Although tree planting continues to be one of the major environmental initiatives in Mongolia, fruit tree planting by local communities is relatively new in the countryside. Having some experience in tree planting in urban areas, the Girls Scout Movement has suggested to plant fruit trees in Bornuur sum.
This grant is given to support girl scouts? initiative to plant fruit trees in Bornuur sum with further intention to establish a community fruit garden with involvement of some local community members. This activity is expected to bring a lot of environmental and livelihood benefits, if the project is implemented successfully.
Over 2000 fruit tree seedlings were planted. The survival rate was 88% for the first year. The only problem is now irrigation or watering. Over the past several years there have been occurred severe droughts. They often result in drying up river flow in the lower section of Boroo River where the fruit trees were planted. Local community members have been fighting seedlings survival. But more comprehensive and broad scaled measures like rehabilitation of the existing dam located in the upstream section of Bornuur are needed to be taken not only for successful outcomes of the project, but for the entire vegetable growing area.