– New native trees have 80 per cent survival rate –
Umnugobi, Mongolia –Oyu Tolgoi is committed to rehabilitating disturbed land to restore it back to as natural a state as possible.
In order to accelerate this process, the company plants vegetation to establish a living environment for people, livestock and animals. Recently, tree planting and rehabilitation efforts have focused on the area of land around the Gunii Khooloi underground aquifer, where all of Oyu Tolgoi’s water is sourced from.
In the autumn of 2013, Oyu Tolgoi planted 10,677 saxaul tree seedlings across 6.3 hectares of the Gunii Khooloi area. Twenty eight herders from the area around Gunii Khooloi and Khanbumbat airport took part in three days of rehabilitation work. As a result of extensive watering and maintenance work, 79.7 percent of the seedlings survived their first winter.
Increasing numbers of local residents are volunteering to participate in the ongoing rehabilitation. This year more than 100 people took part in a further eight days of rehabilitation. As of September, the total number of saxaul seedlings planted across 33 hectares of Gunii Khooloi is 21,235. Saxual rehabilitation work will continue until the end of October.
Explaining the process, B.Altantsetseg, Environmental Superintendent at Oyu Tolgoi, said: “The preparation, planting and care of saxaul tree seedlings takes a lot of time. First, we collect wild seeds from the environment, clean and separate them from other seeds, and then dry them. We prepare seed pots between November and February and then place them in the planting area to start growing. After two summers and one winter, the young seedlings are transferred from the pots and planted in the ground.”
Two local meetings have recently been held to update local people and herders on forest restoration. Fifty seven people attended these events, from organisations including the Khanbogd Governor's Office, Veterans Association, the local secondary school, and Khanbogd development radio, as well as representatives of local herders. During the meetings, more people signalled their wish to help with the process.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://ot.mn/en)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company, is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia, Turquoise Hill Resources and Rio Tinto. Located in the Umnugobi, Oyu Tolgoi has commissioned Concentrator plant in December, 2012 and commenced shipments of copper concentrate in July of 2013. As the biggest single investment in Mongolian history, Oyu Tolgoi already is a major driver of the country’s economy.
Oyu Tolgoi is managed by Rio Tinto, which is investing global expertise and cutting-edge technology to help develop Mongolia’s mining industry and ensure Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world’s most advanced mines. Oyu Tolgoi is developing a nationwide vocational training programme, regional infrastructure, and is committed to ensuring more than 90 per cent Mongolian national employment and a strong Mongolian supplier base. These programmes will help drive economic growth for generations to come.
Oyu Tolgoi’s core commitment is to a safe work place and setting a new standard in environmental care.
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