About the organization
Although Mongolians have a long tradition of hunting, new socio-economic conditions called for a
scientific approach to the use of wildlife. To support government authorities in developing and
implementing hunting policy in the region, a group of researchers came together in 1998 to establish a
non-governmental organization to advance research in wildlife management (game science).
The center's director has published 60 scientific papers and developed 43 wildlife management
research reports, 32 provincial and regional hunting management plans, 7 management and strategic
planning documents for national and local specially protected areas, and has implemented 3
scientific-technical projects. More than 30 students from the National University of Mongolia, the
Mongolian National University of Education, the Mongolian University of Life Sciences, the University
of Ulaanbaatar, and Eco-Asia University have trained through the center's research projects and earned
bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
The Dornogovi branch of the NGO took responsibility for conservation management of the Ikh Nart
Nature Reserve and signed an agreement with the aimag administration and the Ministry of Environment
and Green Development, carrying out state functions within the protected area network from 2013 to
2019. Ikh Nart Nature Reserve established a sister-park relationship with Anza-Borrego Desert State
Park in California, USA.
Main areas of activity
Advancing wildlife management science in Mongolia, organizing hunting management planning,
developing proposals to improve conservation management of argali populations, developing and
evaluating management plans for protected areas and hunting zones, conducting and promoting other
wildlife-related research, and training students and youth in these methods.
Target species / subspecies
Altai argali (Ovis ammon ammon), Gobi argali (Ovis ammon darwini).
Geographic scope of work
Countries and regions/aimags of Mongolia, protected areas, hunting zones.
Experience working with wild sheep
The center's researchers have conducted extensive work in all regions of Mongolia inhabited by
argali. The organization's National Argali Conservation Strategic Plan was approved by the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism and is currently being implemented. The center has taken part in developing
argali hunting management plans in 6 aimags, as well as more than 20 conservation and sustainable
hunting management plans in hunting zones.
Key projects during the last 5 years
"Implementation of Hunting Policy at the Provincial Level and Monitoring of Hunting Ground
Conditions"
Implemented in 2023. The project assessed the implementation of hunting management plans in 19
provinces, and evaluated and supported the development of 16 hunting management plans. Researchers
from the Institute of Biology, the Institute of Geoecology, the National University of Mongolia, and
the Mongolian National University of Education took part in the study. An argali population assessment
was also carried out across 54 hunting grounds in 13 provinces. Funding and support were provided by
the US Forest Service.
Major achievements
Based on the center's work, the ministry, aimag and soum authorities, conservation organizations,
professional hunting organizations, and research institutions have identified shortcomings in their
work and received recommendations for improvement.
