Water resources development and management of Mongolia

Mongolia is landlocked country located in central and northeast Asia. It has vast but very sparsely populated territory, totaling 1.566.500 square kilometers. The country is divided into three main topographical zones; mountains, with the three largest ranges located in the north and west; the intermountain basins; and the steppe/ desert, which covers three fourths if the national territory. Mongolia has a population of 2.3 million with a current growth rate of 2.4, one of the highest in Asia. The Mongolian economy is currently in transition to a market economy. The country still faces significant challenges in the difficult process of replacing one economic system with another. In particular, all the old relations that regulated socioeconomic and the other activities no longer hold for the new conditions. As a result Mongolia has a great need to reconsider and redevelop strategies, policies, programs, and action plans with regard to all types of natural resources, including water. At the same, it must ensure that natural resources management and the development system grow in sustainable manner. Mongolia is currently attempting to formulate overall strategy and clearly delineated paper on sustainable water resources development and management. The country paper presents an overview of water resources quantity and quality aspects, provides information on water management practices and gives some recommendations for further actions.