August 25-29, 2024, the International Training Workshop on “Vegetation Rehabilitation and Sustainable Development in Arid Region of Mongolia” was held at the APFNet Wangydian SFM Demonstration and Training Base in Inner Mongolia, China. The workshop aimed to enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing between China and Mongolia on vegetation rehabilitation and sustainable development in arid areas.

Ten management and forestry technicians from Erdenet Mining Corporation SOE of Mongolia participated in the training, and a team of renowned experts in forestry and desertification control in Inner Mongolia were invited to share their expertise. The indoor session was composed of 7 lectures on 

 China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program

 Grassland restoration and utilization

 Typical desertification control models in Chifeng 

 Sustainable forest management

 Resource utilization and industry development in desertified areas

 Successful economic crop plantation models in arid lands  

 Measurement and monitoring of forest and grassland carbon storage 

Lecturers introduced systematic summarizations of theories and methodologies, policies and strategies, technologies and approaches, program experiences and lessons, supported with lots of inspiring cases and vivid examples. Extensive discussions were held to explore how these could be adapted and applied in Mongolia. 

Participants also visited a number of field sites to observe hands-on practices in Inner Mongolia, on shelter forest plantations, multifunctional forest management, ecosystem restoration, tree seedling production systems, and forest carbon sequestration research sampling sites. Participants' enthusiasm was palpable as they witnessed innovative techniques being used and remarkable accomplishments achieved. 

Given the shared borders and similar natural conditions between Inner Mongolia and Mongolia, participants found the training workshop to be not just informative but also highly practical and applicable to their future work.  

Erdenet Mining Corporation SOE stands as the largest copper and molybdenum ore mining and beneficiation complex in Asia, maintaining ecological balance and support green development as one of its values. Supporting Mongolia’s One Billion Trees Campaign, Erdenet Mining Corporation SOE has launched a 100 Million Trees Program. 

The training workshop was sponsored by APFNet through its Greater Central Asia Forestry Cooperation Mechanism (GCA-FCM), hosted by the Forestry and Grassland Administration of Inner Mongolia, and organized by the Forestry Academy of Inner Mongolia.