A policy to protect all mountains, relief features and ecosystems of Mongolia and properly exploit minerals has been developed in the country. Currently, a total of 20.6 million hectares in 127 places near Ulaanbaatar, 19 aimags and 50 areas of soums have been taken under the state special protection. The special protected areas occupy 13.2 per cent of total territory, 17.3 per cent of Mongolia's forest reserve, 55 per cent of the hydrosphere and about 40 per cent of the distribution area of rare animals and plants.
Projects and policies are being carried out involving 2 million hectares of land in the special protected areas which has a special influence on Mongolian natural and ecological equilibrium and improving the living conditions of residents in those areas. In 2002, a total of 140,000 hectares of land including the area near the Tujiin Nars Pine forest, which is situated on the boundary of Selenge aimag's Altanbulag and Shaamar soums, and some parts of the Myangan-Ugalzat Mountain range in Tsetseg soum of Khovd aimag was taken under state special protection.
The Ministry of Nature and Environment has declared an additional 280 thousand hectares for special protection, twice as much as in 2002. Mongolia's four areas: the ecosystem of the Bogd Khan Mountain, the basin of Lake Uvs, the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan, a part of the Great Gobi Reserve and the natural complex of Khustai Mountain range have been involved in the World Biosphere network.
The Mongol Daguur protected area, the Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan, the Lakes Ug, Taats, Buuntsagaan, Adgiin Tsagaan and Airag, the Lake Orog in the Lakes Depression, as well as the national park of Lake Khar-Us have been registered at the World Ramsar Convention. Also the Mongol Daguur reserve has been involved in the Northeast Asian international network to protect the crane. The Lakes Terkh and Ugii have been involved in the international network to preserve geese and duck varieties.
