WASTE MANAGEMENT AT HOVSGOL NATIONAL PARK

Conservation of ecosystem services through waste management in Hovsgol National Park in Northern Mongolia 2020 – 2024


Project Achievements:

1. Waste Management & Recycling System

  • A total of 307,810 kg of waste was collected and managed, including:

54,305 kg of abandoned waste cleaned from 31 uncontrolled locations.

201,695 kg of waste transported from tourist camps.

85,708 kg of waste managed by tourists using provided garbage bags.

  • A plastic-free campaign in Hatgal replaced single-use plastic bags with 320 cotton tote bags.
  • Waste separation systems were installed at 33 tourist camps and the ED Training Center.

2. Environmental Education & Community Engagement

  • A total of 2,033 people, including camp staff, students, and park rangers, participated in 126 hours of waste management training.
  • Twenty-seven training sessions were conducted for 615 local residents, raising awareness about waste management.
  • At Hatgal Secondary School, 1,300 children received environmental education, along with 10 awareness competitions to reinforce learning.
  • Kindergarten students received “Garbage Monster” cartoon books, developed in partnership with No Plastic Mongolia NGO, to introduce them to waste management concepts.

3. Stakeholder Collaboration & Policy Advocacy

  • A total of 122 stakeholder dialogues were held with key organizations, including the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, National Park Administration, and local authorities, to strengthen collaboration.
  • Six roundtable discussions brought together tourism operators, local government, and community members to explore sustainable waste solutions.
  • A tourism-based waste management fee was proposed and partially implemented through an increase in park entry fees.

4. Sustainable Tourism & Impact on Visitors

  • A visitor responsibility program was introduced to encourage tourists to take back their own waste.
  • Billboards were installed at Jangkhai Pass to promote the “Waste-Free Hovsgol Lake” initiative.
  • Waste at scenic viewpoints decreased by 55% per visitor, even as the total number of tourists grew by 54%.

From September 2020, ecoDevshilt received partial funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Global Nature Fund to expand activities in relation with waste management. This project includes a major national awareness and media campaign starting from 2021-2023 to urge Mongolian citizens not to litter.

Within framework of this project, we will:

  • Educate tourist and ger camps, business entities operating in the west shore of Hovsgol Lake National Park and families living in that area, schools and kindergarden of Hatgal village on littering, sorting waste at source and protect the nature with a multi-media information campaign, including TV, radio, website and social media platforms
  • Organize round table meetings and national conferences including competent authorities, organizations, international organizations and NGOs
  • Distribute bio-degradable bags to all tourists at the entrance of the National Park to bring out all the solid waste from National Park that they bring in
  • Distribute leaflets for waste education
  • Distribute waste separation systems and signs for tourist camps
  • Develop waste management system as pilot system nationwide

Mandukhai Chuluunbaatar

Khatgal office manager

For 22 years, EcoDevshilt NGO has been contributing its effort to protect the environment and voluntarily collecting, transporting and disposing abandoned waste on the west shore of Lake Hovsgol. From 2020, we have expanded our activities in cooperation with German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Global Nature Fund to implement project “Protecting the ecosystem of the Lake Hovsgol National Park through waste management” involving local households and organizations on waste management, waste reduction and sorting waste at source.