Project title: Construction of a mini-botanic park of 8.4 ha within the National Garden Park of Mongolia [Project ID: 2016P4-MN]
Executing agency: Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium (MNEC)
Supervision agency: Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium (MNEC)
Budget in USD (total/ APFNet grant): 1,434,761/1,422,351
Duration: February 2016–August 2019
Target economy: Mongolia
Status: Completed
Objective: Develop an 8.4-ha mini-botanic park within the National Garden Park of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar city to provide a pleasant and comfortable environment for recreation and entertainment of citizens.
Project background
Mongolia is a forest-poor economy with a forest cover of 8.14 percent in 2006 (FAO, 2010). Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, has various environmental and “livability” challenges, mainly caused by the rapid rate of urbanization and deforestation since Mongolia transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the late 1990s. The municipality committed to address these challenges in the “Green Development Strategy Action for Ulaanbaatar 2020” which aims to develop Ulaanbaatar into a green city, characterized by a sustainable, safe and healthy living environment for its citizens. In 2009, the city governor of Ulaanbaatar made a resolution to build the National Garden Park along the Tuul River in the southern part of Ulaanbaatar, to expand urban greenspaces and provide facilities for environmental education, forest experiences and reconnect citizens with nature. This 1,280-ha park will also help to preserve the watershed of Tuul River, as well as mitigate air pollution. About 20 percent of the park has already been constructed. In 2016, APFNet and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, MNEC and the National Garden Park of Mongolia (NGP), launched a project to construct an 8.4-ha botanic garden within the park to showcase classical features of Chinese gardens and provide a site for people to experience forests in an urban area. This project has been credited as an integral part of the “Mongolian Green Wall” – a long-term national programme to combat desertification and reduce deforestation, approved by the Mongolian Government in 2005.
Expected outputs
♦ Allocation of an 8.4-ha project site and detailed project design.
♦ Capacity building of National Garden Park staff.
♦ Validation of project construction work in strict compliance with construction regulations of Mongolia and APFNet requirements.
♦ Increase of forest cover in the National Garden Park of Ulaanbaatar and provision of a recreational centre for city residents.
♦ Raise the awareness of Mongolian residents, especially the younger generation, about the conservation of natural resources of Mongolia through tourism.
Inauguration ceremony, attended by Mr Tsengel Teegmid, State Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Tourism (fourth, from left to right), Mr Li Shuming, Deputy Administrator, State Forest Administration, China (middle), and Mr Lu De APFNet Executive Director (third, from left to right). Photo: Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium.
Project feature topics
Design and construction of botanic park
Design sketch of entrance area, with stone bridge, rock sculpture, pond, wooden pavilion, and rehabilitated forest.
The botanic park is built in traditional Chinese garden style, combining vegetation, pavilion, winding trails, bridge, water pond and lights to express the harmonious relationship between people and nature. All the infrastructure is designed in Chinese landscape style. The park presents visitors with a series of intentionally composed and perfectly framed glimpses of scenery, built alongside a water channel.
Visitors enter the park over a stone bridge to reach a grey-green brick platform, surrounded by grey walls, and containing a rock sculpture with the name of the park. Across an arched stone gate at the end of the platform, the water pond and a traditional wooden pavilion occupies the centre of the park. About 2.5 km of winding trails allow visitors to experience the whole botanic park, where a series of landscaped nature scenes are revealed when walking along the trails. Green mountains in the distance appear to be an extension of the park itself.
The park was completed and opened to the public in October 2016. The administration of the park has been transferred to the National Garden Park for future management and maintenance.
Entrance of botanic park. Photo: Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium
Planting appropriate tree species
The vegetation is the most important and essential element of the park, replacing a previously degraded area only covered by weedy grasses. After the basic infrastructure was constructed, the park was planted with up to 8,965 diverse trees, shrubs and flowers. Through careful selection of each species, the colour of leaves and flowers changes continually as the seasons progress to provide interest all year. All plants selected are naturally distributed in temperate zones with a focus on species from Mongolia and northern China, and are both drought- and cold-resistant, crucial abilities to survive in Ulaanbaatar without needing excessive management and additional resources. Name plates with an introduction to each species were installed, so that visitors can learn about them. An irrigation system was installed to water seedlings.
Generally, multiple individuals of one species with potential to grow tall were planted with suitable spacing density surrounding the park or a bit further from the trails. Bushes and flowers were planted in clusters closer to the pathways. In 2016, 6,700 trees and bushes were planted, and APFNet provided further support to plant another 2,300 seedlings in 2018.
The botanic park is now a popular place for local residents to unwind and get some fresh air after work and on weekends. The project implementation involves the administrative approval of the relevant agencies, on ground work, coordination and communication.
Project implementation
The project implementation involves the administrative approval of the relevant agencies, on ground work, coordination and communication.
Administrative approval of the relevant agencies: The 8.4 ha project site was allocated by the Government; APFNet recruited international consultants to prepare project design document, which was later approved by the MET and UB City Government; To facilitate the on-spot construction work, APFNet recruited international consultants to develop the blue print for construction work in collaboration with the technical staff of the National Garden Park of Mongolia, which was later approved by Planning Division of the Ulaanbaatar City Government of Mongolia; The MET selected Construction Company through consultation with APFNet. MET in consultation with State Secretary, has sub-contracted with local company, Khartsagat Uul LLC for the construction work of the project.
The problem of water supply of this project was resolved through cutting into the main magisterial pipe of Ulaanbaatar City. The process was carried out with an official permission from Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of the Ulaanbaatar City. After completion of the construction work, “Mini Botanical Park” will be transferred to the ownership of Ulaanbaatar City Administration, NGP.
To guarantee the quality of the construction work, the MET deployed personnel from the Inspection Agency of the Ministry to monitor the project on a regular basis in collaboration with APFNet recruited international consultant. This international consultant provided on-site technical support to the construction work and developed the technical reports, which were later circulated to the Construction Company and tree planting company for further guidance of the project work, in order to ensure the project completed in strict compliance with the blue print.
On ground work: The construction company was entrusted by the MET for the construction work of this project. It started the construction work on 4 May 2016, and completed on 8 August 2017.
Tree planting work: The MNEC with the assistance of Chief Technical Advisor prepared the list of trees and bushed which to be planted in project site. To facilitate the efficient implementation of the tree planting work and guarantee the survival rate of the vegetation planted, MNEC in consultation with APFNet, has sub-contracted with Amid Gazar LLC for the tree planting work. Tree planting work: 100 percent of planting work was completed in accordance with the blue print. However problems encountered later on at the project site.
Project outcomes
The project has gained highly recognition from projects partners, stakeholders and evaluation experts.Overall the project was successfully finished by reaching its main objectives and the park presents visitors with a series of intentionally composed and perfectly framed glimpses of scenery, built alongside a water channel. Visitors enter the park over a stone bridge to reach a grey-green brick platform, surrounded by grey walls, and containing a rock sculpture with the name of the park. Across an arched stone gate at the end of the platform, the water pond and a traditional wooden pavilion occupies the centre of the park. About 2.5 km of winding trails allow visitors to experience the whole botanic park, where a series of landscaped nature scenes are revealed when walking along the trails. Green mountains in the distance appear to be an extension of the park itself.
The vegetation is the most important and essential element of the park, replacing a previously degraded area only covered by weedy grasses. After the basic infrastructure was constructed, the park was planted with up to 8,965 diverse trees, shrubs and flowers. Through careful selection of each species, the color of leaves and flowers changes continually as the seasons progress to provide interest all year. All plants selected are naturally distributed in temperate zones with a focus on species from Mongolia and northern China, and are both drought- and cold-resistant, crucial abilities to survive in Ulaanbaatar without needing excessive management and additional resources. Name plates with an introduction to each species were installed, so that visitors can learn about them.
The project activities and their outputs were disseminating through the mainstream media of Mongolia, government website of Mongolia and citizens of the Ulaanbaatar city praised for the development of the park.
It’s not possible to complete every project without any challenges. There were several problems and challenges during the project implementation stages from personnel change, for example, the change of Director of Forest Policy and Coordination Department, the State Secretary of MET, Director of National Garden Park, and the adjustment of project area of 10ha to 8.4 ha and so on. However from those challenges all the parties involved in the project learned lessons about how important it’s to have good planning and well established policies and cooperation between private and public sectors, as well as public support.
Project documents
Project Concept Note-1st phase Project Concept Note-2nd phase Completion Report
News and related information
Mongolia and APFNet strengthen cooperation on forest restoration
A Mongolian delegation visited China’s national parks and learned from their experiences – putting people first in national park management
Video Introduction the botanic park project from Mongolia TV 9
Mini botanic garden in the National Garden Park of Mongolia
