62819 ENVIRONMENTAL REFORM PROJECT (NEMO II) SMALL GRANT PROGRAMME 2009 FINAL MONITORING REPORT N. Erdenesaikhan, Monitoring Consultant erdene@environ.mn January 2010 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 4 PREFACE ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Monitoring coordination .................................................................................................. 7 Monitoring methodology.................................................................................................. 8 Monitoring results ......................................................................................................... 11 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, MASTER PLAN AND MANAGEMENT PLAN...... 17 Development of Integrated training standard for rangers (409).......................................... 18 Development of Solid waste management master plan in the western regional centers-Uliastai and Hovd (413) ............................................................................................................. 19 Supporting the development and improvement of environmental protection programs and management plans of community cooperatives and groups (75) ........................................ 21 Green certification for local tourism (360) ....................................................................... 23 Green certification for local tourism (360) ....................................................................... 23 PROPER MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES................................................... 25 Current situation of marmot conservation in Mongolia and community based marmot resources use and conservation methodology (254) .......................................................... 26 Briquette making training (276) ...................................................................................... 28 CIVIL PARTICIPATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION .................................. 29 Activation of school and civil participation in environmental protection of Altai south gobi region (335) .................................................................................................................. 31 Manual for forest cooperatives (216)............................................................................... 33 “Our homeland” TV open forum (166)............................................................................ 35 Activation of forest cooperatives in Khentii aimag, and training on forest restoration with pine seeds and seedlings (365) ....................................................................................... 37 Ecological education for youth with hearing difficulties (195) ......................................... 39 Conservation of Taimen during its reproduction period in cooperation with local communities and administations (408) ................................................................................................ 41 Environmental conservation and prevention of environmental crimes with public participation (472)............................................................................................................................. 43 Divine Gobi (49) ........................................................................................................... 45 Compassion and environmental conservation (286).......................................................... 47 WATER AND SOIL POLLUTION REDUCTION ................................................................. 49 Tuin River-Our future (15) ............................................................................................. 50 Conservation of Haraa River (25) ................................................................................... 52 Conservation of the Seruun lake (297) ............................................................................ 54 To drink or not water from the Tuul River? (364) ........................................................... 56 Clean air-healthy environment (111) ............................................................................... 58 Let’s fight waste (294) ................................................................................................... 59 PASTURE MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................... 60 Natural pasture management (48) ................................................................................... 61 Developing a new community based methodology to process land use plan (308) ............. 63 Herders based environmental conservation and pasture monitoring (385) .......................... 65 CAPACITY BUILDING OF RANGERS.................................................................................. 67 Project on improving rangers` capacity (466) .................................................................. 68 Capacity building of rangers (521) .................................................................................. 70 2 PUBLICATIONS......................................................................................................................... 71 Manuals for herders on “Establishing cooperatives” (10).................................................. 72 Reference book for rangers (63) ..................................................................................... 74 Manual on “Rangers of the new century” for Gobi region rangers (118) ............................ 75 Publication and promotion of a book “Prevention and fighting against forest fire” (170) .... 76 Pilot manual on monitoring natural herbs and raw materials transported through borders (186) ..................................................................................................................................... 77 Work and observation notebook for rangers (187)............................................................ 78 Herders’ ecological education and pasture use (a manual for community cooperatives and groups) (241)................................................................................................................ 79 “Improvement of ecological knowledge of community cooperatives and groups and conservation of rare herbal resources” illustrated reference on rare herbals in Mongolia (387) ..................................................................................................................................... 80 Training curriculum and manual for regional rangers (314) .............................................. 81 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ............................... 82 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION................................................................................................................. 83 APPENDIX 1 THE LIST OF THE BOOKS, MANUALS AND BROCHURES PUBLISHED IN 2009 ....................................................................................................................................................... 84 APPENDIX 2 AGENDA on PUBLIC OPEN DAY FOR DEMONSTRATION OF RESULTS OF SMALL GRANT PROJECTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 85 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In connection with declaration 2009 as Year to Support Rangers by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), NEMO has included subthemes on rangers’ capacity building into the announcement of its consecutive environmental grant program. It was resulted in a good opportunity to link NEMO`s objective to ensure active participation of local communities in environmental protection and to support public and private partnership to improve local environmental management through building capacity of its local primary level units. The 2009 small grant programme was announced in the following four areas: Carry out monitoring & evaluation in performance and results of locally implemented environmental projects Establish and improve cooperation of stakeholders (governmental, research, non- governmental, civil society organizations, herders` cooperatives and groups, schools, youth and children organizations and local citizens) in solving local crucial environmental problems. Support and build capacity of local citizens` cooperatives and groups to organize activities to ensure environmental conservation and sustainable long-term use of environmental recourses Capacity building of local rangers In total, 579 project proposals have been received and of which 60 percent were arrived from rural areas. Selection Committee has made selection of 35 projects through two- phased selection processes. The selected projects started their implementation upon establishment of a tri-partite agreement with MET, Open Society Forum (OSF) and a grantee. These 35 projects were funded with sum of USD280,481. Of the total 35 selected projects, 24 or 68 % is being implemented in rural areas and small project activities were carried out in 65 soums of 30 aimags (aimags may overlapped). These projects were focused on achieving realistic outcomes in many areas such as developing solid waste master plan in regional centers; developing environmental conservation and management plan for community cooperatives; making tourism activities more environmentally friendly; evaluation and developing further recommendations on a state policy ban on marmot hunting; prevention from water and air pollution; proper management of natural resources such as, rare species, fish, forest, pasture etc; empowering local citizens, students and children with ecological knowledge and mobilizing them into conservation activities etc. One of the 11 projects implemented in UB was to improve ecological education for deaf youth community in Ulaanbaatar, and 10 projects were to improve ecological knowledge of rangers, forest cooperatives and herder` cooperatives, enhancing environmental management, developing and publishing manuals and references on proper use of forest and pasture resources. 4 A public open day event to introduce the selected projects was organized on April 13, 2009 in the conference room of the OSF. The second public open day to display results of the completed projects was organized on December 10, 2009, and each of 35 projects presented their outcomes, published books and manuals, and other products to the public. Around 300 people visited this event and information about completed projects was broadcasted and published through central mass media to reach every corner of the country. Specifics of 2009 monitoring programme is that it involved local environmental authorities for its monitoring program with an aim to get them monitor the implementation of the local projects and provide professional support to the project implementing teams when necessary. Aimag Environment and Tourism Departments were obliged to be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the projects, as results, their involvement brought positive results linking project activities, outputs and outcomes with policy and activity of local environmental organizations, increasing the outcomes and impacts of the projects, and establishing and expanding a network of local volunteer organizations to support local governmental organizations. NEMO monitoring team has visited all project implementation sites, and mid-term and final reports of the projects and monitoring reports submitted by the local environmental authorities and each project implementation evaluation results have been incorporated to this report. The project monitoring was carried out in 6 routines depending on the geographical locations of the projects, by travelling along 11500 km road visiting 50 soums of 20 aimags within 41 days. On the basis of the similarity of goals, activities and outcomes, the projects were classified into seven groups: planning improvement, proper natural resource management, civil participation in environmental conservation, and elimination of environmental pollutions, pasture management, capacity strengthening of rangers, publications and manuals. Monitoring results of each project is presented in this report under respective group. On the basis of the performance status of the projects it was assessed that there are 8 projects that accomplished their objectives very well and achieved their expected outcomes, were given the mark “excellent”, 22 (or most of the projects) projects accomplished their goals well, one project satisfactory and two projects were given unsatisfactory marks. Final reports of two projects have not been delivered yet due to respectable reasons and it was agreed to complete the projects within the first quarter of 2010. As examples of successful projects that make good contribution in improving environmental management are the project implemented by the Professional Education and Training Advising Center with an aim to develop the national standard of the training for rangers, and to develop integrated rangers` professional training programme and 5 requirements to be followed by training organizations; the project by the teachers of the Darkhan Agricultural Institute that delivered 100 hours of training to strengthen the capacity of rangers from 5 aimags; the project by the Marmot Conservation Society that made assessment on the implementation of the marmot hunting prohibition policy of 2005 by MET, and developed the rationale to extend the policy for 2 more years; the project named “Seruun Lake Conservation” by a citizen Baatar which realistically showed to his soum citizens that they can achieve good results if they cooperate in conservation by organizing many public activities to protect their local lake and pasture from drying up in cooperation with the local people. Lessons learned have been documented to identify the causes of poorly implemented projects and to apply those in the grant selection processes. To summarize the outcomes of the completed 35 projects, in the scope of the small grant projects of 2009, in total 9 training programmes on environment, nature conservation and ecology at various levels (for rangers, elementary and secondary school students, local people community), one integrated national level standard of rangers training, pilot solid waste master plan for regional center (aimag center), one local TV programme addressing environmental problems faced and ways to solve with involvement of local communities and government, and a policy research recommendation were developed. Ecological education cabinets were established in three soums, and 25 information boards to promote nature conservation were placed in the aimags and soums where the projects implemented. Totally 17400 pieces of 15 different types of books, manuals, publication and brochures were published, about 48,000 people have attended the trainings organized by the projects. Also, 3712 people take part in public discussions organized in the scope of the projects and shared their opinions. At the national level, environmental education and various other information on project themes broadcasted and delivered through mass media, as we assume, reached 1.3 million people. More than 29,000 trees and bushes of various species have been planted by the projects and 262 people have worked as teams in these projects. During the implementation of the projects, 9 local partnership organizations on environmental protection and 2 new environmental NGOs were established newly. The 2009 Small Grants Programme was implemented successfully and it provided valuable contribution towards building capacity of local rangers, and environmental inspectors, increasing involvement of local communities` who are willing to conserve their nature and environment, and providing them with manuals, awareness materials and information sources. N. Erdenesaikhan, Monitoring Consultant 6 PREFACE In framework of the Environmental reform project-2, small project contest theme on improving rural environmental management and strengthening capacity of environmental conservationists has been announced with regard to the announcement by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) of 2009 as the year of encouraging environment conservationists. Totally 579 project proposals have been received and of which 60 percent were from rural areas. Selection Committee selected 35 projects through 2 phase of selection process. And the projects implementation started upon establishment of three party agreement by MET, Open Society Forum (OSF) and project implementer. executors. These 35 projects were funded USD 280`481. Of the total 35 selected projects, 24 or 68 percent is being implemented in rural areas and small project activities were carried out in 65 soums of 30 aimags in a repeated number. These projects were focused on achieving realistic outcomes in many areas such as developing solid waste master plan in regional centers; developing environmental conservation and management plan for community cooperatives; making tourism activities more environmentally friendly; evaluation and developing recommendations on the policy prohibiting marmot hunting; prevention from water and air pollution; proper management of natural resources such as, rare species, fish, forest, pasture etc; empowering local citizens, students and children with ecological knowledge and mobilizing them into environmental conservation activities etc. One of the remaining 11 projects was implemented to improve ecological education for deaf people in Ulaanbaatar, and 10 projects were to improving ecological knowledge of rangers, forest cooperatives and herder` cooperatives, enhancing environmental management, developing and publishing manuals and references on proper use of forest and pasture land. Monitoring coordination Our practices from the previous years have shown that project implementation and results depend dominantly on organization of monitoring programme. The monitoring programme of 2009 has specifics that it involved local environmental authorities with an aim to get them monitor the implementation of the local projects and provide professional support to the project implementing teams when necessary. In 2009, the monitoring and evaluation activities for the small projects under NEMO were organized as follows: 1. First phase of the monitoring: Open-door day has been organized jointly by MET and OSF to introduce project activities to the public and the first monitoring has been carried out with public participation 7 2. Second phase of the monitoring: Under the authorization of Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism and National Project Director, a Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) has been formed including Project Coordinator, Project Finance Manager (PMD), Head of Information, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (D.Dagvadorj), Senior specialist of Public Administration Management Department (D.Enebish), Senior specialist of Sustainable Development and Strategy Planning Department (B.Dorjgotov), Specialist of Environment and Natural Resource Department (D.Shijir-Erdene), Deputy Director of Tourism Department (E.Battulga) and Senior specialist of Information, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (J.Nergui). Project implementations have been monitored by a team comprising of 1-2 PMC members and PFM D.Galhuu, headed by contracted consultant N.Erdenesaihan and reports have been discussed at PMC meetings. 3. Local monitoring: Provincial environmental and tourism authorities are arranged to carry out local monitoring for the purposes of harmonizing project outcomes and effects with MET policies and actions, especially enhancing regulation and monitoring of local environmental agencies and receiving project outcomes at the spot. Fuel and appointment expenses for monitoring in environmental and tourism agencies in project implementing aimags have been provided and monitoring outcome reports shall be sent to the National Project Director of NEMO II by the agency. 4. Final monitoring: A contracted Consultant provides a comprehensive project monitoring report to the project implementing unit by summing the results of final reports, sent by the project team after completing the project implementation, local monitoring reports and outcomes of open-door day. Aimag Environment and Tourism Departments were obliged to be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the projects, which brought positive results connecting project activities with local environmental organizations, increasing the outcomes and benefits of the projects, and establishing and expanding a network of local volunteer organizations to support local governmental organizations etc. Monitoring methodology The following tools were used in the project monitoring. At the project implementation site: 1. Meeting project participants, beneficiaries, trainers, trainees, local authorities, citizens and local movements to get their feedback and opinion about the impact, results and sustainability of the completed and ongoing environmental projects in local environmental management area; 2. Getting introduced with the projects` implementation and providing advices; 3. Evaluating training related materials, condition and process if any training was reflected in the project; and 4. Reviewing mid-term report etc. 8 Training assessment was carried out using the following criteria: 1. Goal; 2. Outcome; 3. List of participants (name, occupation, address, phone number); 4. Training environment: capacity, accessibility, convenience, heating, light, board and visual materials; 5. Handouts; 6. Type of participation: dialogue, lecture, PRA, PLA; 7. Trainer: CV, training method, experience; and 8. Training evaluation sheets filled by trainees Results of activities implemented during the monitoring visits in order to improve capacity of local NGOs in identifying environmental issues and developing small grant proposals Since we started announcing the small grant competitions among general public and NGOs and selected best projects, we realized that the quality of the most proposals received from rural applicants was unsatisfactory as it was their first time to write proposal and they had lack of knowledge and information in raising and solving environmental issues. Therefore, in 2008 the NEMO project team, considering this situation, decided to provide short term project proposal writing trainings during monitoring period to local NGOs and citizens who are willing to write project proposals. In 2009 the trainings were organized in 4 aimags such as Dornod, Govisumber, Bulgan and Zavkhan, in consultation with local Environment and Toursim Departments. One-day trainings were delivered to people representing local environmental NGOs and citizens in different aimags, and the trainings were attended by 42 people in the center of Bulgan aimag on July, 17, 2009; 38 people in Ulaistai city of Zavkhan aimag, 27 people in Choibalsan city, Dornod aimag, 41 people in Choir city, Govisumber aimag etc. The project proposal writing training provided a basic concept to the trainees on identifying environmental crucial problems, determining project needs and goal, project activities, funding and project cycles as well as methodological guidance on how to write a good project proposal. During the training, all trainees were handed over the manual on writing environmental project proposal. The trainings were organized in cooperation with officers of MET, who joined the monitoring team, and they made presentations on new environmental laws, legislative acts and activities by MET, answered questions from local people, and shared their opinions on contribution from local NGOs and people toward environmental management. It is considered that these training activities did good contribution to improving the quality of project proposals from rural areas and increasing the capacity and involvement of local people in environmental conservation through projects. 9 Results of activities of public open days for introduction of selected grant projects as well their results and achievements after completion A public open day event is organized twice a year, after the selection of grant projects for implementation and at the completion of those projects. Open days aimed to introduce the objectives, planned activities and teams of the selected projects to public and those interested citizens and NGOs, whose submitted their project proposals but not selected and to get their feedback, to give an opportunity to project implementers to get advice and suggestions from them, and to introduce project final results to the general public. The open day event to introduce the selected projects was organized on April 13, 2009 in the conference room of the OSF and each of selected 35 project teams displayed information board with their project objectives, activities, expected outputs, project implementation sites, partners, capacity and experiences together with pictures and presentation materials, for interested visitors. During the open day event, the information about the project selection committee members, selection criteria, and selection procedure were also displayed to the public. Some representatives of mass media such as Mongolian National TV, journalists from other 5-6 commercial TVs and daily newspapers were invited to the event. Their interviews with the project teams and the themes and expected results of the projects have been broadcasted nationwide. Also, information on the selected projects was publicized to public through two main central newspapers. More than 200 people attended the event. The other open day event to introduce the outputs of the completed projects was organized on December 10, 2009, and all the 35 projects displayed their information board to present their outputs and impacts, published manuals and products. This time, delegates of environment and tourism departments from all 21 aimags, who involved in project monitoring, were invited to this event. On the second day of the event, NEMO II has organized a discussion session about the project next phase call, themes and other issues like grant announcement dissemination among the aimags’ representatives and provided a short training on guidance of local NGOs and citizens in the themes of next grant programs and writing project proposals. These open day events and trainings were crucial in dissemination info about NEMO small grants program, increasing the knowledge and awareness of general public on environment, giving them opportunities to be directly involved in local environmental protection activities and in proper natural resources management through participating in grant award competition as well as implementing projects in their local areas. I would like to extend my gratitude to the MNET, OSF and NEMO project team for their active engagement and support for the successful organization of these events and successful performance of monitoring activities. 10 Monitoring results On the basis of the similarity of goal, direction of activities and outcomes, the projects were divided into seven groups: planning improvement, proper natural resource management, civil participation in environmental conservation, and elimination of environmental pollutions, pasture management, capacity strengthening of rangers, publications and manuals. Monitoring results of each project is presented in this report under respective group. The implementation of these 35 projects was monitored at their sites by the project monitoring team, and mid-term and final reports of the projects and monitoring reports submitted by the local nature and environmental authorities, the project implementation evaluation results of each project are incorporated to this report. The project monitoring was carried out in 6 routines depending on the geographical locations of the projects, by travelling along 11500 km road visiting 50 soums of 20 aimags within 41 days. The info on project monitoring team members and travel routines are shown the table 1 below. Table 1. Monitoring team members and travel routines Routine Team member The identification number of the projects monitored Central region I N.Erdenesaikhan 75, 364, 254, 216 (Soums of Tuv aimag) Monitoring Consultant, B.Dorjgotov, Senior Specialist, MET, D.Galkhuu, Financial Officer, NEMO project Central region II (Selenge, N.Erdenesaikhan 25, 466, 166, 48,111 Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon, Monitoring Consultant, Bulgan, Khuvsgul and B.Dorjgotov, Senior Arkhangai) Specialist, MET, Enebish, Senior Specialist, MET, D.Galkhuu, Financial Officer, NEMO project South western region N.Erdenesaikhan 49, 15, 294, 276 (Umnugobi, Bayankhongor, Monitoring Consultant, Uvurkhangai) Sh.Nergui, Senior Specialist, MET, 11 Western region (Gobi-Altai, N.Erdenesaikhan 118, 297,335,521, 472, 413 Khovd, Bayan-Ulgii, Monitoring Consultant, Zavkhan) D.Bataa, Deputy Head of the Department, MET, D.Galkhuu, Financial Officer, NEMO project Eastern region, (Khentii, N.Erdenesaikhan 10, 286, 365, 308, Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Monitoring Consultant, Govisumber) E.Battulga, Deputy Head of the Department, MET, D.Enkhee, Coordinator, NEMO project Projects in Ulaanbaatar city All people mentioned above 63, 170, 186, 187, 195, 360, 241, 314, 387, 409 On the basis of the project implementation process and achieved results, we assessed projects by three criteria such as project implementation, project importance and impact, and sustainability of the project results (Table 2). To make these criteria easier, we used the scores 1-5 to evaluate the projects, and the least score shows worst indication and the biggest one shows the best. The summarized scores under these three criteria are shown in the column evaluation. These scores were determined using the average results of the many different types of evaluations on project mid-term reports; results of the monitoring carried out by the project monitoring team in the project sites by meeting beneficiaries, project teams, local authorities and citizens, assessing the project implementation process; evaluation results by the monitoring committee on monitoring team work; project process and outcome monitoring reports submitted by the aimag Environment and Tourism Deaprtments; project final reports; materials, presentations realistic achievements of the projects displayed during the open day event etc. From the evaluation table it is seen that 8 projects that accomplished their goal very well and achieved their expected outcomes, were given the mark “excellent”, 22 (or most of the projects) projects accomplished their goals well, one project satisfactory and two projects were given unsatisfactory marks. Final reports of two projects have not been delivered yet due to respectable reasons and it was agreed to complete the projects within the first quarter of 2010. For example the most successful projects making good contribution in improving environmental management are the project implemented by the Professional Education and Training Advising Center with an aim to develop and to get approved the standard of the training for rangers, and to develop integrated rangers` professional training programme and requirements to be followed by training organizations; the project by the teachers of the Darkhan Agricultural Institute that delivered 100 hours of training to strengthen the capacity of rangers from 5 aimags; the project by the Marmot Conservation Society that made assessment on the implementation of the marmot hunting 12 prohibition policy of 2005 by MET, and developed the rationale to extend the policy for 2 more years; the project named “Seruun Lake Conservation” by a citizen Baatar which realistically showed to his soum citizens that they can achieve good results if they cooperate in conservation by organizing many public activities to protect their local lake and pasture from drying up in cooperation with the local people. To give some explanations about the projects that had unsatisfactory marks: under the project to eliminate air pollution in Darkhan soum, Darkhan-Uul aimag, many activities such as survey on air pollution reason and awareness raising works among the local people, organizations and industries, and on air pollution reasons, however, there was lack of results achieved from the activities to reduce air pollution reasons, and the project was implemented without involvement of professional organizations and specialists and the advices from the monitoring team was not followed, which was the cause that the project could not achieve realistic results. The implementation of the solid waste reduction project focused on central apartment residents was delayed due to the capacity of the project implementers and achieved lack of results. Therefore, according to the decision by the monitoring committee, the aimag Environmental and Tourism Authority has been obliged to monitor the project second phase implementation and implement additional activities to achieve realistic results by involving specialists in the project. To summarize the outcomes of the completed 35 projects, in the scope of the small grant projects of 2009, totally 9 programmes on environment, conservation and ecological trainings of various level (rangers, elementary and secondary school students, local people etc), one integrated standard of training, pilot solid waste master plan for regional center (aimag center), one TV programme addressing environmental crucial problems, and one of policy research recommendations were developed. Ecological cabinets were established in three soums, and 25 propagandizing information boards were placed in the aimags and soums where the projects implemented. Totally 17400 piece of 15 different types of books, manuals, publication and brochures were published, around 48000 people directly attended the trainings organized by the projects. Also, 3712 people take part in public discussions organized in the scope of the projects and shared their opinions. At the nationwide level, environmental information and broadcastings delivered through mass media reached 1.3 million people. More that 29 000 woods were planted by the projects and 262 people worked in the project teams. During the implementation of the projects, 9 local environmental conservations cooperatives and 2 new NGOs were newly established among the local people. The information about the implementation of each project is incorporated into this report under respective sub-themes. 13 Table 2. Performance Evaluation Results of 2009 Grant Projects Importan Overall Project Project Implementa Sustaina- Project name Location ce/ evaluatio ID implementer tion status bility impact n Professional Education and Development of integrated 409 Ulaanbaatar 5 5 5 Excellent Training training standard for rangers Advising Center Development of solid waste Association of master plan for the centers of Khovd, Zavkhan, 413 Environmental 5 5 4 Excellent western region-Uliastai and Ulaanbaatar Assessors Khovd cities Association of Supporting the development Mongolian and improvement of Students and environmental protection Ulaanbaatar Tuv, 75 4 4 4 Good Youth on programmes and management Arkhangai Environmental plans of community Conservation cooperatives and groups Tourism Education, Green certificate for local 360 Ulaanbaatar 5 4 4 Good training and tourism research center Current situation of marmot Mongolian conservation in Mongolia and Association of 8 soums of Tuv 254 community based marmot 5 5 4 Excellent Marmot aimag resources use and conservation Conservation methodology 6 soums of 276 G.Dashchirev Briquette making training Bayankhongor 5 4 3 Good aimag Activation of schools and civil participation in environmental Bulgan, soum of 335 J.Khumaajav 5 4 4 Good protection of Altai South Khovd aimag Gobi region MUST-Forest Batsumber soum of 216 training and Manual for forest cooperatives 4 5 4 Good Tuv aimag research institute 166 L.Enkhjin "My hometown" open forum Erdenet city 5 4 3 Good The team headed Activating forest cooperatives 8 soums of Khentii 365 5 4 4 Good by B.Munkhbayar and groups in Khentii aimag aimag Mongolian Ecological education for the 195 Education Ulaanbaatar 4 5 4 Good youth with hearing disabilities Alliance Conservation of Taimen Galt soum of during its reproduction period The team headed Khuvsgul aimag, 408 in cooperation with local 4 5 4 Good by J.Bilegsaikhan Jargalant soum of communities and Arkhangai aimag administration Environmental conservation and prevention of 472 N.Khizatkhan Bayan-Ulgii aimag 4 5 4 Good environmental crimes with public particaption Mongolian Environmental 49 Devine Gobi Umnugobi aimag 4 4 3 Good Conservation Association branch in Umnugobi aimag Compassion and Dadal soum of 286 D.Badamkhand 5 4 3 Good environmental conservation Khentii aimag 5 soums of Enlightenment, D Tui river – our future Bayankhongor 5 4 3 Good evelopment center 15 aimag Tuv, Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, The team headed by Conservation of Kharaa Orkhon aimag, 4 4 3 Good Khunbagai river Kharaa river 25 basin areas Bulgan soum of Local community group Conservation of Seruun Bayan-Ulgii 5 5 4 Excellent headed by B.Baatar lake 297 aimag Altanbulag, The team or researchers, To drink or not water from Undirshireet and 4 5 3 Good headed by D.Odsuren Tuul river? Lun soum of Tuv 364 aimag Darkhan branch of Rural Fresh air-Healthy Unsatisfacto Women Development Darkhan-Uul 2 2 1 environment ry 111 Foundation Bayankhongor soum of Unsatisfacto J.Bayarmaa Let`s fight waste 3 4 2 Bayankhongor ry 294 aimag Bayangol Resources Natural Pasture Bayangol soum, 5 5 4 Excellent 48 Development NGO Management Selenge aimag Land use planning Project Developing a new Tuvshinshiree The team headed by manual is community based soum of 4 5 3 J.Davaabaatar under methodology to process Sukhbaatar aimag printing 308 land use plan Delayed as Herders based nature Citizens` Ecological project conservation and pasture Jinst, Kharkhorin 4 4 - Education Foundation supervisor is monitoring 385 sick Selenge, Darkhan, The team headed by Project on improving Orkhon, Bulgan, 5 5 5 Excellent B.Odonchimeg rangers` capacity 466 Khuvsgul Gobi-Altai aimag branch of Capacity building of Mongolian Association of Gobi-Altai aimag 3 4 3 Average rangers 521 Nature Conservation Dornod Mongolia Local Manual for herders on People`s Nature Conservation “Establishing Dornod 5 5 4 Excellent 10 Association cooperatives” consulting company Bio- "Reference book for Ulaanbaatar 4 5 3 Good 63 sphera rangers" Manual on “Rangers of 7 aimags of Gobi B.Mijiddorj and his team the new century” for the 5 5 3 Good region 118 ranger of Gobi region Publication and promotion Good Association of parachutists to of a book “Forest fire Ulaanbaatar 4 3 3 support rangers prevention and response at 170 communities” 186 D.Suran Pilot manual on Ulaanbaatar 5 4 3 Good 15 monitoring natural herbs and raw materials transported through borders Work and observation Ulaanbaatar Good Amin Khorvoo NGO 4 4 3 187 note book for rangers Herders` ecological education Ashigt Urgamal and pasture use (Manual for Ulaanbaatar 5 4 3 Good Foundation NGO community cooperatives and 241 groups) “Improvement of ecological knowledge of community cooperatives and groups, and Team of scientists conservation of rare herbal Ulaanbaatar 5 5 3 Good headed by U.Ligaa resources” Illustrated reference book on rare 387 herbals in Mongolia Training curriculum and Ya. dya Ulaanbaatar 5 5 4 Excellent 314 manual for regional rangers 16 ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, MASTER PLAN AND MANAGEMENT PLAN 17 Development of Integrated training standard for rangers (409) Project implementer: “Vocational Education and Training Advising Centre” NGO Total budget: 11700$ Project goal: Strengthen vocational training and repetitive training system for rangers through developing vocational education and training curriculum based on results of professional skills research and professional analysis carried out among rangers, and training curriculum suited to regional ecosystem characteristics. Activities: Carry out professional skills research and professional terms of references analysis among environmental rangers and identify their professional level; Develop vocational education and training standard for rangers; Develop training curriculums /4/ for rangers in compliance with their professional levels and regional ecosystem characteristics. Project outputs: In collaboration with relevant departments of MET, analysis on environmental rangers` TOR was carried out involving a total of 7 environmental conservationists, of which 5 from rural areas and 2 from Ulaanbaatar city. As a result of this analysis, mandatory knowledge, skill and attitude of professional rangers have been identified. A team of specialists consisting from 21 senior scientists to develop vocational education and training standard for rangers was established, and determined the content, evaluation and environmental standard of rangers training. Questionnaires on task schedule, terms of references of rangers was carried out among 40 people including managers and executive staff of environmental sector and international environmental protection projects staff and results of the questionnaire were processed. An electronic database of rangers was created on MS ACCESS programme. Training curriculum was developed and published on the basis of the content of training standard. Training standard, and curriculum were published in 200 piece each and distributed to relevant government and training organizations. Conclusion: As a result of developed training standard, the content and interconnection of trainings provided by a number of organizations that deliver professional trainings to rangers in different levels were improved and it became possible to unite them under integrated policy. After development of this standard, vocational training centers and colleges of Khovd, Dornod, Selenge and Gobisumber aimags submitted a request to open new course to prepare professional rangers, they will start preparing rangers when they get permission from the MECS (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science) after establishing required human resources and training environment. This project was valuable in establishing cooperation and improving interconnection between MET and MECS in order to create vocational training system for rangers and to ensure its sustainability. 18 Development of Solid waste management master plan in the western regional centers-Uliastai and Hovd (413) Project implementer: Association for Environmental Impact Assessment Total budget: 13150$ Project goal: A model Solid Waste Mater Plan to increase the involvement of local people and economic entities and organization in activities to create healthy and clean living environment for the population of Ulaistai and Khovd cities, to reduce the amount of solid waste through environmentally friendly disposal, classification and recycling or wastes. Activity: A complex study on waste disposal and sewage drain in western regional centers - Uliastai and Hovd cities; Rund impact assessment of disposals and develop a proposal to eliminate the impact; Determine the size, source, structure and characteristics of disposal area through taking test on samplings from relevant areas; Develop a master on the basis of research and organize meetings and discussions involving involving authorities and officials of related organizations and ensuring civil and community participations. Project outputs: Research on structure, size and source of solid wastes in Hovd and Uliastai cities was based on previous studies. Environmental impact assessment was carried out in centralized disposal areas. Analysis on a system of collection, storage, transportation and disposal of wastes in the soums was been carried out through accumulation of data on management, economic efficiency and further stability. Also information on current status of industrial and medical disposal management was collected. A research on waste classification, grouping and recycling was conducted. An activity to determine the capacity to bury waste is being implemented. Also, public questionnaire was conducted. Integrated budget for construction of centralized disposal points in the centers of Zavkhan and Khovd aimag was developed and general planning drawing M:100 for building complex construction of centralized disposal points in urban areas was prepared. Solid Waste Pilot Master plan has been developed in compliance with local context and has been discussed and approved by local Citizens Representatives Meetings of the soums of 2 aimgas. Conclusion: The project has completed successfully and the Pilot Master Plan to be implemented in regional centers has been delivered, causing the start of pollution reduction in urban areas. Currently Jargalant soum authorities have presented the pilot master plan to the representatives from Korea and agreed to get financial support for the implementation of the plan, which shows that the project result was good. Also in Uliastai soum of Zavkhan aimag, all baseline information such as, main directions to implement solid waste management, required amount of investment and rationale etc have been prepared, and a condition to attract government or other resources of investment have been created as a result of the project. 19 View of a Master Plan Discussion of the monitoring team with local government on solid waste master plan in Khovd Monitoring team visit to a local recycler in Khovd 20 Supporting the development and improvement of environmental protection programs and management plans of community cooperatives and groups (75) Project implementer: Students and Youths Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment Total budget: 6000$ Project goal: Provide support to local community cooperatives and groups in developing environmental conservation programs and management plans. Activity: Capacity building trainings, involving 60 members of communities and cooperatives established in the project soums; Develop environmental conservation programs and management plans for community cooperatives and goups and get them discussed by communities; Develop and publish a manual on methods to develop planning. Project outputs: Trainings on goals of cooperatives, organization, activities, environmental protection programs and management plan were organzed twice for 60 people from 8 communities and cooperatives from Lun soum of steppe region and .Bayanchandmani soum of forest-steppe region of Tuv aimag. As a result of the methodology development work in compliance with the trainings, an environmental conservation plan and community cooperatives management plan have been developed which can help the community cooperative groups in organizing environmental conservation activities. A simplified manual for the use of cooperative members was developed and published in 50 pieces and distributed to local community groups. Conclusion: The project performance was good. The pilot plan developed as result of the project was a precious support for newly emerging cooperatives for their proper planning, setting their priorities and starting their work properly. The environmental conservation and management plan was published in too limited number that is not sufficient to deleiver to all community cooperative groups in the every corner of the country. Therefore the MET and local authorities need to provide support in enriching and publishing this plan in enough number for further distribution. 21 Training sessions in Bayanchandmani for local community leaders (left pic) and in Lun soum (right pic) A project publication view 22 Green certification for local tourism (360) Project implementer: Tourism Education, Training and Research Center NGO Total budget: 8600$ Project goal: Develop a tourism certification program on the basis of international practice, in compliance with the context of Mongolia. Activity: Identify status and tendency of international tourism certification; Develop a manual on local tourism certification; Organize tourism certification trainings; and Provide trainings for tourism certification trainers and shall be held. Project outputs: Research on activities, outcomes and tendencies of international certification organizations has been implemented on the basis of information and data of 10 organizations including United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Tourism Organization (WTO) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF); In framework of green certification, collaborations have been established among MET, Mongolian Tourism Federation, Mongolian Hotels Association, Sustainable Development Center for Tourism and Tourism teachers and Scholars Association and a partnership has been formed to apply certification procedures nationwide; The first draft of a manual on local tourism certification was developed and discussed by relevant organizations and experts; and The manual was published in 500 pieces and distributed to the economic entities, NGOs, training, research an government policy organizations. Conclusion: Of the project was implemented well according to the plan. As a result of the project, an initiative to support environmentally friendly tourism has been increasing among the tourism practitioners, which cause a background for them use green certificate procedure for their tourism activities voluntarily. It would be important for the sustainability of the project results if MET develop a policy to support this project and initiatives from research, training organizations and private sector. The project results were focused on decreasing negative impact of tourism on nature of tourism, conserve ecological balance and make tourism more environmentally friendly. 23 Project activity pictures Picture of project publication 24 PROPER MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 25 Current situation of marmot conservation in Mongolia and community based marmot resources use and conservation methodology (254) Project implementer: Marmot Conservation Society of Mongolia Total budget: 14465$ Project goal: Carry out assessment on results of the government policy on marmot conservation and human factor impact on number of marmot head number, and develop policy recommendation, and create a community involved marmot resources conservation and sustainable use model in framework of the current legal context. Activity: Conduct marmot census in densely populated and soums of Tuv aimag where there is high rate of migration and movement of population. And evaluate the current government policy on marmot conservation and develop recommendations; Identify the main factors caused by direct human activities affecting the number of marmots; and Establish a community based marmot resources conservation management model Project outputs: Complex field survey methodology was developed in cooperation with the scientists of Biological Institute of Science Academy through comparing to the previous studies and results, and discussions on methods for counting and evaluation of resources were held in Altanbulag soum, Tuv Aimag. A team comprising of 4 researchers carried out a survey on distribution and resource of marmots in 8 soums such as Bayandelger, Erdene, Bayan, Argalant, Bayantsogt, Bayanhangai, Altanbulag and Lun soums of Tuv aimag in 30 days and a results have been processed. For the purpose of identifying human impacts on the number of marmots, 17 types of questionnaires have been taken from 123 herders of these 8 soums and measures on community based marmot conservation have been identified; and Upon establishing agreement with the soum administration, 6 community cooperatives (2 cooperatives have been established newly) took responsibility to conserve local marmot resources in the scope of community based marmot conservation approach, and they have been provided with support in management plan development. Conclusion: The project was implemented 100% successfully. Policy implementation of MET on conservation and prohibition of marmot hunting was evaluated and presented to relevant decision makers of MET, and as a result of which, the Minister of MET issued a resolution to extend marmot hunting prohibition procedure for another 2 more years and it started to be implemented nationwide. Community based marmot conservation and sustainable use model was established in project soums which provides an opportunity for other local areas to replicate the model. 26 Project activity pictures Distribution of marmot populations in 1990 and 2000 in the project area Marmot population and areas, which are under monitoring of local communities of 3 soums 27 Briquette making training (276) Project implementer: G.Dashchirev and others Total budget: 1480$ Project goal: Organize briquette making and producing training to the customers of 6 soums in Bayanhongor aimag in the Gobi region with purposes to decrease and prevent from incidents of using Gobi wood plants such as sexual trees, poplars and hiragana for fuel purposes, to slow down desertification, decreasing coal waste and manures, to increase household income sources and to eliminate poisonous smoke. Activity: Training subjects o Eliminating environmental pollution o Decreasing use of woody and bushy plants for fuel o Opportunities of increasing income and decreasing poverty through briquette production Respectively 30-40 people from Bayanhongor provincial center, Bayan-Undur, Shinejinst, Bayantsagaan, Bayangobi and Bayanlig soums shall be involved in the training. Project outputs: Two-day practical trainings were provided to a total of 172 people, of whom 30 from Bayanhongor soum, 32 from Bayan-Undur soum, 25 from Shinejinst soum, 25 from Bayantsagaan soum, 32 from Bayangobi soum, and 28 from Bayanlig soum in Bayanhongor aimag on April and May 2009. The trainings covered the areas of eliminating the use of woody and bushy plants for fuel and creating fuel source for the people by producing briquette mixing coal waste and manures. Household heading women, low income people, elderly and those interested in briquette producing attended the trainings. Conclusion: People and households involved in the trainings, provided in framework of the project, gained adequate knowledge on applying another source of fuel and using resources more efficiently and effectively. In each soum, 2-3 businessmen were prepared to do business in this field during first monitoring phase. Totally 180 people attended the trainings and by the end of 2009 around 30 families made briquette and 120 people learned to make briquette. Project training results Indicators Bayanlig Bayan- Bayan- Bayan-Undur Bayan- Total gobi tsagaan khongor The number of people 1 attended training 36 32 30 32 30 160 The number of families 2 that made briquette 7 6 6 6 5 30 The number of people 3 that learned making 28 24 24 24 20 120 briquette 28 Project activity pictures 29 CIVIL PARTICIPATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 30 Involvement of school students and civil participation in environmental protection of Altai South Gobi region (335) Project implementer: J.Humaajaa and others Total budget: 6807$ Project goal: Increase community voluntary participation in community based environmental conservation and strengthen its capacity. Activity: Develop 56-hour ecological education curriculum for secondary school students; Organize 56-hour ecological trainings to secondary school students (18 hours for high and mid-class students and 18 hours for elementary students) Establish ecology room for a school and provide training materials; Develop ecological education program for local residents and conduct promotion activities in bags; Increase the size of school nursery area by 1 hectare and establish fenced strip around the nursery and plant trees. Project outputs: 56-hour ecological education curriculum for secondary school students has been formulated by scholars in the project team in collaboration with chemistry and biology teachers of the school, has been approved by the School’s academic department. Training on local nature and environment and environmental conservation has been provided to 279 mid-class students and 312 high school students before end of academic year on May 2009. It is planned to hold practicum outside the school and at experimental field on September. Ecology room has been prepared and 4 kinds of visual materials on 28 species of flora, mammals, birds and reptiles have been provided to the school. Training and promotion on environmental conservation is being carried out among residents of Dalt, Burenhairhan and Bayansudal baghs. Size of school forestry space has been increased by 1 hectare, of which 0.04 he has been planted with elm seeds, 150 sea buckhorn and 100 elm seeds and survival rate is 90-95 percent. Conclusion: The project involved local communities well. Secondary school in Bulgan soum now has an eco- room, eco-curriculum, teacher and an experimental field for practicum. As a result of the environmental conservation program in Bulgan soum, the local people`s council formulated a master plan to develop their homeland, involving many businessmen born in this soum and gained about MNT 3 billion as a financial source and started their work. And it is considered that this project was a good starting point of local ecological balance conservation activities among local people. 31 Project activity pictures F:\12.jpg Public display board for nature conservation on the Bulgan soum street Public awareness and training activity for adults and students All family members work in the garden for greening their soum 32 A Manual for forest cooperatives (216) Project implementer: Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST)- Forest training and research Institute Total budget: 5821 $ Project goal: Strengthen joint participation capacity of forest cooperatives and communities that are able to collaborate efficiently and effectively in rural areas. Activity: Environmental training on preservation, proper use, restoration of forest resources for some cooperatives and locals in Batsumber and Erdene soums, Tuv aimag; Develop simple and easy manuals in collaboration with training participants as a result of the training; Pilot cleaning activity at the selected sample area; Training on forest maintenance; Establish a nursery; Create pedestrian forest mapping; Collect and prepare wood seeds Project sites: Batsumber and Erdene soums of Tuv aimag Project outputs: According to the project plan, training on forest management plan and forest maintenance cutting has been held at the center of Batsumber soum, involving 27 people of 9 forest cooperatives on the days April 23-25. Training on establishing forestry in harmony with practicum on planting seeds has been provided at UST polygon in Nariin gatsuurt on the days of May 6-10, covering 22 people. The same training has been provided to 23 members of Sain ovoo forest cooperative in Erdene soum, Tuv aimag on May 25-30. Around 100 members (in repetitive number) of cooperatives were given knowledge on technology and sequence for arranging forest management, carrying out forest maintenance, preparing wood plantations by establishing nursery and reclaiming soil, and growing plantations in open areas in the territory of forest cooperatives during these trainings. Open forestry of 4 x 5 meters in size has been established in Sain ovoo bagh of Erdene soum and 1 kg pine, 0.5 kg sea-buckhorn, 0.5 kg elm, 50 gram maple, 50 gram hawthorn and 50 gram larch have been planted. Totally 7500 pines, 1500 larch, 3000 sea buckthorn, 300 maple trees have been planted. On the basis of ideas, opinions and needs of training participants, a manual for improving knowledge on forest cooperatives was developed and published in 450 pieces and distributed to other aimag and soum forest cooperatives. Conclusion: The project was implemented well according to the plan. As a result of the project, forest cooperatives in these 2 soums obtained particular knowledge on forest conservation, recovery, seed collection and proper use of under-resource, strengthened their knowledge through practicum and have their own nursery area. Upon publication of the manual as a reference, members of forest cooperative would be able to obtain good knowledge on taking care of trees, restoration planting and taking measures in time, and maintaining sustainable use of forest resources and under-resources. 33 Project activity pictures Project publication 34 “Our homeland” Local TV open forum (166) Project implementer: L. Enhjin and others Total budget: 10000 $ Project objective: Initiative on environmental protection is encouraged and public participation in environmental conservation is supported via TV discussion among local administrative, experts and local people on environmental problems in Orhon aimag or Erdenet city and surrounding 2 towns of this aimag. Activity: Make list on environmental problems shall be developed in collaboration with environmental and tourism agencies in Orhon aimag, programs and schedule on serial broadcasting Develop broadcasting planning in cooperation with commercial television Nomin in Orhon aimag; Do shooting, reportage and interview on environmental problems and make arrangemet; Prepare and develop discussion program on the same issue involving professional organizations and public representatives; and Operate hotlines TV program and getting opinions and feedback from local forward to relevant officials for solution. Project outputs: It has been negotiated with relevant organizations to produce programs on 17 problematic issues related to the environment in the aimag and broadcasting has been arranged once per half month starting from April 26. During the first week, the program is prepared by taking reportage covering the current situation at the spot and getting opinions and ideas from related officials, professionals and local residents. During the next week, invitations are sent to professionals, officials, NGOs and residents, setting the discussion topic. Hotlines are operated during the discussion, directly getting opinions from the audience and talking on the subject scope and possible solutions. Initially 8 issues such as environmental problems, forest fire, forest recovery, water consumption, water resource, pasture grind, natural resource use, mining, environment and air pollution, and disposals have been discussed and particular solutions have been made upon receipt of opinions and ideas from the public. Conclusion: Around 65 people involving local decision makers, specialists and experts participated in the TV programmes and more than 100 people asked questions by live phones and expressed their opinions. According to local statistics around 800,000 people watched project serial programmes on TV and increased their awareness on crucial environmental issues and possible solutions. Although it is difficult to evaluate direct outcome and impact of these live broadcastings, some positive results were seen. For example, in 2009 the number of forest fires decreased by 40% compared to that of 2008. Local administration took measures to dispose of piled waste in cooperation with local community and waste transporting truck started to work by regular schedule. Local elderly people made an initiative to teach tree planting t young people. Soum administration opened a wood market which brought lot of positive result such as decreasing wood theft etc. The project is being implemented successfully, of which 60 percent has been completed. A total of 31 people participated in 8 discussions, and 52 citizens expressed their ideas through hotline. Some good changes have been observed. For instance, forest fire has declined by 40 percent in 2009 in comparison to that of the previous year. 35 Project activity pictures Studio view for environmental debate Program viewing Fragments of aired TV forums 36 Activation of forest cooperatives in Khentii aimag, and training on forest restoration with pine seeds and seedlings (365) Project implementer: Team, headed by B.Munhbayar Total budget: 7995 $ Project objective: Forest resources are used and protected properly, sustainability of this system will be maintained and activities of local volunteer cooperatives and communities are strengthened and improved. Activity: Organise training, involving all members of forest cooperatives in 8 soums in Khentii aimag for 8 times; 100 pieces of 1-3 year-old pine seedlings and 100 pieces 4-year old pine seedlings to be provided to each participant without any charges for growing and caring the plants with instructions given during the training on the basis of responsibility contracts; Seven-day training on providing practical knowledge to the members of forest cooperatives shall be held at the Forestry of Binder soum, Hentii aimag, involving 1 representative from each trained cooperative. Necessary support and information shall be provided to cooperative members. Project outputs: Training, involving 20-30 cooperative members has been provided during the period from April to mid-May in every soum in order to strengthen the plantation capacity of cooperatives in 8 soums with forests in Hentii aimag. A total of 158 cooperative members attended the training. 100 pine plantations have been given to every attendee and helped for plantations. Manuals with 36 pages of A5 size on forestry and plantation have been published and circulated to every attendee. Practicum, involving 40 people (1 member from each cooperative) has been organized at the nursery of Binder soum on May 26, 2009. The practical training has provided experience and knowledge on forestry technology, sequence, wood plantation with seeds, soil reclamation and fruit plantation. Conclusion: The project is implemented 100%. Around160 members of 45 cooperatives in 8 soums in Hentii aimag obtained particular knowledge on establishing forestry, planting and caring seeds and wood plantations, preparing seeds by collecting pine cones, which enable proper and long-term use of forest and its under-resource and forest recovery. Interest of community cooperatives in establishing nurseries and cooperative fund, fundraising and restoration planning is increasing. Some of the soum administrations were not so supportive in establishing new cooperatives and not making decision immediately wasting time. It is required that MET include certain criteria in performance evaluation of Forest Administration office, aimag and soum administration offices in order to support forest cooperatives. An incentive system to support forest cooperatives would be important tools to encourage forestation, forest restoration and proper management. 37 Project activity pictures 38 Ecological education for youth with hearing difficulties (195) Project implementer: Mongolian Education Alliance, NGO Total budget: 10540 $ Project objective: Improve ecological education and knowledge youth with hearing difficulties. Activity: Develop a special sign language curriculum of ecological education; Provide four trainings on ecological education to 120 young people with hearing difficulties through sign language; Establish an eco-room in a special school for children with hearing difficulties; Plant 30 trees and bushes around the special school for children with disabilities through practical trainings; Interpret ecological education programmes into sign language and broadcast through TV. Project outputs: A work plan on developing sign language curriculum of ecological education was designed, and team members were divided to formulate certain parts of the curriculum of 4th to 9th grades. And training non- classroom training programmes on “Human and Nature”, “Human and Plants” and “Human and Species” were formulated together with relevant training materials. Students selfe study practice notebooks were published in accordance with training curriculum. Also three series of training programmes were interpreted into sign language and broadcasted in cooperation Education TV channel for children with hearing difficulties in the urban and rural areas, which provided the disabled youth with an equal access to ecological education trainings. Drawing contest on “Our participation in environmental conservation” was organized among students and children with hearing difficulties participated in this contest actively by doing contribution toward promotion of environmental conservation and proper use of environmental resources. With an aim to create a favorable training environment an eco room was established at the 3rd floor of the special school for children with hearing difficulties. And 60 types of plants, rabbit, birds, fountain, shelves for flowers, world and Mongolia`s animals map, exhibition boards and other training materials were placed in this eco-room. Around 200 seedlings of 14 types of trees were planted with involvement of students and teachers outside the special school, and the survival rate of the trees is 70%. Gardening work was carried out in the surrounding area of the school and dormitory by teachers, students and workers of the school. Mongolian National TV broadcasted a TV programme about this gardening work, nationwide. In order to establish internal and external ecological environment, all the materials purchased in the scope of the project were handed over to the school officially in compliance with the partnershop contract established between the project and the School for Children with Hearing Difficulties. Conclusion: The project was completed successfully and as a result, the youth with hearing difficulties have improved their ecological knowledge and education through simplified sign language ecological training programmes, eco-room for students has been established and the number of the youth interested in planting trees, gardening their environment has gone up. Also the mass medias such as, Education TV channel and Mongolian National TV broadcasted TV programmes about the project and involvement of disabled children in environmental conservation, and sign language environmental conservation programmes, which was a positive inspiration for other rural and urban youth and children with hearing difficulties giving them information and guidance of positive impact. 39 Project activity pictures 40 Conservation of Taimen during its reproduction period in cooperation with local communities and administrations (408) Project implementer: A team of J.Bilegsaihan Total budget: 4860 $ Project objective: Protect taimen during its reproduction period from poachers through establishing local community groups and organizing of monitoring activity. Activity: Provide support to the establishment of a environmental conservation community cooperative based on the initiative of local residents, in the border area of Chuluut river basin between Jargalant soum of Arhangai aimag and Galt soum of Huvsgul aimag; Prepare, publish and distribute a manual on legislative acts on conservation of environment, water basin area, fish and other water species; Cooperate with local bag citizens meeting and soum administration in promoting establishment of local cooperatives, compiling necessary documents and getting the cooperatives registered; Provide trainings to herders on involvement of cooperatives in environmental conservation; and ecological knowledge; Get 14 cooperative members protect Taimen from poachers during its reproductive period by patrolling along riversides for 4 months. Project outputs: 2 community cooperatives have been established among the residents of Jargalant soum of Arhangai aimag and Galt soum of Huvsgul aimag living at two sides of the Chuluut River, under a decision by Citizens` Represntatives `Meeting these two soums, with an aim to protect Taimen which registered in the Red Book of Mongolia, to increase civil participation in developing natural tourism and sport hunting in the future and to create livelihoods income source for the local people through Taimen conservation. Bugat cooperative of Hoolt bag in Jargalant soum consists of 30 people whilst Huremt cooperative of Hujirt bagh in Galt soum consists 32 members of 15 households. Totally there are 64 official members from 42 households. The members of these cooperatives were provided with trainings on environmental laws and legislations on hunting, measures to be taken for those who violenced the laws, general awareness on Taimen and other fishes, ecology and importance of its conservation. Schedule of cooperative members` duty and patrolling during reproductive and hunting seasons of Taimen was developed and workbooks to be used during patrol and legal references have been provided to them. Cooperative members are on duty of patrolling regularly on both riversides according to the schedule. Conclusion: As a result of the cooperatives` patrolling, 20 attempts to catch Taimens illegally were interruptedand conservation of this fish during its reproduction time was completed successfully. The number of fish poaching has declined by 60% compared to that of the previous year. It confirms that local community based natural resources conservation policy could be very efficient. The cooperatives have suggested many initiatives such as conservation of other natural resources such as to prevent from illegal gathering of wild onion in big amount by people from other aimags, to restore natural resources and use them properly without breaking ecological balance, and to use for livelihood resources etc. And they are working to implement the above mentioned initiatives, which creates a possibility to ensure sustainability of the project results and to support initiation of similar activities and ideas by local people in other areas. 41 Project activity pictures: 42 Environmental protection and prevention of environmental crimes through public participation (472) Project implementer: N.Hizathan and others Total budget: 5600 $ Project objective: To improve ecological knowledge of local community, to provide them with , information on state policies and regulations, to change their attitude toward nature and train volunteer rangers. Activity: Select 8 people from each bag who are capable and eager to protect environment by living there and train them as volunteer ranger; Equip each ranger with identification card, badge and tools; Purchase equipments for conducting environmental trainings; Carry out training and promotion on environmental conservation for 2000 people of the baghs; Place promotion boards illustrating prevention of environmental violations at 5 spots along the road. Project outputs: Eight environmental activists have been selected and trainers from Hovd aimag branch of WWF delivered training to the volunteer rangers on legislations, observations, investigating and informing of violations. All volunteer rangers were provided with identification card signed by provincial governor and ensured with rights to operate environmental conservation activities. Every volunteer ranger was equipped with binoculars, badge, vest, bag, observation book, manuals and compiled a reference book of environmental legislations. In framework of the project, a projector, screen board, copying machine, 2 desks and 9 chairs were purchased and they are being used for conducting trainings and promotion activities among the public. Totally, 10 promotion activities were carried out and 890 local people attended them. Five-minute TV program on environmental conservation was broadcasted on weekly basis through local public radio of Kazakh language for 24 times. A column for environmental protection in the provincial magazine Jana Omir has been started. Six promotion boards were placed in areas where there are rare species and high frequency of environmental crimes and violatios. For the first time in the soum, with publich involvement, many years of accumulated wastes around Bulgan river bed area was cleaned in cooperation with the administration of Munkhairkhan Uul Natioanal Park and senior students of school. And 56 people participated in this activity and 4 trucks of waste was transported to the disposal area. Volunteer rangers did 148 times of patrolling for five months from June 17, 2009 till November 15 , 2009, and revealed 18 violations. Out of these violations 16 were illegal wood cutting and 2 were illegal gold mining actions. Ten people who violated the law were taken measures and 0,9 million tugruks of income was transferred to local budget. Conclusion: Volunteer rangers discovered and stopped 18 environmental violations occurred in the soum during project period. As a result of the cooperation of volunteer rangers and local people, the number of 39 violations that occurred in 2008 was decreased twice as much, which was appreciated a lot by the locals. However local environmental inspectors did not take proper measures when the violations were revealed and soum administration broke law by issuing big number of permissions for cutting green timber, they should stop their illegal actions and be responsible for their duties. The project implementers established an NGO “Bulgan river” got certificate in order to ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes, to mobilize local people in environmental conservation. 43 Project activity pictures: Discussing with local volunteer rangers for their activity and monitoring results Binocles, jacket, and badge provided to 8 volunteer rangers. A board with conservation content located in one of river crossing point 44 Divine Gobi (49) Project implementer: Branch of Mongolian Environmental Association Total budget: 10030 $ Project objective: To make a contribution toward creating environmental conservation cooperative system of local people who benefit from nature by practicing animal husbandry, planting, tourism, mining, infrastructure, exploration and research in Gobi, and to support government relevant actions. Activity: 2-3 day training and discussion to be organized three times in Dalanzadgad city, Sevrei and Tsogttsutsii soums on improving awareness of the public on the Gobi environment, increasing their participation in the environmental decision making and improving ecological education on using, protecting and recovering natural resources properly; Promotions and information on decreasing environmental deterioration and conserving the nature to be broadcasted to the public on press and media means of the provincial center such as television and radio; Monitoring on environmental degradation and desertification to be carried out in tourism camps and mining areas in Bulgan, Bayan ovoo, Gurvan tes, Mandal Ovoo, Nomgon, Hanbogd, Hanhongor and Tsogttsetsii soums, at the spot research to be executed in collaboration with soum authorities, herders and residents and recommendations on eliminating degradation to be suggested on basis of identifying causes; Cooperation and interaction between environmental government organizations to be strengthened and opportunities of collaboration with NGOs to be extended. Project site: All soums of Umnugobi aimag Project outputs: As a result of broadcasting of 2 programs on project activities and environmental conservation through Altangobi television and Gobi region radio for twice, and series of programs on environmental problems in Umnugobi aimag broadcasted nationwide for 5 times, about 500000 people have been informed. Training and discussions on preventing environmental degradation and using natural resources properly have been provided, dividing all soums of Umnugobi into three regions, in Dalanzadgad, Sevrei, and Tsogttsotsii soums involving over 104 officials, residents and NGO representatives according to the plan. In addition, in cooperation with relevant government organizations, check ups and visits were carried out in tourism and mining companies on how they are using natural resources, and recommendations on how to cooperate to stop negative impact of land degradation on local residents caused by natural resource use were developed and forwarded local officials. As a follow up action, the resolution No 111 (Some measures to be taken on environmental issues) and No. 112 (Supporting the establishment of Mother Gobi center) were issued by the Umnugobi aimag Citizens`Representatives Meeting and started to be adhered to. Conclusion: As a main outcome of the project, local residents, economic entities and government organizations were informed about crucial environmental problems, and identified possible cooperation ways through discussions and got decision made by the local authority. In connection with the intensive development of mining activities in Umnugobi aimag, environmental degradation is increasing which is a big concern for locals. As result of active promotion and training activities organized in the scope of the project, awareness of the local people on environmental issues was improved and public monitoring on use of natural resources have been increased to certain point. 45 Project activity pictures: 46 Compassion and environmental conservation (286) Project implementer: D.Badamhand and her team Total budget: 2575 $ Project objective: Teach traditional environmental conservation methodologies to soum residents and regional residents and develop training model and structure on eliminating environmental risks. Activity: Trainings on “improving traditional knowledge for environment conservation”, “Inexhaustible resources”, “Law on preserving plants and forests”, Water-precious gem”, “Mongolian traditions on respecting the nature”, “Mongolian mentality on preserving the nature” and “Law on air” to be held for all ages of people including elderly people, children and youths in Dadal soum, Hentii aimag; Involve 1460 people in 40 hours and 22 times of training on traditional knowledge on environmental conservation; A team consisting of 8 professional lectors to be formed to carry out promotional activities in baghs; A council for NGOs and social organizations operating in environmental protection to be established and networked with the project activities; Operate project information center; Project information and training center for environmental protection to be supplied with manuals. Project outputs: The project office has been established and information, training and promotion materials have been prepared, and local people have been provided with information. The project team consisted of Social policy officer, rangers, and WWF representatives, worked actively with assistance from soum support group. Training materials were prepared on the basis of available information, books and manuals. And around 260 students of 4th-9th grades have attended the trainings. Provided support to establishing teenagers environmental club. 24 times and 42 hours of promotion activities were organized in all baghs and 70% of the soum population or 1486 people attended them. 297 pages of handout material was prepared and distributed. Also two promotional screens of 2 3m size were placed at highly crowded areas in the soum center. Eight lectors to promote traditional conservation methodologies to the community were selected and were provided with training materials. Conclusion: The project team did hard work by reaching most part of the soum population. it was observed that local elderly people and residents highly appreciated the project initiative to restore traditional environmental conservation methodologies and supported its activities. From the project outcomes such as positive changes in psychology, attitude and care of local people toward environment, it is seen that carrying out regular environmental conservation promotion 47 activities using combination of traditional and contemporary methodologies of environmental conservation among the community would be of crucial in keeping local ecological balance. Project activity pictures: Boards in the street of Dadal soum center with contents on environmental protection: “let’s respect and follow the traditions of our ancesters for environmental protection“ Let’s leave our surrounding environment clean and enjoyable for our next generation Do not forget that every single element of our surrounding environment is alive 48 WATER AND SOIL POLLUTION REDUCTION 49 Tuin River-Our future (15) Project implementer: Enlightenment, development and progress center Total budget: 3168 $ Project objective: Ensure an opportunity to live peacefully in a healthy environment with clean air. Activity: Training and promotion on eliminating river pollution, preserving water sources and using natural resources to be provided to residents in Tuin river basin areas including Bayanhongor, Jinst, Erdenetsogt, Ulziit and Bogd soums in Bayanhongor aimag; Local trainers on environmental protection to be prepared and environmental training and pollution control to be delivered; Schedule on cleaning river valleys in the area of each soum located in the Tuin River basin to be developed and valleys to be cleaned in collaboration with soum administrations and residents. Project outputs: A team consisted of 19 people was established and a project teams of 5-7 people each were appointed to 5 soums in Bayanhongor aimag upon negotiation with soum governors. Series of ecological education trainings were organized in Bayanhongor soum on May 7-8, 2009, involving 60 people. Methodologists from Aimag Education and Cultural Department and methodologists of Unofficial Education Department joined the project team . The trainings were organized in each soum, a mobile advising team worked and seminars on themes such as water pollution, eco factors, negative impact of waste, air and soil pollution and Tuin river pollution tendency were organized. Around 42381 students attended the trainings for secondary schools. Eco-information centers were established in schools and kindergartens and were equipped with training curriculum materials and manuals. Surface water census was held in project implementing soums and water shortage and pollution degrees were identified. Eco-mobile patrolling was held once a month in each soum in order to prevent from river and promotion information was distributed through local TV and mass media regularly, which was effective in reducing illegal waste disposal nearby river areas. Series of TV programmes on river pollution reduction were prepared and broadcasted through local television, and 150 brochures were distributed. Conclusion: Training and promotion activities were carried out well in 5 project soums and soum authorities and local people participated actively in all activities, Although, the project had small budget, teachers and instructors of education organizations were mobilized into project activities well and school students and kindergarten children were provided with information of environmental conservation and manuals and materials. It was an important action to improve environmental conservation knowledge of children. Also cleaning of Tuin river area with participation of local people, and the eco-patrolling were highly appreciated by local people. It is observed that Tuin 50 River area is significantly clean as a result of the project activities. Especially we would like to emphasize that Bogd soum authority was very cooperative. Project activity pictures: 51 Conservation of Haraa River (25) Project implementer: A team headed by L.Humbagai Total budget: 6177 $ Project objective: Form up and maintain mentality to conserve Haraa river by uniting attention of residents in Haraa river basins, government organizations and NGOs, and incorporate a subject on “Protection of Haraa river” into curriculum of 30 schools located in the river basin. Activity: Direction of activities on protecting the river basin to be defined through collection and processing of research materials and data on river flow, water level and pollution; Training and promotion for the people on eliminating river pollutions; Special curriculum on participation of students in eradication of pollution and protection of Haraa river to be developed and incorporated into the curriculum of 33 secondary schools in areas along Haraa river and to be taught by trainers; Promotion activities to be carried out in river basins areas where tourists and campers visit and measures to eliminate pollution to be organized. Project outputs: 17 trainings and promotion activities on eliminating river pollution, conservation of river bank ecology and proper use of natural resources were conducted for the residents of the towns in the Haraa river basin area such as, Darkhan, Khongor, Baruunkharaa, Zuunkharaa, Kherkh, Salkhit, Batsumber, and Jargalant towns, and 700 people attended these trainings and 1300 recommendation papers, brochures and promotion materials were distributed. Four community cooperatives were established with an aim to protect Haraa river and started working. In the scope of the project, a work plan was developed in conjunction with the local authorities, which was effective in reducing the repetition of works, ensuring quality outcomes and impacts from the project. 13 promotion boards were placed along the riverside and were handed over to the government and non-government NGOs in order to prevent from getting stolen. Promotion activities are being delivered among campers along the riverside using load speaker and handout materials. TV programs were broadcasted through DBS television of Darkhan aimag twice with 4 repetitions each, which allows to count that the project activities reached around 20% of the population or 15000 people. Also a special subject on Haraa river conservation has been incorporated into the curriculum of Education Department of Darkhan-Uul aimag and has been approved, and chemistry and biology teachers of 32 schools have been prepared as a teacher trainers. They delivered sessions to school students. Conclusion: The project activities were accessible to the residents along the river area and students. The densely populated Haraa river basin areas have become cleaner due to public cleaning and public monitoring activities, and authorities and environmental inspectors and rangers started to pay attention to the river areas. Recommendations and proposals reflecting the specialties of each soum along the river have been developed and handed over to the Governors, heads of the Soum Citizens` Representatives` Meeting, and rangers. These recommendations are useful to their work. The number of the community cooperatives that are taking control over natural resources conservation is increasing and positive impacts have been resulted in areas where public monitoring, certain owners and residents are present. But there would be lack of cooperation between the government and non-government organisations without the involvement of this project and the government organisations fail to take a leading role in this field. 52 Project activity pictures: Project slogan: if you respect your selves respect Kharaa River too! 53 Conservation of the Seruun lake (297) Project implementer: A team, headed by B.Baatar Total budget: 1867 $ Project objective: Protect the pure water lake originated from glacier located in high mountain region from drying up, to increase its water level, remove disposals in its surrounding area and prevent pastureland from dehydration. Activity: Water level of the lake to be increased up to appropriate basin level by building half dam of 20 m long in the Hetsuu sair river to let water flow into the Seruun lake; 5km canal for water flow to be repaired and cleaned; Disposals and wastes in the vicinity of the lake to be removed and cleaned; Temporary posts to preserve the Seruun Lake to be operated by each family in accordance with the schedule and promotion activities to be carried out; Animal watering, peeing and lying in the vicinity of the Lake to be declined by 50 percent; Responsibilities to be charged to those violating environmental laws and pasture regulations. Project outputs: A resolution prohibiting over 70 homes from Bulgan soum of Bayan-Ulgii aimag and Munhhairhan soum of Hovd aimag to settle in the areas nearby the lake for 45 days, was issued made and posts operated during this period. The river watercourse which had changed due to flood in the Hetsuu Sair River, was fixed and the water flew to the lake through built dams and the water level of the lake was increased in cooperation with local people. With the help of residents of Hujirt bagh, water canal to the lake has been repaired. In addition to it, waste and animal corpses around Seruun Lake areas were completely cleaned with involvement of 62 local residents. Promotion activities were carried out among the local households and conservation promotion sign boards have been placed in 2 places. Conclusion: Although the project implemented for short time, as a result of the local people`s cooperation, the water level of the lake has went up drastically leading to increase in vegetation growth which inspired the local people very much. All local people equally participated in the project activities to restore their pasture and protect water resource, as a result of their cooperation, they could restore ecological balance of their living areas in short time, which encouraged them a lot. Soum authorities and herders agreed to use their pasture areas according to clear and well organized schedule, to relieve degraded pastures and to use water resources efficiently, which highlights the importance of the project implementation. 54 Project activity pictures: 55 To drink or not water from the Tuul River? (364) Project implementer: B.Odsuren and others Total budget: 8255 $ Project objective: For the purpose of ensuring healthy and safe living rights of those people, who is drinking water from the Tuul river downstream, to increase their knowledge about current pollution levels, types of pollutions and encourage them to act against those who is polluting Tuul river as well request those in charge for monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations so that to increase their work efficiency to reduce pollutions in the Tuul River and allow local population to continue use water from Tuul river. Activity: Handouts containing research outputs on water pollution and training contents on practical measures to decrease water pollution to be prepared and circulated to the people living along the riverside and training at soums shall be organized; Citizens’ Representative Meeting, environmental and hygienic inspection agencies and inspectors to be briefed about the river pollution, a strategy of measures to eliminate pollution at its sources to be developed in collaboration with the above organizations, local residents and NGOs. Joint notification by self-governing local organization - Citizens’ Representative Meeting, soum Governor’s Secretariats, Veterans’ council, Women committee and residents living along the riverside and claim on water pollution and pollution reduction to be forwarded to relevant entities and officials for having measures on pollution eradication taken. Project outputs: According to activities of the project, seasonal horizontality of water pollution has been compared to water standard amount as per each pollutant on the basis of previous research materials. Training materials on river water pollution and pollutant sources were circulated. Three trainings and discussions were organized among 150 residents of the above mentioned three soums located along the Tuul river. Information on chemical composition, quality change and negative effect caused by direct use of polluted water was provided to 120 people representing local authorities, NGOs and residents of Altanbulag, Undurshireet and Lun soums of Tuv aimag and equipped them with legal knowledge on how to ensure their rights to live in healthy and safe environment. 70 residents from bagh 2 and 3 of Altanbulag soum, which have high level of water pollution, supported the project and established a NGO “Bayansonginot” during the project period in order to unite their power to conserve environment and to reduce water pollution. The NGO is operatiing. Conclusion: Herders and residents of Altanbulag, Undurshireet and Lun soums of Tuv Aimag located along the Tuul river to the South of Ulaanbatar city, obtained realistic information on river water pollution and legal knowledge on how to protect their legal rights to live in safe and healthy environment. And they fought actively by forwarding their demand to relevant government organisations in charge of reducing pollution and to the economic entities that cause pollution. Due to the demand and pressure from the local people activated as result of the project and requirements from the State Specialized Inspection Agency, the operation of main pollutant the “Khargia” water treatment facility that treats waste water from industries was stopped. And activities to transfer the its management to government control and update its equipment have started. 56 Project activity pictures: 57 Clean air-healthy environment (111) Project implementer: Rural women development support Total budget: 9984 $ Project objective: Identify ways of air pollution reduction in Darkhan-Uul aimag in collaboration with local administrative organizations and inhabitants Activity: Air pollution sources and affecting factors in Darkhan city to be identified; Detailed surveys to be executed per each source and solutions for pollution elimination shall be suggested; Discussions on air pollution to be broadcasted through Television and FM radio station for getting opinions from residents; Round table meetings to be organized involving representatives of industries, and staff of environmental hygiene and socio-economic sectors and solutions on pollution eradication shall be discussed; Training on eradicating environmental pollution to be held for the people. Project outputs: A questionnaire on air pollution level was carried among 1000 residents of Darkhan city, negative impact of air pollution on the population were identified, and recommendations on ways to decrease pollution sources were developed. TV discussions and round table meetings on eliminating polluting smoke from ger districts, automobiles and industries were organized involving over 60 persons. 3 training on eliminating environmental pollution were organized for 270 people and 120 volunteer rangers were prepared in the framework of the project. Conclusion: Although project activities have been completed a lack of realistic contribution was made toward reducing air pollution. It is considered that the project team had lack of experience in this field therefore the project could not succeed. It should be noted that although certain recommendations to improve the project implementation were given to the project team during monitoring, the project had too big objective, and its activities were not so well interacted and there was lack of participation of qualified experts that is why all these reasons prevented from achieving significant results. But the project team did lot of effort during the implementation of the project, which improved environmental management capacity of the NGO at least a little. On the other hand, it was good lesson to NEMO project team that it is important to review project applicants previous experience in implementing similar activities before funding ` their projects. 58 Let’s reduce waste we produce (294) Project implementer: J.Bayarmaa Total budget: 4997 $ Project objective: To decrease solid waste amount in Bayanhongor soum and to make contribution toward water and soul conservation. Activity: Training and promotion on decreasing, recycling and classifying solid wastes to be provided to local residents; Polls to be carried out among residents on solutions to waste problems; Start a work to establish a system to get waste classified by residents, transported safely and loaded from hand to truck; Set up activators group among school students who can influence their parents and neighbors on reducing solid waste through promotion activities; Grounds for organizing classification, collection and transport of wastes economically efficiently to be created. Project outputs: Recommendation on “Is waste expensive?” was published and distributed to 850 apartment households in Bayanhongor soum. Transportation of solid wastes from 850 households of 30 apartments in Bayanhongor soum is being tested to be executed by TSA of the same soum. Previously wastes used to be transported once in 10 days. A contract to classify and recycle plastic bags and bones has been established with Ganmunhjin Co., Ltd of the aimag. An eco- group was established and provided with 12 hours of training, and it started to motivate residents from apartment areas. With involvement of 20 unemplyed citizens of the bagh 1, solid waste accumulated in the public territory of the bagh was cleaned and promotion activities were carried out for the people living in highly waste polluted areas. An eco-club was established at the Nomun-Dalai high school of Bayankhongor soum and a training under the theme “Let`s live in waste free environment” was delivered to 2074 students from 64 grades. Conclusion: The project has not completed yet. sThe project implementation was not satisfactory because of organizing training and promotion without involvement of professionals and due to lack of experience and practicum. As the project implementer was not able to continue working due to health problem, aimag Environment and Tourism Department is taking initiative to make the project more effective. The project monitoring team provided ceratin recommendations to improve the project activities. It has been agreed to identify project indicators to evaluate project final outcomes. The project proposal was written well, however, there was lack of knowledge and experience in real implementation. Therefore, the NEMO project team learned from this and started to follow a procedure to get feedback from local bodies about project implementers after the first stage of selection in order to make final selection decision. 59 PASTURE MANAGEMENT 60 Natural pasture management (48) Project implementer: Bayangol resource development NGO Total budget: 14860 $ Project objective: To reduce the desertification, to develop sustainable natural pasture management in collaboration with local government organizations and herders, and to improve livelihoods of milkmaids. Activity: 48-hour training on sustainable use of pasture to be organized for representatives of 252 herder families in Haraa and Gonir baghs of Bayangol soum, Selenge aimag. Knowledge shall be tested; Conventional manuals on pasture use to be developed and circulated to herders. Measures on improving pasture quality to be implemented through collection of solid waste and stone debris accumulated in the pasture area and mining and drilling holes to be filled; Two fenced areas in size of 20 40 meters for monitoring and comparing with other pasture areas to be established at pasture areas and pasture use status to be monitored by herders themselves so that not to degrade pasture quality On the basis of negotiations with the soum administrative, giving pastureland under ownership of 252 herder families according to contract to be started. Project outputs: Six-day training on pasture, hay making and livestock food management was delivered to totally 421 people including 376 herders and 45 residents from Haraa and Gonir baghs by a teacher of the University of Agriculture. Conventional manual on pasture was developed and distributed to all herders of these 2 baghs. Around 13000 ha of pasture area was restored by 595 people in 34 days (in duplicated number) by simple methods (fertilizing with livestock dung, colleting different types of waste and stones etc), and 574 tons of livestock dung was spread in the area 160 tons of stones and 99 tons of waste were removed. In the framework to conduct monitoring and evaluation in pasture area and to implement proper management policy, with an aim to compare the structure and output per ha of vegetation in fence protected and non-protected pastures, 2 fences of size 20 mX 540 m were built. Soum authorities negotiated with herders about giving pasture areas to their ownership and handed over 950 ha of area to herders under contract. Conclusion: The project implemention was good. It was observed that, although the project site has a combination of agriculture and livestock breeding, has huge population density and covers small area, the herders had good knowledge on pasture, using the pasture in accordance with schedule and considered pasture mood. In soums with large pasture areas, herders tend to focus on livestock instead of pastureland in comparison to herders of small soums and therefore, the pastureland is greatly degraded. As a result of the project, herders of Bayangol soum have an 61 attitude to focus more on pastureland accessibility, quality and improvement as its owners, therefore their pastureland quality was good even tough it is small in size. Project activity pictures: 62 Developing a new community based methodology to process land use plan (308) Project implementer: J.Davaatar and team of land use planning expert Total budget: 13500 $ Project objective: Provide technical assistance to herder families to be formed up as a group of united organization through improving their knowledge and awareness on joint land management, empower them to be able to collaborate with other parties at the same level, and build their capacity to participate in and influence positively on decision making about land resource management issues. Activity: Technique of joint land planning to be developed; Training on joint management on land resources to be provided to soum administrative authorities, staff, leaders and members of herder groups in accordance with the developed technique; Meetings and trainings for herders at 5 places in the soum, providing assistance to the establishment of herders’ cooperatives, formulation of joint planning and enhancement of community management capacity; Training on implementation of joint land use planning to group members, environmental inspectors in the soum, land managers and related officers; Necessary consultancy, practicum and assistance to be provided to the development of model of herders’ community-based joint land management. Project outputs: Land utilization map has been renewed as a preparation for development of joint involvement land utilization plan. Map of winter quarters, spring quarters, wells, water points and pasture utilization of the herders of all baghs have beend modified. Trainings and discussions on community participation based land utilization planning were organized for four times involving 65 people including officers of Soum Governor’s Secretariat, land managers, bagh authorities, agricultural officials and herders of the soum during the project period. Three meetings were held among rural herders at 5 places on joint involvement, and as a result of which, one herders’ group has been established. A manual and simplified methodology material on developing community participation based land utilization plan have been finalized for publishing. Conclusion: The project implementation is at its completion stage. The activities to get the community participation based land utilization plan discussed by professional council and published have been postponed due to certain reasons, but they are ready for publishing. As a result of the project it has become possible to solve herders schedule based land utilization issue in accordance with land organization plan at soum level. This plan and simplified manual would be useful in improving the planning and utilization of land resources, supporting pasture ownership, and reducing land degradation at aimag and soum levels. 63 Project activity pictures: 64 Herders based environmental conservation and pasture monitoring (385) Project implementer: Civil ecological education foundation Total budget: 10667 $ Project objective: Start herders based pasture assessment in collaboration with local residents, professionals and local administrations, test proper pasture management means, equip local herders, milkmaids and residents with knowledge and skill to conduct bio diversity census in a easy methods and and protect them. Activity: Develop pasture monitoring technique suited to Mongolian conditions on the basis of indicators such as vegetation coverage, composition and frequency of species, plant morphology, grassless land, soil typology and land slope etc; Results of pasture status assessment to be developed and discussed jointly with herders and compiled through meetings; Develop methods, suitable for herders, to count bioldiversities such as herbivorous, birds and herbals etc; A total of 12 young herders who are eager to learn to carry out pasture monitoring and to train fellow herders in other aimags, to be trained. Project outputs: Field and classroom trainings on methods to recognize pasture degradation and plant species and to identify pasture vegetation coverage were provided to 20 herders from Shanh bagh, Harhorin soum of Uvurhangai aimag on June 12-17, 2009. Training of trainers on pasture assessment was attended by 3 herders of the same bagh. The project team worked in Jinst soum of Bayanhongor aimag on July 21-31, 2009, organizing participatory training to 34 people. And 3 people including environmental inspectors attended the training of trainers on pasture assessment in the same soum. Meetings were held with herders and decision makers in the project soums on pasture situation assessment results, and development of methods, suitable for herders, to carry our biodiversity census in pasture area has completed . Conclusion: The project is completing according to the plan. The project report has been delayed due to health problem of the project supervisor. As a final result of the project, a simple and easy method to assess pasture situation, suitable for herders, will be developed. And status of 4 winter and summer pastures of each of 2 soums were assessed in accordance with the formulated method in cooperation with local herders and results of the assessment were developed jointly. Each soum had prepared 3 young trainer-herders by training them in pasture monitoring. 65 Project activity pictures: 66 CAPACITY BUILDING OF RANGERS 67 Project on improving rangers` capacity (466) Project implementer: A team, headed by B.Odonchimeg Total budget: 12049$ Project objective: Strengthen the capacity of rangers in Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Orhon and Bulgan aimags. Activity: o 100-hour theoretical, practical and field training curriculum on improving capacity of environmental conservationists in Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Orhon and Bulgan aimags to be developed; o The curriculum to be discussed and approved by training and methodological council of Agricultural University, Darkhan; o Training manuals on forest and steppe ecosystem to be developed for the use by rangers; o 100-hour training to be provided to 97 rangers in 4 aimags. Project outputs: 100-hour training curriculum for environmental rangers has been developed, discussed and approved by training and methodological council of the Agricultural University, Darkhan. The curriculum is considered to be a good one which involved many important theoretical and practical subjects. Trainings for 30 environmental rangers in 12 soums of Bulgan aimag were being organized under and schedule as planned. Training materials, pens and notebooks were provided to the participants. Training environment was well equipped with LCD screen and other necessary equipment. It is appreciated that a test to identify the efficiency of the trainings by giving test to the trainees both before and after the trainings, and it is a best practice that should be replicated furthermore. A training involving 49 people was held in Darkhan-Uul aimag on June 12-19, 2009. According to the plan, 97 people were supposed to attend the training and it was decided not to provide accommodation allowance to the participants, however, in order to involve the participants completely they were accommodated in suburb area, which caused exceed in cost. Therefore totally 77 rangers attended the training. Training manual was published in 200 piece and all trainees were given a manual during the training. The manual was reviewed by Erdenesaikhan, Monitoring consultant before publishing. The manual was very informative. The trainers evaluated the results of the trainings by reviewing the activities implemented as a follow up of the training. Conclusion: The project implementation was very good. It should be highlighted that the professional level of trainers was high and prepared well. The trained rangers highly evaluated the quality and result of the training. This team is fully capable to implement training project in the future. 68 Project activity pictures: 69 Capacity building of rangers (521) Project implementer: Gobi-Altai aimag branch of Mongolian Environmental Conservation Association Total budget: 4789 $ Project objective: Make an impact in improving ecological education of rangers, environmental conservation, proper use of natural resources and restoration through developing manual suited to the specialties of regional areas. Activity: o Two-day seminar to be held for environmental rangers of 18 soums of Gobi-Altai aimag for the purposes of improving knowledge and ability of rangers on legislations, environmental observations and monitoring in the provincial center; o Training to equip 38 volunteer rangers from 18 soums of the aimag with necessary knowledge to work in conservation field; o Establish incentive fund to encourage volunteer rangers and create a civil conservation network; o Assess the efficiency of the training through carrying out monitoring on work performance of the rangers and volunteer rangers of the soums. Project outputs: Initial training of the project was planned to be provided for all rangers at the beginning of May. With reference to the MET announcement of 2009 as the “year of ranger”, the project training was coincided with training for the rangers of all aimags, and therefore upon negotiation with relevant officials of the MET these two trainings were united. The number of attendees went up to 150, including 20 rangers, all environmental monitoring inspectors and relevant officials from local police office, emergency management agency, intelligence agency, professional inspection agency, and engineers and technicians of hydro-meteorological office. Mr Gansukh, Minister of Environment and Tourism and Head of Department of MET and deputy specialists attended these trainings sharing their opinions on solving environmental problems in the aimag such as halting illegal mining and poaching and developed relevant recommendations. Next stage of the project training was organized involving 40 volunteer rangers from 18 soums and training manual was prepared according to the number of the trainees and were used during the training. Conclusion: There were some errors such project mid-term planning was poor and report was not satisfactory. Some of the project activities were clarified and discussed by the monitoring committee and the project team was given some recommendations to improve the project implementation. The project team implemented the project second phase training well. As there are high incident of environmental crimes related to minerals and mining in Gobi-Altai aimag, the project activities focused on capacity building and improving the knowledge and skills of rangers and volunteer rangers, strengthening their cooperation and networking were fruitful contribution toward environmental conservation of the region. 70 PUBLICATIONS 71 Manual for herders on “Establishing cooperatives” (10) Project implementer: Environmental conservation association of Dornod Mongolian people NGO Total budget: 5900 $ Project objective: Develop, publish and distribute a manual containing examples and patterns that can simplify the work to develop basic documents needed for herder cooperatives. Activity: o Develop a manual containing examples and patterns that can simplify the work to develop basic documents needed for herder cooperatives; o Publish the manual in 3500 copies and distribute to all libraries, Citizens’ Representatives Meetings, Governors, environmental agencies, environmental inspectors and rangers bagh governors of all soums and aimags; and to the NGOs that support environmental cooperatives. Project outputs: Initial version of the manual on establishing cooperatives was developed with 8 chapters and 6 annexes. Feedback of over 20 herders` groups and cooperatives were incorporated into the formulation of the manual. The first version was read by government organizations and NGOs, international organizations, scholars working in the field of cooperatives; active cooperatives and group members and their feedbacks were received. The manual was published in 3500 piece and were distributed to all libraries, Chairmen of Citizens’ Representative`s Meetings, Governors, environmental agencies, environmental inspectors and rangers bagh Governors of all soums and aimags; and to the NGOs supporting environmental cooperatives` for their daily use. Conclusion: As a result of the project, a manual useful for collecting data and processing documents necessary for establishing herders’ cooperative was developed and was distributed to all aimag, soum and bagh in accessible number. The manual would be helpful for people and herders who are willing to set up cooperatives and be a favorable condition for the establishment of many new cooperatives that can make contribution toward environmental conservation and proper use of natural resources. 72 Project publication 73 Development of a Reference book for rangers (63) Project implementer: Environmental consulting company “Bio-sphera” Total budget: 9180 $ Project objective: Improve final performance results of rangers through providing them with efficient information. Activity: Define the roles and responsibilities of rangers through conducting analysis on environmental legislative acts; Compile norms, standards and legal documents necessary for rangers within their roles and responsibilities for reference book; Get the first version of the reference book for rangers discussed by experts and publish the final version and distribute to all rangers. Project outputs: Book writing plan was developed through discussion by project team members and delegated to the executors. A research on needs and demand for reference book was carried out among 154 rangers of three aimags, and their feedbacks were incorporated into the reference book. Conclusion: The first version of the reference book was discussed and reviewed by officials from MET, rangers and researchers. The reference book was published in 1000 piece totally and was distributed to all rangers through all aimags Departments of Environment and Tourism collecting their receipt signatures. Using the reference book, the rangers will be able to provide professional and technical guidance to environmental cooperatives in their own territories, to support improvement of daily monitoring at natural objects, to carry out environmental conservation activities on the basis of reliable information, and to manage and coordinate restoration activities such as forest recovery and water source protection etc. 74 A Handbook for Rangers of Gobi region (118) Project implementer: Team, led by B.Mijiddorj Total budget: 5970 $ Project objective: Develop and distribute a manual for Gobi region rangers Activity: First meeting and seminar of the project team; Preparation of manual materials; Secondary consultative meeting of team members; Distribute the manual to rangers and provide relevant trainings. Project outputs: We saw the the process of collecting materials for the manual for Gobi region rangers and tentative content of the manual and met some project members. Before collecting data necessary for the manual, the needs of the rangers from Gobi region and Strictly Portected Areas were assessed through meetings. In addition to it, questionnaires on the content of the manual were carried out among relevant people from the departments and the divisions of MET, Biological Institute, National University of Mongolia, research institute and related officials of universities. Also opinions and ideas were exchanged with authors of previous environmental manuals and trainers of rangers. Conclusion: Research and data collection have been completed and the manual has been developed. The project was planned to be completed by July, however due to mandatory needs for getting opinions and having discussions with others parties about the manual, the project implementation period has extended till November in the scope of the funding. Outcome: Over 200 rangers working in the Gobi region and 500 rangers operating nationwide will have integrated manual and standard of mandatory knowledge and skills, and furthermore the the quality of environmental conservation actions will be improved. 75 Development and Publication of a book “ Forest Fire Prevention and Response” (170) Project implementer: Mongolian parachutists association to assist environmental conservationists Total budget: 7000 $ Project objective: Bring the activities of prevention and fighting against forest fire to advanced stage with support from rangers and community cooperatives working to reduce ecological damage, train new methodologies to prevent from forest fire, and develop and introduce fire fighting stage and technologies on scientific basis. Activity: Assess the needs and demand for the book through questionnaires among members of cooperatives established in forest regions; Develop the first version of the book and submit to relevant professionals for review and get ther feedback; Publish the final version of the in 1000 copies and distribute to rangers and cooperatives in forest regions. Project outputs: The project team carried out a research among cooperatives on demand, needs and content of the book and developed the first version. The book was reviewed by forest fire specialists and relevant officials from the forest agency and necessary amendments were made ino the book, comparison to the previously published other similar books was made, additional information was incorporated. And at the end the final version of the book was published in 1000 copies. The books are being distributed to the rangers. Conclusion: The project activities were implemented well. There are 269 rangers and 307 community cooperatives and group members working in the forest fire prone places of the green zones of Zavhan, Huvsgul, Arhangai, Selenge, Hentii, Dornod and Tuv aimags and the capital city. Providing the rangers and cooperative with the book would significantly contribute toward eliminating the loss and damage caused by forest fires and reducing forest fire risks in the future. 76 Development and publication of a handbook on monitoring natural herbs and raw materials exported through state borders (186) Project implementer: Team, headed by D.Suran Total budget: 9170 $ Of which current funding: 2530 $ Project objective: Proper recognition and identification of natural herbal raw materials and ecological products grown in the nature shall create reliable chances of monitoring valuable natural resource. Activity: Survey on herbals and raw materials collected and prepared for export and other purposes shall be taken from local borders and customs; Biology-ecologic features of herbals and raw materials shall be studied; Photo illustrated manual shall be prepared for recognizing herbals being used; Feedback to be taken from related professional entities and MET and professionals to be trained. Project outputs: Research on herbals and raw materials, attempted to be transported through the border illegally, was executed via General Customs Office. Attempts of crossing licorice, desert cistanche, some species of ephedra, black grass, birch tree fungus and rare mushrooms through southern border have been recorded. And through northern border, attempts of illegal transport of Saposhnikovia Divericata and ferns were recorded. It is revealed that rare plants were dominantly collected from Erdene, Altanbulag, Batsumber and Bayanchandmani soums in Tuv aimag, Baruunharaa, Zuunharaa, Hushaat, Sharyn gol and Shaamar soums in Selenge aimag. In framework of the project, it’s been recorded that 14 species of plants and 1 kind of minerals are transported through borders. Information and data has been collected through 30-day trip in rural areas. The first version of the manual was discussed in September and amendments were made, and the final version was published in 1000 copies and distributed to relevant organizations. Conclusion: The project activities implemented well. This illustrated manual will be used by border inspectors who are far from professional organizations to distinguish between exported herbs and the “the herbs collected according to black market announcement” correctly, and it is vital for proper use, conservation of herbal resources and to ensure environmental sustainability. 77 Work and observation notebook for rangers (187) Project implementer: Amin horvoo NGO Total budget: 3000 $+960$ Project objective: Develop an environmental observation and research notebook for rangers to be used for doing monitoring and observation on relations between people and nature and utilization of natural resources, and recording animal movement, plant composition and growth, climate and weather phenomenon etc. Activity: Research on information needs to be taken from environmental rangers; Layout for observation book to be prepared on the basis of the survey; Observation notebook for environmental conservationists to be published in 2000 copies and distributed to local rangers and those in special protected areas. Conclusion: Drafts of 2 kinds of books; Workbook for rangers and Notebook for environmental observation and research were developed in connection with needs and demand of local rangers and in consistency with MET requirements on rangers job description. These notebooks were submitted to relevant specialists of MET for review and were published in 2000 copies. With regard to announcement by MET the year 2009 as a year of rangers` the books were distributed to rangers during trainings organized in each aimag. As a result of the project, all rangers are able to use an integrated standard of notebook for recording, observations, studies and monitoring, and it is of great significance in improving environmental monitoring quality. Taking into account the notebook recording and database creation through the notebooks to do performance evaluation of rangers would be helpful for getting systematic knowledge on protected area, carrying out natural resource census and preventing from possible environmental violations. In the future, MET should publish and distribute these observation notebooks for the use of rangers and related expenses must be incorporated into their budget and planning. 78 Herders’ ecological education and pasture use (a manual for community cooperatives and groups) (241) Project implementer: Useful plants foundation NGO Total budget: 5865 $ Project objective: Provide herders with ecological scientific knowledge on pasture plant resource, abundance, species, capacity, and the factors affecting pasture grind and degradation, pasture sustainability, assessment of pasture degradation by soil and plants in a simplified way. Activity: Results of projects implemented by Livestock breeding scientific institute on pasture to be studied; Research on related books and publications to be carried out; First edition of the simplified manual for herders on pasture plant resource, abundance, species, capacity, and factors affecting pasture grind and deterioration, pasture sustainability, assessment of pasture deterioration by soil and plants to be formulated; Opinions of professionals, experts and herders’ groups to be taken through discussions; Final edition to be published 1000 copies and circulated to herders. Project outputs: The first draft of the manual on ecological education of herders and pasture use was developed through meeting scholars of all organizations, international projects and herders’ groups working on pasture issues and incorporating their feedback into the manual. This first draft was reviewed by scientists of Livestock breeding scientific institute, National University of Mongolia, Plant, livestock breeding and pasture department of the State University of Agriculture, and the amended final version was published and distributed to herders through Environment and Tourism Departments of the aimags. . Conclusion: The project implementation was satisfactory. Through the trainings of basic ecological knowledge, the herders will obtain easy methods of identifying pasture growth, resource and capacity, which will be useful for proper use of pasture. 79 “Improvement of ecological knowledge of community cooperatives and groups and conservation of rare herbal resources” illustrated reference on rare herbals in Mongolia (387) Project implementer: Research team, led by U.Ligaa Total budget: 13000 $ Project objective: Publish illustrated manual on recognizing rare herbal species in Mongolia in 1000 copies for the use of environmental NGOs, cooperatives, groups, rangers, and inspectors of customs and border agencies Activity: Create a model for listing and noting each species of herbals and plants to be included in the reference; Information related materials on each plant species to be collected and field surveys to be carried out; Chronicles of each plants in the reference to be recorded; Related illustration materials to be collected from publications and pictures to be drawn; First edition of the reference to be developed and submitted to related organizations and experts for feedback; A total of 1000 copies of reference books to be published and 600 copies to be distributed to MET, 300 to environmental NGOs, 50 to border inspection division of State specialized inspection agency, and 50 to General Customs Office. Conclusion: The project implemented well in accordance with the plan. The manual was distributed in planned schedule. As a result of the project, first “Illustrated reference on rare plants in Mongolia” including detailed records of rare plants and herbals, which has limited natural restoration capacity, limited distribution and resource and might become nearly extinct, will be published. Also of the implementation of the Mongolian legislations on conservation of rare herbals will be enhanced, duties and responsibilities taken under international Convention on conservation of biological diversities will be implemented. Staff of border, customs and professional inspection agencies will have ready-to-use manual on recognizing rare herbals and plants, and therefore monitoring and inspection will be improved. Participation and initiative of local environmental NGOs in conservation of rare plants would be enhanced due to increased familiarity with rare herbals in their local area. 80 Training curriculum and manual for regional rangers (314) Project implementer: Ya.Adiya Total budget: 11400 $ Project objective: Develop a new training curriculum and a manual for rangers reflecting regional features. Activity: Information and data for research to be collected; Training curriculum for rangers to be developed and published reflecting regional features; Manuals for rangers to be developed in 3 versions and published in 2400 copies. Project outputs: Research works related to development of training program have been completed. Information and data have been collected and compared. The development of the training program was based on training program for improving knowledge and skills of specialists and rangers of the Administration of state strictly protected areas, MET. The first draft of the training curriculum has been developed. The program is to be used for 80 hours and 14-days temporary training. It was discussed by professional teachers of natural resource protection of National University of Mongolia, Mongolian State University of Education and State University of Agriculture, and their feedback have been incorporated. In the scope f the project, manual development as completed and versions of the manuals were reviewed by professional organizations and researchers, and necessary amendments were incorporated and published. Conclusion: Project implementation was good. Under the project, three separate books named: Training curriculum for rangers, Environmental conservation and environmental legal issues, and Ecology were published in 2400 copies, and were distributed according to the schedule. As a result of the project, a basic documents that determines mandatory professional education level and basic content of knowledge and skills of rangers working in the all parts of the country, has been developed. It will be possible to prepare qualified rangers through providing training according to this curriculum. Upon publication of a manual on nature, environment, basic knowledge on biological diversities, climate and features of the region, the rangers will be able to run knowledge-based activities. There will be improvement in quality of the rangers performance and operation. 81 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION On acquiring additional information from local authorities on the capacity of project implementation teams that are considered as grant candidates. As the teams that implemented the air pollution reduction project “Clean Air-Healthy Environment” in Darkhan-Uul aimag and the solid waste elimination project on “Let’s fight with waste” to reduce solid waste in Bayankhongor city of Bayankhongor aimag had lack of knowledge and experiences, they had difficulty to achieve their main objectives, and therefore, monitoring and support from the monitoring team, local environmental and tourism authorities were significantly required. Although they wrote quite good project proposals, they had almost no experience in implementing the projects. It was a big challenge for them to implement the projects. In order to prevent from such a problem in the future, additional information about the team, professional capacity, and experience in implementing similar activities of the projects selected in the first stage of selection should be obtained through local environmental and tourism authorities and be considered before the final selection of the grant projects is made. After this, the information about the project selection results should be publicized to the general public. From the reports submitted by local environment and tourism authorities it was observed that their capacity to carry out monitoring and evaluation on project implementation, to provide project teams with support and consultation, and to review project results are quite weak. Therefore, it is required to increase the capacity of local authorities in this field and need to have trainings on these relevant subjects. The number of the project proposals submitted to NEMO small grant programme is increasing from year to year. The more the project outcomes increase, the more the reputation of the small grant programme is going up among the general public, NGOs and civil society. To compare the number of the selected project with the number of proposals submitted in 2009, only 6% of all proposals (or 35 proposals) were selected to be granted. And many well developed project proposals were not selected due to lack of funding. And there are growing number of complaints from some organizations and citizens that they participated in project proposal competition for 2- 4 times since the NEMO project started, but were never selected. Although the maximum amount of funding for per project decreased to USD 15000 the number of submitted project proposals is growing. Therefore it is needed to fund at least 10% of the all proposals submitted by citizens and NGOs that are willing to write and implement projects addressing environmental crucial issues. Also it is required to increase the amount of funding for small projects. 82 Growth of numbers of projects proposals submitted to NEMO project The number of the project proposals 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2006 I 2006 II 2008 2009 2010 Project implementation years RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION Organizing capacity building trainings for respective people in carrying out monitoring on small projects and providing those with necessary manuals will positively influence on the outputs and impacts of the projects. Therefore, it is required to incorporate in consultation with the MET, this kind of training into the ministry’s annual action plan of 2010. It is need to clarify where funding for trainings shall come from. The handbook published in 2006 on how to write environmental small grant projects should be enriched with contents, outputs, lessons learnt from the previous projects` implementation and distributed to distant aimags and soums in sufficient number. It would be crucial in mobilizing local communities in environmental protection activities and activating them through small projects. Providing the small grant selection committee members with training, guidance and relevant materials on assessing project proposals realistically by using indicators would greatly help in selecting projects optimally. Linking either running or prospective local programs and projects of MET, with the annual small grant program themes can be a vital link to synergy MET national policy with the efforts and solutions of environmental issues by small grants at local levels. Also, combining of monitoring visits of NEMO small grant implementation with the MET’s monitoring of local programs can be a mechanism to assess linkages between MET’s local policy and NEMO project and mutual impacts and to use funds efficiently. 83 APPENDIX 1 THE LIST OF THE BOOKS, MANUALS AND BROCHURES PUBLISHED IN 2009 1. A guideline for development of environmental protection program and management plan of communities, herders and citizen groups (500 copies) 2. Green certificate for local tourism (500 copies) 3. Handbook for forest communities (450 copies to forest communities in 5 forested aimags) 4. A methodology on participatory land use planning (to be published in 200 copies after the review and approval by the Land authority in March 2010) 5. A guideline for rangers (200 copies for rangers -trainees of Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Orkhon and Bulgan aimags) 6. A Training material for activist-rangers (40 copies for trainees in Gobi Altai aimag) 7. A manual for herders on legal establishment of a herder group (3,500 copies and distributed to all baghs and soums of Mongolia) 8. A reference book for rangers (1000 copies and distributed to rangers and communities through aimags’ Env depts) 9. A manual for the rangers of Gobi region (500 copies for 7 aimags of the Gobi region) 10. A guideline for forest communities on Forest Fire Prevention and Response (1,000 copies distributed forest communities and to agencies in charge for forest management and fire suppressions) 11. A guideline on monitoring of exported plants and natural herbs (1,000 copies distributed to all customs departments and units and aimag env depts) 12. A notebook for observation and notes for rangers (2,000 copies distributed through MNET training series in early spring of 2009) 13. A manual for herder’s ecological education and pasture management (1,000 copies distributed to herders communities) 14. An illustrated reference book on rare herbals of Mongolia (1,000 copies distributed to academic institutions, MNET affiliates, customs depts., and NGOs) 15. A training curricula and 2 textbooks on ecological education and normative documents (800 copies each and distributed to all stakeholders as per the distribution list) 84 APPENDIX 2. AGENDA on PUBLIC OPEN DAY FOR DEMONSTRATION OF RESULTS OF SMALL GRANT PROJECTS Venue: Conference Room of the Open Society Forum (Silk Road Building, Jamiyan Gun Street 5/1, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar-48, Mongolia) Date of event: December 10, 2009. Duration of event: 10.00 – 18.30 9.30- 10.00 - Registration 10.00-10.15 - Openning Mr. Jargalsaikhan, Vice –minister, Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, National Project Director Mr. Rashid Sayed, Resident Representative of the World Bank Mr. Halbertsma, Attache, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 10.15-10.45 – Exhibits of results of small grant projects SESSION OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECT PRESENTATION Moderator: Mr. Erdenesaikhan, monitoring consultant 10.45-11.00 Development of comprehensive curriculum standards for rangers training (project #409) 11.00- 11.15 Supporting the development and update of an environmental protection program and management plan of local partnerships (project #75) 11.15 -11.30 Current marmot conservation status in Mongolia and community based sustainable ways to exploit and conserve (project #254) 11.30-11.45 Nature conservation of Inner Altai region via activization of students and local citizens (project #335) 11.45-12.00 Promotion of community foresters in Khentii aimag (Project#365) 12.00-12.15 Ecological education of youth with hearing difficulties (project #195) 12.15-12.30 Nature conservation by citizens prevents environmental crimes (Project #472) 12.45-14.00 Lunch/ project results display 14.00-14.15 Bright Gobi (Project #49) 85 14.30-14.45 River Tuin-our future (Project #15) 14.45 – 15.00 Kharaa river protection (Project# 25) 15.00 – 15.15 Pasture management at soum level (Project #48) 15.15 - 15.30 Development and application of a methodology on participatory land use planning with local citizens (Project #308) 15.30- 15.45 Herder based nature conservation and pasture monitoring (Project #385) 15.45 – 16.00 Training to improve rangers capacity (Project #466) 16.00 – 16.15 Tea break 16.15 – 16.30 a Handbook for development of herders communities (Project #10) 16.30 – 16.45 Rare plant species protection through ecological education of citizens and partnerships: Illustrated reference book of Mongolian rare plants (Project #387) 16.45 – 17.00 Curriculum with training materials and handbook for rangers by regions (Project #314) 17.00 – 17.15 training for Briquette makers (Project #276) 17.15 – 18.15 Qeustion and answer, discussion and proposed themes of next small grant program 18.15 Closing 86