Table T8. Carbon stock


Category Definition

Carbon in above-ground

biomass

Carbon in all living biomass above the soil, including stem, stump,

branches, bark, seeds, and foliage.

Carbon in below-ground

biomass

Carbon in all biomass of live roots. Fine roots of less than 2 mm

diameter are excluded, because these often cannot be distinguished

empirically from soil organic matter or litter.

Carbon in dead wood Carbon in all non-living woody biomass not contained in the litter,

either standing, lying on the ground, or in the soil. Dead wood

includes wood lying on the surface, dead roots, and stumps larger

than or equal to 10 cm in diameter or any other diameter used by the

country.

Carbon in litter Carbon in all non-living biomass with a diameter less than the

minimum diameter for dead wood (e.g. 10 cm), lying dead in various

states of decomposition above the mineral or organic soil.

Soil carbon Organic carbon in mineral and organic soils (including peat) to a

specified depth chosen by the country and applied consistently

through the time series.



Table T9. Forest fires


Category Definition

Number of fires Average number of vegetation fires per year in the country.

Area affected by fire Average area affected by vegetation fires per year in the country.

Vegetation fire

(supplementary term)

Any vegetation fire regardless of ignition source, damage or benefit.

Wildfire Any unplanned and/or uncontrolled vegetation fire.

Planned fire A vegetation fire regardless of ignition source that burns according to

management objectives and requires limited or no suppression action.



Table T10. Other disturbances affecting

forest health and vitality


Term Definition

Disturbance Damage caused by any factor (biotic or abiotic) that adversely affects the

vigour and productivity of the forest and which is not a direct result of

human activities.

Invasive species Species that are non-native to a particular ecosystem and whose

introduction and spread cause, or are likely to cause, socio-cultural,

economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Category Definition

Disturbance by insects Disturbance caused by insect pests.

Disturbance by diseases Disturbance caused by diseases attributable to pathogens, such as bacteria,

fungi, phytoplasma or virus.

Disturbance by other biotic

agents

Disturbance caused by biotic agents other than insects or diseases, such as

wildlife browsing, grazing, physical damage by animals, etc.

Disturbance caused by abiotic

factors

Disturbances caused by abiotic factors, such as air pollution, snow, storm,

drought, etc.



Table T11. Wood removals and value of removals


Category Definition

Industrial roundwood

removals

The wood removed (volume of roundwood over bark) for production of goods and

services other than energy production (woodfuel).

Woodfuel removals

The wood removed for energy production purposes, regardless whether for

industrial, commercial or domestic use.



Table T12. Non-wood forest products removals

and value of removals


Term Definition

Non-wood forest product

(NWFP)

Goods derived from forests that are tangible and physical objects of

biological origin other than wood.

Value of NWFP removals For the purpose of this table, value is defined as the market value at the site

of collection or forest border.



Table T13. Employment


Category Definition

Full-time equivalents

(FTE)

A measurement equal to one person working full-time during a specified

reference period.

Employment Includes all persons in paid employment or self-employment.

Paid employment Persons who during a specified reference period performed some work for

wage or salary in cash or in kind.

Self-employment Persons who during a specified reference period performed some work for

profit or family gain in cash or in kind (e.g. employers, own-account workers,

members of producers' cooperatives, contributing family workers).



Table T14. Policy and legal framework


Term Definition

Forest policy A set of orientations and principles of actions adopted by public authorities in

harmony with national socio-economic and environmental policies in a given

country to guide future decisions in relation to the management, use and

conservation of forest and tree resources for the benefit of society.

Forest policy

statement

A document that describes the objectives, priorities and means for implementation

of the forest policy.

National forest

programme (nfp)

A generic expression that refers to a wide range of approaches towards forest policy

formulation, planning and implementation at national and sub-national levels. The

national forest programme provides a framework and guidance for country-driven

forest sector development with participation of all stakeholders and in consistence

with policies of other sectors and international policies.

Law (Act or Code)

on forest

A set of rules enacted by the legislative authority of a country regulating the access,

management, conservation and use of forest resources.



Table T15. Institutional framework


Term Definition

Minister responsible for

forest policy-making

Minister holding the main responsibility for forest issues and the formulation of

the forest policy.

Head of Forestry The Head of Forestry is the Government Officer responsible for implementing

the mandate of the public administration related to forests.

Level of subordination Number of administrative levels between the Head of Forestry and the Minister.

University degree Qualification provided by University after a minimum of 3 years of post

secondary education.



Table T16. Education and research


Term Definition

Forest-related education Post-secondary education programme with focus on forests and related subjects.

Doctor’s degree (PhD) University (or equivalent) education with a total duration of about 8 years.

Master’s degree (MSc) or

equivalent

University (or equivalent) education with a total duration of about five years.

Bachelor’s degree (BSc)

or equivalent

University (or equivalent) education with a duration of about three years.

Technician certificate or

diploma

Qualification issued from a technical education institution consisting of 1 to 3

years post secondary education.

Publicly funded forest

research centers

Research centers primarily implementing research programmes on forest

matters. Funding is mainly public or channelled through public institutions.



Table T17. Public revenue collection and expenditure


Category Definition

Forest revenue All government revenue collected from the domestic production and trade of

forest products and services. For this purpose, forest products include:

roundwood; sawnwood; wood-based panels; pulp and paper; and non-wood forest

products. As far as possible, this should include revenue collected by all levels of

government (i.e. central, regional/provincial and municipal level), but it should

exclude the income of publicly owned business entities.

Public expenditure All government expenditure on forest related activities (further defined below).

Operational expenditure

(sub-category to Public

expenditure)

All government expenditure on public institutions solely engaged in the forest

sector. Where the forest administration is part of a larger public agency (e.g.

department or ministry), this should only include the forest sector component of

the agency’s total expenditure. As far as possible, this should also include other

institutions (e.g. in research, training and marketing) solely engaged in the forest

sector, but it should exclude the expenditure of publicly owned business entities.

Transfer payments All government expenditure on direct financial incentives paid to non-

(sub-category to Public

expenditure)

government and private-sector institutions, enterprises communities or

individuals operating in the forest sector to implement forest related activities.

Domestic funding

Public expenditure funded from domestic public financial resources, including:

retained forest revenue; forest-related funds; and allocations from the national

budget (i.e. from non-forest sector public revenue sources).

External funding

Public expenditure funded from grants and loans from donors, non-governmental

organisations, international lending agencies and international organisations,

where such funds are channelled through national public institutions.



CONCLUSION

1) It is necessary to systematically revise and renew the standard of the

Mongolian forest terms and definitions. These terms and definitions should be

defined in Mongolian, Russian and English languages.

2) It is necessary to organize a research team consisting of leading scholars and

specialists of research institutions for revising and renewing the standard of

forest terms and definitions. 3) Non-forest area should be excluded from forest fund area during the forest

inventory. In the future, international categories and definitions such as Forest,

Other wooded land, Other land and Other land with tree covers should be used

in the forest inventory.

4) Results of latest investigation show that relative stock density of 0.3 is equal to

a canopy cover of 25-30 percent.

5) International classification and definitions of forest terms in Table T2 of FRA

2010 can be directly adopted in Forest Resources Assessment in Mongolia.

However, according to the Mongolian Law on Forest, forest resources are the

property of the State. Although right of forest management has various

versions. Forest area is possessed to administrative units as Capital City,

Aimag, Soum, District, as well as economic entities and local communities.

6) In the table 3 of FRA 2010, Utilization Zone Forests (according to the terms of

the Mongolian Law on Forests) should be included in the category of Forests

of Primary Designated function. Special Protected Area Forests, Green Zone

Forests, Prohibited Strip Forests and other protected zone forests (according to

the terms of the Mongolian Law on Forests) should be classified as Protected

Forests.

7) In the tables T4-T17 of FRA 2010 international classification and definitions

of forest terms can be directly adopted in Forest Resources Assessment in

Mongolia.

Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Forest Water Research Centre (FWRC) Ministry of Nature and the Environment of Mongolia (MNE)

MONGOLIA

Study work report

methodologies and tools for harmonized Monitoring assessment

PREPARED: BY JAMSRAN TSOGTBAATAR,

responsible consultant for development methodologies and tools for

harmonized Monitoring assessment

Ulaanbaatar, 2008

Strengthening Monitor, Assessment and Reporting on Sustainable Forest

Management in Mongolia

1. Criteria and Indicators Sustainable Forest Management in Mongolia

Management of forest resources in Mongolia suffers from several weaknesses such as

unregulated use, overuse, and inadequate protection. The impacts of human

interference have resulted in deforestation and forest degradation. According to a

survey of human impact on ecosystem in Mongolia during the last hundred years, it is

seen that some 40% of all forests in Mongolia have been impacted at some level

The important causes of deforestation and forest degradation are fire, overgrazing,

mining activity, improper commercial logging, illegal collection of wood for

construction and for use as fuel, hay making in forest steppes, complacency in

enforcement of forest rules and regulations, and damage by pests and diseases. Forest

fires, by far, have had the most serious impact on the forests of Mongolia.

Summarizing the Mongolian situation, collocation of existing objectives, state of

relations, measures and proposed efforts has been made for 8 criteria and 51

indicators.

The set of National Level Criteria and indicators for sustainable Forest Management

of Mongolia has been indicated in below as:

Criteria 1. Increase in the Extent of Forest and Tree Cover

Criteria 2. Increase in the Extent of Forest and Tree Cover Criterion

Criteria 3. Conservation and Maintenance of Soil and water Resources

Criteria 4. Maintenance and Enhancement of Ecosystem Function and Vitality

Criteria 5. Maintenance and Enhancement of Forest Productivity

Criteria 6. Optimization of Forest Resource Utilization

Criteria 7. Maintenance and Enhancement of Social, Cultural and Spiritual Benefits

Criteria 8. Adequacy of Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework

Is Mongolian Forestry sustainable? Mongolian forestry is generally characterized by

multiple protection function of forest resources, in which considerations are made in

relation to increasing demand of environmental protection.

51 criteria are given which can be used to measure the development of Sustainable

Forest Management. It is the entire effect of specific initiatives in relation to all the

criteria as a whole, which determines whether the development is sustainable.

2. Evaluation of effectiveness of existing MAR-SFM in Mongolia

Is existing MAR-SFM in Mongolia effective? In relation with this question on MAR-

SFM system effectiveness the analysis of each indicators of SFM in Mongolia has

been conducted and as examples evaluation of the indicators of first 3 criterions are

shown in below table.

Effectiveness rate

Indicators 1 (low) 2 (medium) 3 (high) 4 (very high )

1.1.Area and

type of

natural forests

1.2 Forest

area under

fragile

ecosystem

1.3 Area

dense and

degraded

forest

1.4 Forest in

non-forest

area

1.5 Area rich

in NWFP

species

1.6 Forest

area destroyed

by mining

1.7

Community

managed

forest areas

2.1 Area of

protected and

fragmented

ecosystems

2.2 Number

of rare,

endangered

threatened

and endemic

species

2.3 Level of

richness and

diversity

2.4 Canopy

cover

2.5 Medicinal

and aromatic

plants and

other NWFPs

2.6 Level of

non-

destructive

harvesting

3.1 Soil

moisture

3.2 Soil

compaction

3.3 Status of

erosion

3.4 Run-off

3.5 Soil pH

3.6 Soil

organic

carbon

3.7 Nutrient

status of soil

3.8 Soil

flora,fauna

and microbes

3.9 Level of

waste

3.10 Sediment

load

3.11 Areas

and watershed

forests

3.12 Level of

permafrost

Effectiveness of other indicators has been conducted and it will be illustrated in final

report of the project.

3. Development of national standardized MAR in linkage with international

process

At the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janerio

in 1992, forestry became on of the most central themes. It was emphasized that forests

and the development of forests are a matter of international interest and that all

countries must take an effort to ensure that all forests are being sustainably managed.

The Mongolian Government intends to make a comprehensive statement as to how

Mongolia can contribute to implementation of the principles of the Forest Declaration

concerning management, conservation and sustainable development of the forests –

nationally as well as internationally.

In order to supervise development and thereby check whether political and

administrative measures function as intended, it is necessary to select and monitor a

number of measurable and representative indicators related to each criterion. Some

criteria are best described by preparing final report.

Several factors must be taken into consideration when selecting indicators of SFM:

•• The indicator must be measurable and must be derived from measurable

entities

•• The indicator must be clearly relevant to the individual criterion and measure

•• The number of indicators and the frequency of measuring and monitoring

must be considered in relation to financial and technical resources

•• Standardized measurement methods must be used when monitoring the

indicators, to enable the comparison of measurements from different times

•• The indicators must be simple and easily comprehensible to the monitoring

For each criteria of the Sustainable Forest Management in Mongolia, the relevant

corresponding parts of the main international agreements concerning forests have

been identified. These international agreements related to Sustainable Forest

management are:

•• UNCED Forest Declaration

•• Agenda 21,

•• Convention on Biodiversity Conservation

•• Convention on Combating Desertification

•• Convention on Climate Change

•• Others.

Forestry Department

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Forest Water Research Centre (FWRC)

Ministry of Nature and the Environment of Mongolia (MNE)

GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT 2010

MONGOLIA

Report: capabilities of National network for Monitoring assessment and

reporting.

PREPARED: BY DUGERJAV ENEBISH, to conduct assessment on needs and

capabilities of National network for Monitoring assessment and reporting

on Monitoring Assessment Reporting on Sustainable forest management.

Ulaanbaatar, 2008

Executive Summary

Mongolian's forest landscapes and its biodiversity are threatened by biotic

(insects, illegal logging, poaching) and abiotic factors (fire). If the threats are not

contained in the near future, the result will be a significant reduction of the total forest

cover. Investments in the forestry sector have the chance to introduce the concept of

sustainable forest management but will initially face low return rates.

The Mongolian forestry and wood industry sector underwent a collapsed in

1991. At present, a mostly informal (and highly illegal) forest and wood economy is

operating across all sectors and all stakeholders concerned with forest areas.

The existing data gathered over the decades is either incomplete or

inconsistent. The institutions responsible for forest management lack either the

professional capacity to address modern data-collecting methods or are still in a state

of being established. The new

Mongolian Forestry Law (2007) indicates significant progress, since an

important paradigm shift from state forest management towards private and

community-based forest management has been advocated. However, the necessary

by-laws are currently in the formulation process.

The biographical conditions and natural disturbance regimes in the forests are

a challenge for any large scale commercial forest management in Mongolia. Frequent

forest fires and insect outbreaks, mostly as secondary agents, cause potentially great

losses to future forest managers and Forest Management Plans.

A need for a national master plan on land-use and protected area

management is absolutely necessary.

The current forest inventory provides data at the regional level at a map scale

of 1:50,000. This data is suitable for forest reconnaissance surveys at provincial and

district level. For the new forest tenure by private entities, communities, and districts,

newly adapted forest inventories and planning is needed.

Although the technical skills of the Mongolian foresters have improved over the

last years, improved training is lacking.

The best approach is to find a solution to the problem in the forestry sector is to

promote the introduction of an integrated sustainable forest management system that

takes into consideration ecological, economic, and social consequences. This is a

holistic concept which will need to address the range of problems simultaneously.

The key issues are:

- An improvement of the regulatory framework in the forestry sector,

- Adaptation of forest inventory survey and sampling designs to the information needs

and available budgets of the holders of forest tenure,

- Adaptation of forest management planning for the size and the objectives of forest

management units,

- A general improvement of forest inventory technology,

- The promotion of natural forest regeneration instead of forest plantation,

- Adapted silviculture focusing on thinning operations to increase the resilience of

forests stands against frequent fires,

- Improved legal compliance monitoring, incl. the definition of legality,

- Introduction of ecological monitoring within the framework of a continuous forest

inventory system,

- Introduction of third-part certification concepts,

- Creation of new markets by introducing bio-fuel facilities that will create a demand

for thinning material from forests.

Modern concepts like biophysical mapping and Decision Support Systems

(DSS) are desirable but face the general problem of a low return on investments. Such

new methods could be financed by Research and Development projects

Ambitious and unrealistic development objectives as well as project designs will

complicate the implementation and supervision. Effective stakeholder representation

in decision making and in validating results is important to the success of public-

private partnerships. Institutional capacity analysis should be focused-on and

broadened.

Chronic problems that persist in the environmental sector over long periods of

time should result in analytical work.

Current status of Monitoring assessment and Reporting on Sutainable Forest

Management in Mongolia

First time there was Forestry department in Food and Agricultural Ministry.

Foundation of Forestry activities began to taken in Forest of Mongolia. Until 1990

there was established complex of forestry units and organizations in each forest

covered provinces of Mongolia

Since 1990 Mongolia has moved to market economy therefore forestry

sectors destroyed.

Legal frame of Government Administration Monitoring System

� Constitutional Law of Mongolia

� Decree number 38 of Great Khural dated on 1996

� Government Law of Mongolia (1993)

� Government Monitoring and Inpection law (2003)

� Law of Administration and Financing of Government Organizations(2003)

� Government action program

� Rule of Monitoring and Analyzing of Government organizations

� Rule of Monitoring and Analysing of Local Government Organizations

Monitoring and assessment system was established in government

organization. However there is not specific monitoring and assessment system in

forestry sector of Mongolia.

Monitoring and reporting system was focused on Local government and local

Environmental organizations. Still forestry specialists are not enough in local level,

therefore forest monitoring system only based on forest inventory survey. NFI

frequency is 16 years in Mongolia.

Since 1990 Monitoring and Inspection system has established at Ministry of

Nature and Environment.

Monitoring and Reporting System of Ministry of Nature and

Environment

� Scientific Monitoring Department 1990-1996

� Natural Disaster Monitoring Department 1996-2000

� Environmental State Monitoring and Assessment Department

� Nothing 2004-2006

� 2006-2008 Information Monitoring and Assessment Department of MNE

Forestry Sector structure and system was related to Ministry of Nature and

Environment in last 12 years

� Government Implementing Agency of Nature, Forest and Water Resource in

1996-2004

� Forestry Department of Agency of Nature, Forest and Water Resource in

2004-2006

� Forest Policy Division of Ministry of Nature and Environment in 2006-2008

� Government Implementing agency Forest Authority in 2008

Forest and Water Research Center has been working under the management of MNE.

The Forest and Water Research Center is professional organization to conduct

nationwide forest inventory and create forest resource database using the new

advanced technology and science based tools of forest resource maintaining in order

to provide government and public organizations with updated forest information on

forest state of the country.

The main activities of the country focused on:

• Develop short and long term plan of Sustainable forest management based on

forest inventory datas.

• Conduct forest insect and pest controlling by preventing harmful insect attack in

some forest areas.

• Establish seed orchard using plus mother trees and develop tree breeding

technology and using and qualified seed sources.

The organization has 4 sections following:

1. Forest inventory section

2. Forest insect and pest controllingp section

3. Tree breeding and nursery section

4. Tree seed laboratory

There are Environmental office under the management of Local Government, Whis

has been working 10 years. There is only one specialist of forestry in each office of 22

provinces. Fifty percent of them has background of forestry. Their working duties are:

1/ managing forestry activities under the Resoultions adn laws of Forestry.

2/ managing issues of Forestry National Programme, Desertification National

Programme, Programme of Protectingn rare plants of Mongolia, Green Wall National

Programme

3/ to organize training of sustainable development of local forestry

4/ Forest resourceinformation and reports

5/ Monitoring Forest User group activities, forest utilization status, master plan

of forest mangement

Local Environmental office prepare forest resource informations and reports.

However they don’t have enought capacity to prepare forest resource status

information and reports

The main subject of Sustainable Forest Management is Special Protected Area

Departments. About 20 percent of Forest cover is located in Protected areas of

Mongolia.

Forest policy decision followers are Forest User Groups. Currently Mongolia

has 200 Forest User Groups in local level. The most of it’s area needs to be protect

and rehabilitated.

There are about 100 forestry related enterprises with the professional certificates.

Current Institutions

The institutional framework has been analyzed (Badarch 2008). The major

organizations responsible for forest inventory, forest management, forest protection

(fire, insects) and monitoring of harvesting operations are the:

- Ministry of Nature and Environment (MNE)

- State Special Investigation Agency (SSIA)

- Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)

- National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

- Forest and Water Research Center (FWRC)

Until recently, there existed no forest administration at the national, regional or

local level. This has been changed in 2008. The MNE Order No. 226 has approved

the charter, program structure and staffing of the new Mongolian National Forest

Agency (NFA). The staff will consist of 25 persons. The agency director reports to the

MNE and supervises the National Forestry Program Secretariat, the Forest Expedition

and Research Center (FERC; previously Forest and Water Research Center), the

Forestry Department at the Provincial Environmental Agency and its Forest Units at

the district level. The agency director is responsible for policies and forestry politics.

The vice-director supervises three departments: a) forest management, b)

afforestation & the green wall program, and c) staff and finance.

Improvement of forest area and reforestation

Status of the last 5 years /thousands MNT/

Activities 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ä¿í 2008 total

From the state

budget

6358.6 1787 1714.1 3997 13856.7 8000.0 21856.7

From the local

budget

1334.8 786.7 199.7 263 2584.2 2584.2

From the business

entities

1842.7 823.0 2242.7 1871.0 6779.4 2500.0 9279.4

From foreign

investment

325.0 1155.5 439.5 150.0 2070.0 2070.0

Green belt national

program

307.0 430.0 260.0 997.0 265.0 1262.0

Refo

resta

tio

ns a

nd a

ffore

sta

tio

ns

Total 9861.1 4859.2 5026.0 6541.0 26287.3 37052.3

Forest restoration activities has following stages

- Planned areas should be identified in each province

- Announcing a tender to select reforestation work organizations of local level

from the Province Environmental Agencies.

- To establish contract or letter of agreement and send to Ministry of Nature

and Environment

- Under the letter of agreement first fund should be granted

- Reforestation work achievement monitoring activities should be done by

Temporary Reforestation Commission

- Monitoring inventory should be done by Ministry of Nature and Environment

- After the monitoring of reforestation work final fund will be granted

- During the coniferous tree reforestation activity cycle is only one year.

Therefore in next years plantation results could not satisfy for forest growth.

- In the future Mongolia’s reforestation monitoring period must be more than 3

years.

Local Environmental agencies has been monitoring the reforestation activities and

sending the reports to Ministry of Nature and Environment.

Forest protection

Forest insect combating activities

Activities 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ä¿í 2008 Ä¿í

Forest insect

exploration /thous.ha/

500.0 600.0 217.1 897.6 2214.7 1200.0 3414.7

Forest insect

combating /thous.ha/

500.0 600.0 217.1 897.6 2214.7 1200.0 3414.7

-To identify forest insect combating area based on exploration result

-To announce a tender of forest insect exploration and combating to select

organization and professionals.

-To establish a contract or letter of agreement

-First fund will be granted under the letter of agreement

-Forest insect combating commission should do the monitoring of forest insect

combating result

-After the insect combat works final fund will be granted from the Ministry of

Nature and Environment.

Forest Inventory

The forest is divided into compartments based on topographic features as

natural boundaries (aspect, ridge, creeks). The compartments are divided into sub-

compartments (average area approx. 100 ha) and delineated by main timber

species, average diameter, and age class. For each sub-compartment the species

composition, diameter distribution, standing timber volume, natural/artificial

regeneration, damage (fire, insects), and NTFPs – in some inventory projects – are

recorded. Until now the characteristics were estimated by ocular inspection.

Prior to each forest inventory, a sample plot is delineated and all trees are

sampled. This exercise is intended as a "calibration" of the forest inventory

team in order to define which volume tables and site indices should be used for the

inventory of the region.

The forest inventory and the forest management planning have to be done

every ten years according to the Mongolian Law of Forest (2007)

The following information hast to be entered in the forest inventory survey form:

- Forest structure

- Dominating and co-dominating tree species

- Age, site class, density

- Average height, diameter

- Typical features, soil

- Commodity class

- Regeneration, plant cover, shrubs

- Forest activities to be executed in each sub-compartment

The forest inventory results are grouped into the following categories:

- Site table

- Forest volume table

- Age group distribution

- Area and forest condition distribution

- Age class table

- Fire hazard

- Thinning, cleaning, and cutting

- Sanitary cutting

- Final harvest cutting

- Reforestation and regeneration activities

- Record of measurements

The available maps are aerial photographs from the 1960s to 1980s. Recently

remote sensing data is used (e.g., Landsat, Spot, Aster) since GIS workstations have

been procured by the FWRC.

The following maps are produced:

- Forest stand map (scale 1:50 000)

- Green zones are indicated on the (new) forest stand maps

The forest inventory is conducted in all areas according to the same procedures.

There currently exists no distinction between national, regional, or local forest

inventories. The accumulated inventory results provide the data for the national forest

information. The frequency of the "national" forest inventory is set at 10 years.

At the moment, the frequency ranges in average at approximately 16 years.

The reasons are a lack of forest inventory survey crews as well as no adapted design

for a national forest inventory.

Species composition of Mongolia’s Forest

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

Are

a 10

00

hec

atar

es

larc

hpi

ne

ceda

r fir

abie

s

birc

h

popu

lus

popl

ar

willow

ulm

us

shru

bs

saxa

ul

Forests

Source: Forest resource of Mongolia, Forest and water research Centre 2007

Forest utilizations and operations

Until the 1940s, the majority of harvesting in Mongolia was done under

selective cutting systems (within deciduous forests) without any formal forest

management planning.

The scale of the logging operations was small, since it was only needed for

subsistence purposes (fire wood, chorals) or smaller "wood-constructions" (houses).

Horses and yaks were mainly used in skidding operations; consequently, residual

damage was relatively low. Under the increasing Soviet influence, clear-cutting

systems have predominated in coniferous forests. Timber harvesting technologies

have traditionally followed Russian systems. Wholetree

logging has been common with skidding by tracked vehicles to roadsides and

transport to landings by truck. The logging activities around so-called forest villages

and gulags (prison camps) had been very intense.

Today, Mongolia is slowly implementing changes to logging methods including a shift

from clear-cutting to selective logging in larch and pine forests. All forest harvesting is

licensed by the governors of each district. In theory licenses are only issued after

considering the economic efficiency of proposed activities, cutting techniques and

processing technology, the level of utilization, and funding reserved for the protection

and regeneration of forests.

Unfortunately, illegal (logging) activities are rampant in many forested areas of

Mongolia. A national code of practice for forest harvesting with assistance from the

International Labor Organisation (ILO)17 and FAO18 was formulated. Such guidelines

form the basis by which to enhance the social dialogue and forestry work. The code is

a practical guide to environmental care in forest harvesting and worker safety and

welfare, but does not mean a

collection of the unrealistic, complex laws used in industrialized countries. The benefit

of the code for forest work must be so realistic and understandable and with an

acceptable cost level that at this stage of national development the wood harvesters

can readily accept the code and follow it. The code provides documentation to

companies selling or using wood to prove that all wood sold does indeed come from

authorized sources. Until now, this Code of Forest

Practices or Best Practices Guidelines for forest operations has not been

implemented.

forest water research centre (frc)...1. silviculture and forest science (98 terms) 2. seed...

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