Research Station

Overview

In 1997 a research station was founded in the framework of a university partnership between the Georg-August-University of Goettingen (GAUG) and the National University of Mongolia (through its Faculty of Biology), supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The German Volkswagen-Foundation and the German BMBF (Government Ministry of Scientific Research and Education) financed the establishment up of the station, which is now under the responsibility of GAUG, paying recurrent cost for infrastructure.

Location

Khonin Nuga is a valley in the West-Khentey region of Northern Mongolia . It is situated in the buffer zone of the Strictly Protected Area of Khan Khentey where the two rivers Sharlan and Hong meet and create the river Eroo, the upper part of the drainage system of lake Baikal. At the geographical coordinates of N 49°05’17’’ and E 107°17’36’’, 930 m a.s.l., in Khonin Nuga a research station of the University of Goettingen, Germany , was established in co-operation with the National University of Mongolia in 1997. The Khentey Mountains of Northern Mongolia, where the Siberian forest belt borders the steppe, represent a unique and greatly untouched ecosystem. Altogether 15 000 km² of primeval forest and grassland are completely protected by law.

Map of Mongolia and location of the research station Khonin Nuga

The study sites are in the transition zone between the southern extension of the Siberian taiga and the forest steppe. Natural forest growing on permafrost soils is found on the northern slopes, while the southern slopes, receiving greater amounts of solar radiation, are naturally covered with steppe vegetation due to the relatively dry conditions. In this transition zone elements of the boreal conifer forests meet floristic elements of the Central-Asiatic steppe (Dulamsuren et al. 2004).

Eröö valley in which the station with gers and houses along the river is established

Infrastructure

Important equipment comprises now 5 wood houses for research in Khonin Nuga, 3 wood houses for research and accommodation at the hot springs (about 30 km east of Khonin Nuga in a different ecological zone), 5 Mongolian gers, solar energy for basic electricity, 1 Russian microbus, 1 jeep, 18 horses, several scientific tools to capture and measure small animals alive, several scientific measuring instruments, and few books for identification of plants and several animal groups.

The wood buildings at the research station Khonin Nuga, kindly supported by the GTZ/National Park administration of Khan Khentey, the Mandal Soum Government, and the National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

Three wood houses at the Hot Springs, ca 30 km east of Khonin Nuga, which are also part of the university research station

Management

For running the infrastructure of the station one person is employed for cars, mechanics, and guarding the station, and one person works in the common kitchen. Assistance for excursions is provided by the local ranger of the Strictly Protected Area of Khan Khentey (Ranger Myagmasuren). To become independent from short-term project money and thus to ensure long-term survival and continuance the station is run at relatively low cost. The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ, Nature Conservation and Bufferzone Development Project/Principal Adviser Dr. Hans Hoffmann) supports each year its activities