Batsumber, Mongolia
Restoring fire-damaged forests and grasslands in Batsumber, Mongolia
Batsumber, Mongolia
Restoring fire damaged forests and grasslands
Project Target
Carbon absorption
160,125 tCO2
Trees to be planted
125,000
Project Area
50 ha
Project Overview
The forests and grasslands of Batsumber, located some 70 km north of Ulaanbaatar, have been supporting both wildlife habitat and the livelihoods of local herding communities.
In recent years, however, increasingly severe wildfires have swept through the region. In 2024 alone, more than 1.5 million hectares burned across Mongolia and Batsumber was heavily affected. Fires have destroyed forest cover, reduced pasture quality and weakened the land’s ability to retain moisture, accelerating the risk of desertification.
Despite the recurring wildfires, systematic fire management has yet to be fully established in Batsumber. Without timely restoration, fire-damaged areas are likely to degrade further, reducing water availability, increasing erosion and making future fires even more destructive.
This project focuses on early-stage restoration to help the landscape recover before irreversible damage occurs, aiming to restore 500 hectares of fire-damaged forest and adjacent grassland through targeted planting of native, fire-resilient conifer species.
Restoration will prioritise areas critical for moisture retention, soil stabilisation and forest regeneration.
By re-establishing tree cover at an early stage, the project aims to support natural recovery processes and strengthen long-term ecosystem resilience to fire and drought.
The tree species to be planted include:
Project Site
Project Impact
Within 5 years, restored areas will show improved tree cover, reduced soil erosion and better moisture retention.
Re-establishing forest structure will help slow desertification, support wildlife habitat recovery and increase the resilience of forests and grasslands to future wildfires and climate extremes.
Project Overview
The Batsumber region is located in north-central Mongolia, approximately 70 km north of the Ulaanbaatar (capital). The region is characterized by vast forests and grasslands, which have supported livestock herding by local residents and served as a habitat for various wildlife species. However, in 2024 alone, more than 1.5 million hectares of forests and grasslands were burned across Mongolia, and the Battsumber region was not spared. As a result, the local ecosystem, carbon sequestration capacity, and the livelihoods of residents have all been severely affected. Despite the recurring wildfires, systematic fire management has yet to be established in the Batsumber.
Forests play an important role in preventing soil moisture evaporation and preserving streamflow. Without restoration of the fire-damaged areas in Batsumber, the region is at high risk of rapid desertification due to increasing aridity.
This project aims to restore the fire-damaged areas in Batsumber by planting new trees after removing dead and burnt trees, using seedlings supplied by local nurseries. The project will combine natural regeneration and artificial reforestation to effectively rehabilitate the forest.
The tree species to be planted include:
Project Site
Project Impact
Through this project, the fire-damaged areas will be restored at an early stage to prevent desertification in the Mongolia. The project will also help recover ecosystem services weakened by wildfires and increase future wildfire resilience by planting fire-resistant coniferous species.
Project Target
Carbon Absorption
160,125 tCO2
Trees to be Planted
1,250,000
Project Area
500 ha
