Forest and Forestry Research and Education in Mongolia

Abstract

Since 1990, after the dramatic change in Mongolia's political and economic system, human impact on forest resources highly increased and became continuously degraded due to improper exploitation, forest fire, mining, pest and disease, uncontrolled grazing, and inadequate management which negatively affect its environmental conditions causing severe deforestation, desertification, and ecological stress in some regions of the country. Forestry research and education became fragmented in Mongolia. Several institutions and universities conducted vague and in some cases duplicating research topics. Hence, this article aims to understand the current status and issues as well as to formulate possible solutions in strengthening and developing forest and forestry research and education in the country.

Keywords:

• forest
• forest degradation
• forestry education
• forestry research
• Mongolia

Notes

Nyam-Osor Batkhuu is currently a PhD candidate in the Laboratory of Silviculture and Restoration Ecology, Department of Forest Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.