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Great Gobi

Located in the south-west of Mongolia at the border with the People’s Republic of China, Great Gobi Biosphere Reserve represents the Central Asian deserts. Fenced off from the sea by the surrounding mountains, the Great Gobi has a highly continental climate. The biosphere reserve covers altitudes from 850 to 2,695 meters above sea level and supports rare desert and mountain steppe vegetation. It provides habitat to many endangered species such as the Snow leopard (Uncia uncia), ibex (Capra sibirica), Argali sheep (Ovis ammon), Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica mongolica), Gobi bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis) and wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus bactrianus). Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area was already established in 1976 and was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1990 as one of the largest biosphere reserves in the world (5.3 million hectares).

About 400 people live in the biosphere reserve (1990). The site is mostly undisturbed by people. However, some impact derives from livestock raising, agriculture, hunting, trapping, poaching, firewood gathering and tourist activities. The biosphere reserve aims to conserve soil and water resources, to assist in the maintenance of traditional ways of life and to increase local participation in the management of the biosphere reserve. Read more about this biosphere reserve on the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves website.