MONGOLIA

ECONOMY

• Mongolia's copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten deposits, among others, have attracted foreign direct investment (FDI).

ECONOMY

• Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes.

ENVIRONMENTAL Problems

• As Mongolia is a rapidly growing economy, it is seeing a spurt in population and mechanisation.
• The capital, Ulaanbaatar, has seen the number of vehicles double over the last ten years.

RISKS

• Like many developing countries rich in natural resources that have seen investors pour in, Mongolia is reaching a familiar turning point - struggling to ensure that the huge profits generated by the mining industry don’t end up causing a real income gulf.

MINING

• It’s no surprise then that large-scale mining companies from around the world continue flocking to the oft-dubbed “Saudi Arabia of Central Asia,” largely setting up shop in the gold, silver and copper-rich South Gobi region.

TIGHTENING MINING LAWS

• Yet, mining in Mongolia can still be compatible with conservation, some experts said. That’s as long as companies continuously monitor their environmental impact, and are adaptive in their mining process in case they note changes in species, Saleem Ali, director of the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University of Queensland in Australia, said.

CONTINUED

• The government has already repealed over 200 exploration and exploitation licenses from mining companies operating within 200 meters of forest and water sources, binding them to another legal tenant: they have two years to rehabilitate the areas, under the observance of local government and citizens.
• Yet the law has not been fully enforced.

CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

• Acidification
• Acid Rain
• Aerosol
• Aforrestation
• Asbestos

MONGOLIA

• In 1990, Mongolia abandoned its 70-year-old Soviet-style one-party system in favour of political and economic reforms and multiparty elections.

MONGOLIA

• Population 2.8 million (2012) Area 1.56 million sq km (603,909 sq miles) Major language Mongolian Major religion Buddhism Life expectancy 65 years (men), 73 years (women) Currency Togrog UN, World Bank

ECONOMY

• Industry
• Agriculture
• Exports

BACKGROUND

• The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

• Altai Weasel
• Eurasian Curlew
• White-headed duck

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mg.html
• http://www.dw.com/en/mongolias-mining-boom-raises-environment-concerns/a-17...
• http://www.gobartimes.org/content/mongolia’s-environmental-problems
• http://www.indexmundi.com/mongolia/environment_current_issues.html
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15460525
• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/mongolia-facts/
• http://earthsendangered.com/search-regions3.asp