The Great Gobi National Park: A Refuge for Rare Animals of the Central Asian Deserts

This book presents a comprehensive account of the creation and ecological significance of the Great Gobi National Park in Mongolia, one of the largest protected desert areas in the world. It documents the collaborative efforts from 1978 to 1984 between the United Nations Environment Programme, the Mongolian Government, and the USSR to conserve rare and endangered species, such as the wild Bactrian camel and Przewalski’s horse, and to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Trans-Altai and Dzungarian Gobi sectors. The volume details the planning and implementation of a master conservation plan, based on extensive ecological, hydrological, zoological, botanical, and soil surveys across 70,000 km² of arid terrain. It highlights the park’s role as a living model for desert conservation and a vital reference for global biodiversity protection in arid zones, emphasizing scientific research, capacity building, and cross-border environmental stewardship.