Summary Conservation Action Plans for Mongolian Mammals

The mammals of Mongolia were recently assessed using the ‘IUCN Red List Categories andCriteria’ (IUCN, 2001) in conjunction with the ‘Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Levels’ (IUCN, 2003). The assessments were carried out during the Mongolian Biodiversity Workshop from October 31st to November 4th 2005. This was the first time that regional guidelines had been applied to Mongolian mammals and the results of the assessment provided an overview of their conservation status. A full list of species occurring in Mongolia along with possible species is included in Annex I. During the assessment process, groups of participants formulated summary conservation action plans for a number of threatened species, outlining recommended conservation measures that could be implemented to help arrest declines. Following the workshop, these documents were expanded to include all threatened species, with the help of workshop participants and external reviewers.

The assessments revealed a number of trends affecting the mammals of Mongolia. Twenty one Mongolian mammal species were identified as regionally threatened. Of these, the majority are represented by carnivores and ungulates (Artiodactyla and Perissiodactyla), which are predominantly threatened by overexploitation. Other groups, particularly rodents and other small mammals such as bats, lack detailed research and are more often categorized as Data Defi cient. This does not imply that members of these groups are facing a lower risk of extinction than those identified as threatened, but highlights areas in need of more extensive research. Each species assessed as threatened is the subject of a summary conservation action plan in this document. However, it should be noted that the quantity and quality of available data varies amongst species.

These summary conservation action plans are intended to highlight species of particular concern and to alert policy-makers, conservationists, and government and planning authorities of actions that will help to ensure that all mammals of Mongolia maintain viable populations into the future. Detailed action plans are already in place for some of the species in this document; the Summary Conservation Action Plans for Mongolian Mammals are not intended to replace these documents, but to accompany them, and further details are provided for action plans already available. Each summary conservation action plan presents information about the status of the species, the current known distribution, threats faced, conservation measures presently established, and recommended conservation measures.

The future of Mongolia's mammalian biodiversity depends on the response of the Mongolian and global community to the plight of the species discussed in these summary conservation action plans.

Read full action plan (pdf format, 2.17MB)