Greening the Steppe: How Science is Healing Mongolia's Degraded Lands
A case study from Shariingol Soum of Selenge Aimag reveals how biological rehabilitation is restoring ecosystems
The Silent Crisis on the Steppe
Across the world's ecosystems, a quiet crisis is unfolding. From the rainforests of the Amazon to the grasslands of Central Asia, human activities are degrading precious landscapes at an alarming rate. The consequences are dire—vanishing biodiversity, threatened livelihoods, and ecosystems pushed to their breaking point.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Mongolia, where centuries of nomadic pastoralism have collided with modern intensive land use, leaving once-fertile lands struggling to support life.
In Northern Mongolia's Selenge Aimag, scientists are waging a quiet revolution against land degradation. Here, in Shariingol Soum, the steppe tells a story of both loss and hope—a narrative that mirrors global challenges and local solutions. This is the story of how simple yet sophisticated biological rehabilitation techniques are breathing new life into lands abandoned by mining and agriculture, offering a blueprint for restoration that resonates far beyond Mongolia's borders.
Did You Know?
Mongolia has one of the lowest population densities in the world, yet its fragile ecosystems face significant pressure from climate change and land use.
Quick Facts
- Location Shariingol Soum
- Region Selenge Aimag
- Primary Challenge Land Degradation
Understanding Land Degradation: More Than Just Barren Ground
Land degradation represents a fundamental decline in the health and productivity of our terrestrial ecosystems. It occurs through various pathways: loss of soil fertility, chemical contamination, erosion, and changes in the natural vegetation that once thrived. In Mongolia, this process has been accelerated by intensive agriculture without proper rotation and expanding mining operations, creating a landscape dotted with abandoned fields and excavated earth 1 .
When land becomes degraded, it doesn't just lose plants—it loses its ability to support communities, store carbon, and sustain the complex web of life that makes our planet habitable.
A 2022 meta-analysis published in the journal Ecological Letters revealed that restoration sites remain on average 13% below the biodiversity of intact reference ecosystems, highlighting the challenge facing conservationists 4 . Yet the same study found that restoration increases biodiversity by an average of 20% while decreasing its variability by 14% compared to degraded sites—proof that intervention works.
The Shariingol Experiment: A Case Study in Hope
The Scientific Mission
When researchers from Mongolia's Institute of Geography-Geoecology arrived in Shariingol Soum, they faced a landscape divided by different degradation histories. Two distinct areas represented the major challenges facing the region: abandoned agricultural land exhausted by continuous farming without rotation, and mining-degraded land scarred by extractive activities 1 .
The research team, led by scientists B. Khishigjargal, N. Kishigsuren, Sh. Dolgormaa, and Ya. Baasandorj, recognized that traditional approaches might not suffice for such different conditions. They turned to a fundamental principle of restoration ecology: the use of perennial plants as foundational species for ecosystem recovery.
The diverse landscapes of Mongolia present unique challenges for restoration ecologists.
Methodology: A Step-by-Step Restoration Approach
Site Selection
Identified paired plots in both abandoned agricultural land and mining-degraded land, along with reference sites for comparison.
Species Selection
Chose Medicago falcata L. (sickle-shaped medick) as their primary perennial plant. This hardy legume was selected for its potential to survive harsh conditions while improving soil quality through nitrogen fixation.
Planting and Monitoring
Established the perennial plants across the different site types and implemented rigorous monitoring of winter survival rates, biomass yield, changes in plant community composition, and shifts between xerophyte and mesophyte plants.
Long-term Observation
Tracked these metrics over multiple seasons to understand both immediate and gradual ecological responses 1 .
Revelations from the Soil: What the Data Revealed
The results of the Shariingol study offered both encouraging findings and important cautions for restoration ecology.
The data revealed a fascinating divergence: while the plant actually established more reliably in the mining-degraded land (80-85% survival vs. 70-76%), it thrived and produced substantially more biomass in the abandoned agricultural land 1 .
The dramatic 45% increase in mesophyte plants in abandoned agricultural land suggests that the perennial planting created more favorable moisture conditions for species requiring moderate moisture 1 .
This global context confirms what the Mongolian researchers observed: restoration is a marathon, not a sprint, with ecological dividends accumulating over years and decades rather than weeks or months 4 .
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essentials for Land Rehabilitation
Restoration ecology relies on both natural processes and human intervention.
Perennial Plant Species
Medicago falcata L. serves as the primary restoration agent that stabilizes soil, improves fertility through nitrogen fixation, and creates microhabitats for other species.
Soil Amendments
Replenish lost nutrients and beneficial soil organisms to jump-start ecological processes .
Erosion Control Structures
Physical protection against wind and water erosion, particularly crucial in early restoration stages 3 .
Native Seed Banks
Source of genetically appropriate local species for reseeding degraded areas.
Monitoring Equipment
Measure key indicators like soil organic matter, nutrient content, and microbial activity to track restoration progress .
Community Engagement
Involving local communities ensures long-term sustainability and knowledge transfer.
Beyond Mongolia: Global Lessons in Ecosystem Restoration
The work in Shariingol Soum represents just one front in a global movement to restore degraded ecosystems. From Ireland's peatlands to Denmark's rivers, similar principles are being applied with dramatic results:
Researchers restored 3,000 hectares of raised bog habitat by blocking drains, raising water levels, and removing invading trees 9 . The success was so dramatic that it inspired a national "Peatlands and People" restoration program.
Restoration increased native plant diversity by 85% compared to degraded sites.
A major restoration undid decades of channelization, recreating a meandering river course and converting 2,200 hectares back to marshland 9 . The result? Improved water quality, returned wildlife, and an economic boost from nature tourism.
78% of native species returned within 5 years of restoration completion.
A Green Future for Degraded Lands
The story emerging from Shariingol Soum offers more than just local solutions—it provides a paradigm for addressing one of our era's most pressing environmental challenges. The careful work of monitoring perennial survival, tracking vegetation changes, and comparing different degradation pathways represents a blueprint for evidence-based restoration that can be adapted from the steppes of Mongolia to landscapes worldwide.
As we face the intertwined crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, the lessons from Shariingol remind us that even severely damaged ecosystems retain the capacity for recovery. The 20% average increase in biodiversity from restoration efforts documented globally 4 , coupled with the specific successes in Mongolia, gives us solid ground for hope.
What begins with a single perennial plant in degraded soil can grow into a thriving ecosystem, supporting not just plants but the animals, microorganisms, and human communities that depend on healthy landscapes. The work of healing our planet begins with these small, deliberate interventions—each one a testament to nature's resilience and our growing understanding of how to catalyze it.
The Big Picture
As the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration unfolds, the Mongolian experience stands as both an inspiration and a challenge: an inspiration demonstrating what's possible, and a challenge to expand these efforts to meet the scale of our global degradation crisis. The story of Shariingol's degraded lands is still being written, but each new patch of green on the steppe suggests a happier ending is within reach.
- Perennial plants like Medicago falcata can successfully establish in degraded lands
- Restoration outcomes vary by degradation type and require tailored approaches
- Ecological recovery is a long-term process requiring patience and persistence
- Local context matters—successful approaches must consider specific environmental conditions
- Global restoration efforts show promising results when based on scientific evidence