Taimen Conservation Fund
Mining Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan Addressing Mining

The goal of this Strategic Plan is to prevent or mitigate negative impacts of mining in EUWA.

Objective 1: Development and Implementation Multi-level Outreach Program (local, government, and mining companies)

a) Local and community based outreach

Preliminary interviews in the spring of 2004 by the project team indicated that many people in the project implementing area do not understand the affects of mining on Mongolia 's environment. This approach takes a “bottom up”, grass roots method to educating local people, and government officials about the impacts of mining on the environment. It also emphasizes alternatives to mining for local people such as the current project which will provide sustainable incomes to local people.

We will present photographs and scientific information gathered by the science team from other mined locations in Mongolia (Yoroo and Zaamar regions, in northwestern Mongolia ) in town hall meetings at each soum. Pamphlets with similar information will be created and distributed to people in the countryside. Finally, we will arrange tours for key local people and government officials from each soum center to the Zaamar region. A discussion of mining impacts on the natural environment in the context of traditional uses and the long-term changes will be emphasized.

b) Mining Company Outreach

After identifying the mining companies with current licenses in the EUWA, we will meet with each company to open a dialogue about the affects of mining on the natural environment and the goals of this TCF project. Many mining companies practice inefficient mining techniques in Mongolia and do not reclaim the land after mining. A presentation will be created to demonstrate how contemporary mining techniques mandated in industrial nations are more efficient in ore extraction and preventing damage to the environment. We will lobby them to become partners in the long-term management of the EUWA.

This outreach program will be integrated into overall project outreach program and implemented jointly by TCF and The Tributary Fund, sister organization of the TCF in USA .

Objective 2: Scientific monitoring of river water quality and prediction of impacts

Currently, the numerous exploration and one extraction license ( Taft River ) indicate the potential for future mining excavation within this watershed. With very little scientific information describing affects of mining within Mongolian waters, we will initiate a baseline monitoring for water quality and benthic invertebrates within specific rivers of the watershed. Specific attention will be paid to the Tavt River where preliminary extraction started in the summer of 2004. We will focus on water quality and invertebrate collections since they are usually the first to change in rivers during mining operations.

Objective 3: Establishment of new protected areas with national and local status

Establishment of Protected Areas with different categories at national and local level is one important step to stop mining activities at least in critical areas of watershed. We need to determine critical areas for maintaining ecological function of watershed. Science team can provide justification for establishing new protected areas, while Watershed council can play important role for its implementation with framework of Watershed Management Plan.