Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Scientists of Mongolia and Japan are collaborating on the development of a technology for the restoration of degraded pastureland.

Specifically, the Project titled ‘Restoration of Pastureland by Effective Usage of Wild Forage Plants based on Traditional Knowledge of Nomadic Mongolians’ developed by Mongolian scientists has been selected in an international scientific grant program and a group of Mongolian scientists have begun working together with leading Japanese scientists.

The project is one of the three projects shortlisted from 42 Bio-resources projects that competed for SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) program, implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. Leading scientists at the Mongolian University of Life Sciences (MULS), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Ecosystem Research Center, the Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization and some enterprises of Japan are collaborating in the project led by Professor of the National University of Mongolia J.Batkhuu.

As part of the project, a pastureland restoration technology will be developed through studying climate-resistant, fast growing wild plants beneficial to animal health and introduced into agriculture and veterinary medicine.

A study conducted by the MULS Ecosystem Research Center shows that 22.6 percent or 25 million ha of pastureland in Mongolia has degraded. The project is of great significance as studies and observations conducted over the last 20 years have found that the degraded pastureland cannot restore itself naturally. The project will be implemented for 5 years with annual funding support of MNT 1.4 billion.