Mongolia

Since 2004, The Tributary Fund (TTF) has been working in Mongolia to protect the Eg-Uur watershed and its endangered resident, the taimen. The Eg-Uur is feeling pressure from poaching, from placer gold mining-practices that push the taimen, the Mongolian salmon, closer to extinction. Taimen are considered by local people to be the “river god's daughter.” TTF is facilitating this project for the next five years with the Mongolian-based Taimen Conservation Fund, Sweetwater Travel, Hovsgol Travel, and the Mongolia Taimen Project, which includes scientists from the University of Wisconsin.

The Eg-Uur Watershed Area (EUWA) is beautiful and pristine, largely due to its geographical isolation from major population centers. The watershed has ecologically-sensitive high mountain taiga, tundra, forest, wetland, and steppe. The Mongolian government has targeted the EUWA for protected area status, since it provides critical nesting habitat for threatened migratory bird species in addition to aquatic habitat for taimen. However, as a result of the economic decline following the collapse of the former Soviet economic system, Mongolian residents and outside industry have turned to unsustainable practices of poaching and mining.

SCIENCE: Scientists at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Nevada-Reno are conducting taimen population studies and researching the spawning behavior for the first time ever. These efforts have led to essential and measurable recommendations in policy. The Mongolian government has pushed back the spring angling season in response to the scientists' recommendations on taimen vulnerability during spawning.

In the spring of 2004, the science team initiated a five-year research project to devise conservation strategies for taimen protection. By tagging these fish, following their movement through telemetry, and locating sensitive areas and spawning grounds, the science team will learn what is required for the taimen survival.

The Taimen Conservation Fund, based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, will use this scientific data to organize community committees to manage the Eg and Uur rivers, pay anti-poaching patrols, and prohibit access to ecologically sensitive areas. Ultimately, the local management teams, the Taimen Conservation Fund and the community will be responsible for the ongoing monitoring and protection of this watershed.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINIBILITY: Our partner, Sweetwater Travel, employs local families in their fishing camp operation and trains Mongolians to become catch-and-release fishing guides. Additionally, Sweetwater Travel is offering to pay an annual fee as a concession to the communities for leasing the river for high-paying, low-impact international tourists. Conservation and sustainable business form a strategic partnership, together increasing revenues that support local conservation.

TTF has also partnered with Mongolian-based Xac Bank to help families start small businesses using micro loans.

CULTURE AND CONSERVATION: The Tributary Fund brings cultural perspectives into conservation strategies, aligning them with science and business opportunities to reach the mutual goals. We rebuilt the Dayan Derkh Monastery and we fund programs in the Eg-Uur that blend culture and conservation.

In addition to a broad array of community outreach efforts, TTF is sending seven monks to school to learn traditional academics and to study ecology and environmental solutions.

 
THE TRIBUTARY FUND IS NON-RELIGIOUS. The fund seeks to reinforce the power of cultural frameworks and religious beliefs conductive to sustainable conservation.

 

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