Mongolian vegetation show characteristics developed over time due to regional conditions, environment and climate. Mongolia is the site of convergence and co-existence of flora which originates both from the Great Siberian Taiga and the Central Asian Steppe and Desert. In addition to this Mongolian flora has gained plant species from China in the east and from the Kazakhstan Turan area in the west. The gradual transition from the High Mountain Taiga through to the mountain forest steppe and flat grassy plains on to the semi-desert and true desert areas, represent the features of the World's three basic types of vegetation regions. This variety is reflected in the change of precipitation and distribution of plants starting from the foot hills to the top of the mountain ranges in vertical belts. There are 845 species of medicinal plants, over 1,000 species of fodder plants, 173 species of food plants, 64 species of technical plants, 489 species of ornamental plants and 195 species of all kinds of significant plants in Mongolia.
At present, out of seeding varieties of plants in Mongolia, 2095 species are herbaceous plants and 348 species are woody and shrubby plants. From the woody and shrubby plant varieties, 17 species are big trees, 40 species are short trees and shrub, 146 species of shrub, 48 species of sub-shrubs, 91 species of partial sub-shrubs, 6 species of fodder and herbaceous, 1765 species of longevity plant, 330 species of one and two age vascular plant, 21 families of flat moss, 38 families of leafy moss, 53 families of lichen, 1236 species and sub-species of algae and 900 species of mushroom were registered. There are relics from prehistoric deserts, forests, tertiary lakes, savannahs and the Ice Age. Many plant relics are native to Mongolia. There are about 150 endemic vascular and lower plants such as Stipa mongolorum, Adonis mongolica, Betula mongolica, Atraphaxis bracteata, Calligonum gobicum, Nanophyton mongolicum, Gymnocarpus przewalskii, Silene mongolica, Potaninia mongolica, Chesneya mongolica, Astragalus gobicus, Oxytropis ulzii-chutagii and Armisia gobica. The Khangai, Gobi-Altai and Mongolian Altai regions are the most abundant regions, species wise.
86 plant species were registered as endangered and threatened in the first edition of the Mongolian Red Book, in the second edition (1997), the number was already 128. This group includes 75 medicinal species, 11 for food, 16 species used in industry, 55 decorative species and 15 species used in the soil fixing process and in controlling pests. This group includes Nitraria sibirica , Amygdalus mongolica, Populus diversifolia, Caragana bungei, Artemisia caespitosa, Sophora alopecuroides, Allium altaicum, Adonis mongolica, Saussurea involucrate, Agriophyllum pungens, elaeagnes moorcroftii, Aves sibirica, Gemnocvarpus przewalskii, Rodiola rosea, Allium oliquum etc. Parliament passed a Law on the International Trading of Animal and Plants, and related items last year. The law is in line with its membership of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Failing to meet convention standards would have resulted in an embargo on the country's exports and imports as well as financial assistance and support by other member countries. The convention was approved in 1975 with aims to protect and regulate the use of animals and plants. Mongolia joined the convention in 1996 and earns Tg 1.5 billion from the international trading of endangered species of native flora and fauna. Mongolia has 14 kinds of mammals, 71 birds, eight plants and two fish on the convention's protected list. Among the animals prohibited from commercial sale are the Takhi, Mazaalai (Gobi bear), snow leopard, ass, Siberian crane, White-Naped crane, Dalmatian pelican, Macqueen's or Houbara Bustard, Relict gull, Japanese crane and the oriental white Mongolian stork. However the Grey wolf, lynx, musk deer, Argali, Saker falcon, Apollo butterfly, European wild cat, Eurasian otter, elk, moose, Tatar sand boa, Siberian sturgeon, Amur Sturgeon can be traded with permission from CITES. A Coordination Council set up by the Environmental Ministry regulates trading permissions.
