Let me introduce you to a lady who is contributing to the sacred cause of preserving mother nature in its pristine form. This lady is E.Altantsetseg, a tree nursery specialist who works in the Environmental department at Oyu Tolgoi. She works at the tree nursery in Khanbogd soum center located about 45km from the Oyu Tolgoi mine. The tree nursery, which was commissioned 2 years ago, covers 5ha in area including a 640 square metre greenhouse. Here they cultivate Gobi trees, bushes and various rare plants. Local plant seeds suited to the Gobi climate are cleaned and cultivated in the greenhouse and then transferred to the outside area for adaptation. The plants are then used for biological rehabilitation.
Twenty one permanent employees work here. This team is mainly made up of local residents led by E.Altantsetseg. Initially, the staff of the tree nursery included people from various backgrounds with only a basic knowledge of tree cultivation. Over the last two years the team has been educated and enrolled in various training programmes. Now all the staff have gained the knowledge and have developed a genuine desire to protect the natural environment, they are deeply passionate about their work. E.Altantsetseg graduated from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology as a Forestry Engineer in 2007. She has enormous pride in her work.
E.Altantsetseg says, “local residents have a genuine desire to protect the local natural environment. Therefore, we are working with them. Local herders collect plant seeds and the local residents are involved in tree planting and rehabilitation work.”
The tree nursery uses the latest equipment and technology. The greenhouse has a double roof and double walls and there is a 320 meter long fog-irrigation system. The automatic irrigation system is “an advanced system” and when provided with the right data it can determine how much water and how much fertiliser should be sprayed. The greenhouse is also equipped with a heating system so the team can cultivate plants from March through to late November. Currently, shrubs and trees such as the Gobi elm, amygdalus pedunculata pall, elaeagnus L, seabuckthorn, and yellow acacia and saxual are grown in the greenhouse from seeds and saplings.
E.Altantsetseg says, “during winter, we mainly work on preparation. During spring, summer and fall we cultivate and grow the trees and plants, and fight with the weeds, bugs and insects. We grow and cultivate common plants to use for rehabilitation and also rare plants and herbal medicinal plants in our fenced area. We have many types plants including licorice, pagoda tree, sulkhir, sagebrush, just to name a few.”
It is said that each flower and plant has lives and feelings. E.Altantsetseg has dedicated her whole mind and heart to the protection of mother nature and she is proud of all the plants and trees that she has cultivated. She is also very happy with the success of her team – growing and cultivating thousands of trees and plants within short period of time.
Her ongoing work in a garden of thousands of flowers contributes to the noble cause of preserving the South Gobi in its pristine condition for future generations.
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