Biodiversity and Conservation in the Eastern Mongolian Steppes

The Eastern Mongolian Steppes form one of the last remaining temperate grassland ecosystems, stretching across vast open plains rich in biodiversity. Dominated by drought-resistant grasses such as feathergrass (Stipa spp.) and fescues (Festuca spp.), this landscape provides critical grazing grounds for native herbivores and livestock. These hardy grasses are well adapted to the region’s arid climate and harsh winters. Interspersed throughout are shrubs like Caragana and wormwood (Artemisia), which enhance plant diversity and serve as forage and shelter for various animals.

Faunal life on the steppes is equally remarkable. The Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa), one of the world's last great migrating ungulates, forms herds numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Predators like grey wolves and corsac foxes help maintain ecological balance, while the elusive Pallas’ cat and Siberian marmots add to the region’s mammalian diversity. The skies above are home to majestic raptors, including the steppe eagle and saker falcon—both globally vulnerable due to habitat loss and electrocution on power lines. The white-naped crane, a globally threatened species, nests in the wetlands and relies on the region’s fragile hydrology.

Aquatic life thrives in the region’s rivers and lakes. The taimen (Hucho taimen), the world’s largest trout species, is an apex predator known locally as the "river wolf." However, taimen populations are under pressure from overfishing and water pollution.

The steppes are not only ecologically significant but also support a traditional pastoralist culture. Nomadic herders have sustainably grazed these lands for centuries, forming a human-nature relationship rooted in respect and balance. However, increasing pressures such as overgrazing, mining, and climate change threaten the integrity of the ecosystem.

In response, conservation initiatives—led by organizations like WWF Mongolia and local governments—are promoting habitat protection, wildlife monitoring, and community-based resource management. Preserving the Eastern Mongolian Steppes is critical for safeguarding biodiversity, sustaining cultural heritage, and ensuring ecological resilience in the face of global change.
Biodiversity and Conservation in the Eastern Mongolian Steppes

The Eastern Mongolian Steppes: A Vital Grassland Ecosystem at Risk

The Eastern Mongolian Steppes represent one of the world’s largest intact temperate grassland ecosystems, spanning millions of hectares across eastern Mongolia and parts of Inner Asia. Characterized by vast rolling plains and gentle hills, this region is an ecological treasure, serving as a haven for flora and fauna uniquely adapted to its demanding environment.

The climate here is continental and semi-arid, marked by frigid winters that can plunge below -30°C and short, hot summers. These climatic extremes, paired with powerful seasonal winds, sculpt the landscape and foster a resilient plant community. Drought-tolerant grasses like feathergrass (Stipa spp.) and various fescues dominate the terrain, providing a critical food source for native herbivores. Their deep root systems help prevent soil erosion, a vital function in a region susceptible to desertification.

Biodiversity in the Eastern Mongolian Steppes remains rich despite harsh conditions. Large herds of Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosa) roam freely, their populations estimated at over one million individuals, making them one of the largest remaining migratory ungulate groups globally. Predatory birds like steppe eagles and saker falcons patrol the skies, while smaller mammals, such as jerboas and marmots, play key ecological roles in soil aeration and food chains.

Culturally, the steppes form the backbone of Mongolia’s nomadic heritage. For centuries, herders have sustainably grazed livestock—horses, goats, sheep, and camels—on these lands, preserving a harmonious relationship with nature. However, modern pressures, including overgrazing, increased livestock densities, and infrastructure expansion, have begun to disrupt this balance.

Moreover, climate change is exacerbating these challenges. Recent satellite data and local observations report declining precipitation levels and more frequent droughts, which threaten both biodiversity and traditional livelihoods. Recognizing these risks, conservation initiatives such as the Eastern Steppe Living Landscape program have been launched to promote sustainable herding, habitat preservation, and wildlife monitoring.

Preserving the Eastern Mongolian Steppes is not only crucial for biodiversity but also for maintaining a centuries-old cultural legacy. Balancing ecological protection with sustainable development is essential to ensure the long-term survival of this globally significant grassland.
The Eastern Mongolian Steppes: A Vital Grassland Ecosystem at Risk

Gobi desert

One of the world’s great deserts the Gobi is locate in central Asia encompassing more than 500,000 square miles in Mongolia and northern China. The term “gobi” in the Mongolian and Manchu languages is defined as vast, flat areas of Mongolian Plateau where the ground is covered with coarse substance and the human population is scarce.

Every spring dust from the Gobi cover eastern China, Korea and Japan and may extend at times around the world. The Gobi desert is a vast basin with an average altitude of about 3,000 feet, surrounded by mountains that rise above 6,000 feet.

The deserts of Central Asia include mountains that gently merge with stony slopes, and gravely sandy plains producing the flat, pebbly-rocky plains known as Gobi desert.

Within the Gobi are many smaller shallow basins termed tala by the Mongols. Numerous streams run down the mountain ranges, mainly in the spring and disappear in the lower tala of the Gobi.

Vegetation in Gobi deserts depends on texture of sandy-pebbly plains (which is responsible for the retention of moisture), basic material piedmont, ambient temperatures and amount of precipitation.

The Gobi has yielded many archeological, paleontological, and geological finds, including early stone implements, dinosaurs eggs and mineral deposits and precious stones including turquoise and jasper.
Gobi desert

The tree of Tectona grandis

The tree of Tectona grandis L. is indigenous to South Asia and South-East Asia, more specifically, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos.

The tree is well known for its versatile timber. Its heartwood combines several qualities like termite and decay resistance, lightness and strength, drying without warping and splitting, easy workability and attractive appearance, making it one of the world finest timbers.

Tectona grandis, commercially called teak, teek, or teca, is one of the most cultivated broad-leaved tree species in tropics.

It natural distribution is from 25° to 9° North latitudes and 73°  to 104°  East longitudes, in two covering most of Myanmar, northern Thailand and a small part of northwest Laos.

Over the past 50 years it has been planted extensively both within its native range and in other tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, Africa and America.

Teak is also well established in the Indonesian island of Java and some of the smaller island to the east of Java where it is believed to have been introduced from India about 400 to 600 years ago and become naturalized.

The most favorable growth conditions for teak exist in those tropical climates which have a n annual precipitation of 1,250 – 1800 mm and a more or less uniform temperature with a minimum of 12° C and a maximum of 38° C.

Tectona grandis tress and teak forest have some importance from an ecological point of view. The fruits, seeds, bark and leaves are important food sources for birds and mammals which also use large trees for shade.

Teak is a well-known multipurpose timber and the most important furniture wood. Other common uses include shipbuilding, exterior construction, carving, turning, paneling and woodware.
The tree of Tectona grandis

The tree of Dyera costulata

Dyera costulata is an emergent canopy tree in the lowland forests of South-east Asia. It is among the tall trees in open forests. The wood is a pale-colored light hardwood timber of great workability, limited durability and strength.

Dyera costulata is a large deciduous tree up to 60 m tall with diameters up to 2-3 m. It has a straight and clear bole up to 15-20 m, without buttresses. The leaves are in whorls and the trees are briefly and rather irregular deciduous.

The tiny white flowers open at night and fall off the next morning. The fruits are paired, wood tubes that split along one side when ripe, releasing that flattened, winged , wind-dispersed seeds.

The milky, latex-like substance produced by Dyera costulata and used by the indigenous people as a substitute for bungs, found in small but important place in modern industry.

It was used in the manufacture of chewing gum in the USA, for water fabrics and for mixing worth gutta-percha for electrical insulation.
The tree of Dyera costulata

Steppes in Asia

Steppes is the feather grass or tuftgrass steppes extending from western Russia to the Amur basin.

Greek historian, Herodotus, pointed that out over 2,400 years ago, this region is distinguished by broad expanses of grassland and by the nomadic peoples who live there, driving their herds in horseback. 

Dominant grass included Stipa lessingiana Trin and Rupr, S. capillata L and Festuca rupicola Heuff.

In Kazakhstan there are large areas of semi-desert. Steppes cover vast area in almost every Asia mountains system; Stipa and Festuca dominate and include Carex brumilis.

North of the central stepped region of Mongolia are the forest steppes of southern Siberia extending up along the Selenge River to the shores of Lake Baikal.

The typical landscape consist of meadow steppes or mixed herbaceous steeps and originally feather grass interrupted by scattered stands of deciduous trees.

The oak trees in the west are supplanted by birch and aspen groves in the east. The climate also has features of both the forest and steppe regions. The winter are cold and dry and the summers are moderately warm. 

Roe deer and saiga, a species of antelope, have their homes on the steppes. The ring-necked pheasant, is native to the Central Asian steppe, as are partridges, black grouse, bustards and the falcons and hawks that prey on them.
Steppes in Asia