Ikh Nartiin Chuluun National Park Management Plan
Dr. Richard Reading (Denver Zoo), Sukh Amgalanbaatar, Meghan Rubinstein (Denver Zoo), Orgiltuya Dashzeveg, & Mark Jorgensen

Ikh Nartiin Chuluun National Park is located in Mongolia. The reserve is home to numerous endangered species, including hedgehogs, argali sheep, ibex, cinereous vultures, Pallas’ cats, corsac fox, lesser kestrels, Daurian partridges, Gobi lynx, and many others.

The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive, interdisciplinary management program for Ikh Nart Nature Reserve that will actively conserve the protected area and its natural resources in a sustainable manner. This program will incorporate wildlife management, training for rangers and government officials, ecotourism development, pasture management, and environmental education.

The management planning team took several steps in 2006 toward accomplishing this goal. They educated representatives from the park by taking them to an ecotourism camp, to show them an exemplary model of ecotourism. The planning team held several meetings and workshops with national government representatives, local people, and specialists from Mongolia and the U.S. to delve into all the components of effective park management, and ran several training workshops for educators, rangers, and park officials. Huge strides in educating the public were also made by developing numerous education materials, holding a Conservation Days celebration, and publishing several documents, including a guidebook to Ikh Nart. Additionally, team members entered into a cooperative agreement with a U.S. State Park and Mongolian tourism operator, and they purchased equipment, uniforms, computers, and more for the protected area.