The updated research findings of the Atlas of Desertification in Mongolia, which provides a scientifically based assessment of the current state of desertification and land degradation across Mongolia, were presented and discussed during COP17.

The atlas was jointly developed by researchers from the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment Research and Information, under the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM), together with scientists from the Institute of Geography and Geoecology and the Institute of Botany of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences. The study scientifically assesses environmental and climate variability and change in Mongolia and the associated risks, while providing government institutions and the social and economic sectors with reliable, evidence-based information. During the session, the key findings, issues requiring attention, and stakeholder participation were presented and discussed.

Although the “Atlas of Desertification in Mongolia” addresses desertification by title, its scope is considerably broader. It integrates environmental indicators—including climatic factors, drought, aridity, water and wind erosion of soils, soil chemical degradation, water resources, biological degradation, pasturelands, and forest and steppe fires—with socio-economic factors such as population, livestock numbers, settlements, and roads. This integrated approach provides a comprehensive basis for understanding desertification and land degradation.

The atlas will serve as an important source of scientific evidence and decision-support information for formulating development policies and plans across Mongolia’s economic and social sectors, including land-use planning, water resource management, pasture management, agriculture, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, environmental management, and climate change adaptation.

According to the integrated assessment of desertification and land degradation in Mongolia, 81.9 percent of the country’s territory is affected by desertification and land degradation. Of the total territory, 0.6 percent is classified as very severe, 9.4 percent as severe, 43.2 percent as moderate, and 28.7 percent as slight, while 18.1 percent shows no detectable desertification or land degradation.

The atlas is intended to serve as a practical reference for understanding the past, informing decisions today, and planning for Mongolia’s future development. It is expected to make a tangible contribution to reducing land degradation and desertification and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

The atlas was developed based on hydrometeorological and environmental monitoring data, satellite data, and remote sensing observations covering the period from 1991 to 2025.

Key findings of the study include:

• 81.9% of Mongolia’s total territory is affected by desertification and land degradation;

• A declining trend in soil moisture has been observed across 93.3% of the country;

• River discharge is declining in approximately 60% of Mongolia’s rivers;

• An intensifying trend in drought conditions has been observed across 53.5% of the country.

The updated atlas consists of 10 chapters and 71 thematic maps.

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