Juniper is one of the most valuable plants which is under serious threat of extinction in Mongolia due to over harvesting. Juniper grows only in a few high mountains in central, southern and western Mongolia. One community inhabiting in South Gobi province asked for some support to protect and rehabilitate juniper before it becomes extinct.
The grant is given to experience cultivating juniper in the Gurvan Saikhan Mountain in South Gobi province. This is will be the first community experience to cultivate juniper in Mongolia.
Two places are covered by the project. One Juniper growing area is in a Gurvan Saikhan Mountain valley. The entrance to the mountain valley is now controlled by a community ecotourism camp set up by the community itself. Some rehabilitation efforts were taken by the community, growing juniper artificially. In the other area which is close to irrigation system, over 700 branches of juniper were planted and irrigated to be grown artificially.