‘Soyombo Mountain’ undergoes rehabilitation

Ayaljuul LLC is conducting rehabilitation work on the face of Bogd Khaan Mountain set with the national emblem, the Soyombo, as ordered by the Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism (MEGDT).

On May 23, Minister of Environment, Green Development and Tourism D.Oyunkhorol issued a decree cancelling five land use permits near the mountain face, and ordered Ayaljuul LLC to restore an area it had excavated. The restoration includes the planting of trees.

“Permits to use land near the mountain face with the Soyombo were issued to five individuals in 2016, when N.Battsereg served as Minister of Environment, Green Development and Tourism. These lands were then transferred to the ownership of small companies. Yesterday (May 23), our department cancelled these land permits,” reported Ch.Batsansar, the head of the Special Protected Area Management Department of the MEGDT.

The Soyombo was installed on Bogd Khaan Mountain in 1936, for the 15th anniversary of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921. The mountain face with the Soyombo is a historic-cultural monument that serves as a symbol of freedom, democracy, and Mongolia's independence.

Ch.Batsansar gave further clarification on the matter of land use.

Why were land use permits for special protected areas under the ownership of companies?

A problem arose when the long-term residents of the Zaisan area complained that they hadn’t been able to reclaim their own land for 10 years. As a result, the government issued a decree in May 2015, which enabled these long-term residents to own a small area for tourism purposes. Basically, we were able to completely resolve the issue. However, these residents started transferring the ownership of the land to others. We revoked the permits transferred to companies and ordered them to return the areas they destroyed to their original state yesterday.

How many companies had taken hold of these protected lands? Did the ministry cancel all permits?

Five companies had land use permits. All of their permits have been cancelled.

For what purpose does the ministry allow the use of special protected areas?

We only allow special protected areas to be used for tourism activities. It’s impossible to own special protected areas, according to the law.