– 13,000 Gobi saxaul seedlings planted so far –
Khanbogd, Mongolia – With high expectations of environmental management from mining companies, Oyu Tolgoi is shaping a new approach to rehabilitation, firmly focused on maintaining the ancient natural environment.
The Mongolian Gobi has a dry and extreme climate and native plants such as the saxaul tree have adapted to the harsh conditions over generations. Desert saxaul forests prevent the movement of sand, creating more favourable conditions for other plants, livestock and wild animals to flourish.
Oyu Tolgoi plants saxaul trees in order to restore the landscape, vegetation and ecosystems of disturbed land back to as natural a state as possible.
In the autumn of 2013, during the first phase of Oyu Tolgoi’s rehabilitation programme, 10,677 saxaul tree seedlings were planted across 6.34 hectares in the Gunii Khooloi area of Khanbogd soum. Eighty per cent of the seedlings successfully survived the winter, with those which had died replanted in the spring, along with an additional 2,860 seedlings.
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. Between April and May we place the seed pots in the planting area and start growing.
“After two summers and one winter, the young seedlings are transferred from the pots and planted in the ground. The 10,677 seedlings that were transferred from the pots in the autumn of 2013 had been planted as seeds in the spring of 2012."
Oyu Tolgoi only uses native plants in its biological rehabilitation work. But even hardened, Gobi plants require extreme care and support to survive. The saxaul trees planted in the fall are irrigated and the soil is strengthened before it freezes, helping the young plants to survive the winter. By the time they face the harsh winds of spring, many are strong enough to survive.
Rehabilitation work relies on local communities to support and participate in the effort. Last autumn, 28 local herders worked on the programme, which will lead to the appearance of brand-new, saxaul forests in the Galba Gobi.
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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