Press release: Who will grow the best trees?

– Environmental campaign launched as tree saplings handed out –

Umnugobi, Mongolia – By decree of the Mongolian President, every second Saturday of May and October is recognised as a national day of tree planting. The objective of these days is to uphold the Mongolian tradition of protecting and preserving motherland and mother nature. The days provide an opportunity for each person to take part in the protection of the natural environment and to facilitate multilateral efforts to raise public awareness and knowledge of the issue and to expand forest resources and green facilities by developing a national movement dedicated to solving this problem.

Oyu Tolgoi LLC has been celebrating the National Day of Tree planting for the last three years. The company is working with its employees and contractors to develop green zones in the mine area. Cooperation has expanded each year, starting from the immediate mine area and now encompassing Khanbogd, Manlai and Bayan-Ovoo soums and Dalanzadgad city of  South Gobi aimag. This year, on 19-21 April, Oyu Tolgoi celebrated the event for the fourth time and launched a new campaign: Who will grow the best trees? This is the second year that the campaign, which is open to individuals, households, communities and businesses, has taken place.

As part of the event, Oyu Tolgoi’s local tree nursery  in Khanbogd soum provided 13,945 saplings of trees and bushes to be planted and grown in the Gobi regional green zone. Oyu Tolgoi’s  full time employees and contractors working in Khanbogd, Manlai, Bayan-Ovoo soums and Dalanzadgad town as well as at the mine site took part in planting with a two day training course for local residents and businesses also organised by the company. The training, which took place at the Technical and vocational education training centre in Khanbogd soum, was attended by 73 people.

During the event, J.Sanjid, a botanist from the environmental department of Oyu Tolgoi LLC and E.Altantsetseg, employee of the tree nursery trained local people about the various  trees and bushes to be used in green zone of the Gobi desert. The training included the approaches nececessary to nurse and grow the trees and the appropriate plantation techniques, watering and nursing technology.

Dr. S.Gerelbaatar, lecturer at the Forestry studies department of National University of Mongolia provided training on soil structure, soil processing, and the technology needed to improve soil fertility. N.Saikhantsetseg, lecturer and vice professor of the department of Protection of Flora and Forestry at the School of Agribiology, Mongolian State University of Agriculture provided training on berries and fruit gardens.

Participants were also provided with training manuals by Dr. Kh.Jalbaa and A.Avirmed, N.Saikhantsetseg, and Dr. S.Gerelbaatar, as well as written instructions on use of organic fertilizer.

During the opening ceremony, tree saplings were handed out at the tree nursery in Khanbogd soum. Further on-site training was conducted outside of Oyu Tolgoi and  near the sample processing facility on the western bank of the Undai river and tree saplings were handed out for planting by those Oyu Tolgoi employees and contractors who requested them.

The Who will grow the best tree? activities will continue from 19 April until 5 October.

Environmental park rangers from Khanbogd, Manlai and Bayan-Ovoo soums will take orders for tree saplings from the local community. These will then be planted in the autumn with the support of the Environmental department from Oyu Tolgoi.

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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