Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (28297)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.9500, Longitude: 107.4167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1300 to 2664
Area of KBA (km2): 2938.36086
Protected area coverage (%): 99.02
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is contiguous with Khan-Khentii Strictly Protected Area (MN055), and the two sites are similar. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park supports large areas of forest steppe and mountain steppe, with alpine habitats on higher peaks. The site is located close to Ulaanbaatar, so many tourists visit tour camps, and urbandwellers organise day trips during weekends. Threats to biodiversity include poaching, forest fires, pollution and disturbance to wildlife and its habitats from uncontrolled tourism. Many permanent structures and tour camps have been built within the national park, which are contributing to overgrazing and land degradation at the site.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: Globally Threatened species found at the site include Saker Falcon Falco cherrug (EN), Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni (VU) and Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola (VU). Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus (NT) also occurs. The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the boreal forest (taiga) biome, including Black-billed Capercaillie Tetrao parvirostris, Ural Owl Strix uralensis, Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula, Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum and Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans. Non-bird biodiversity: Over 50 species of mammal, fi ve reptiles, four amphibians and 30 fish have been recorded at the site, as well as more than 200 species of insect. Rare and threatened species found at the site include Siberian Musk Deer Moschus moschiferus (VU), European Elk Alces alces, Red Deer Cervus elaphus, Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Wolverine Gulo gulo (NT), Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx, Pallas’s Cat Felis manul (NT), Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (NT) and Taimen Hucho taimen.