Figure 1
Map of Omnogobi, Mongolia with the three study sites.
Figure 2
a. Satellite imagery showing Gurvantes. b. Satellite imagery showing Gurvantes in 2003. Image © 2024 Planet Labs.
Figure 3
a. Satellite imagery showing Tavan Tolgoi. b. Satellite imagery showing Tavan Tolgoi in 2003. Image © 2024 Planet Labs. Also see Supplementary Material 2, 3, 4.
Figure 4
a. Satellite imagery showing Oyu Tolgoi. b. Satellite imagery showing Oyu Tolgoi in 2003. Image © 2024 Planet Labs. Also see Supplementary Material 1.
Table 1
Mining land take in hectares from 2003 to 2022.
| LAND TAKE (HA) | 2003 | 2022 | % CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gurvantes | 328 ha | 12,263.55 ha | 3638 |
| Tavan Tolgoi | 1,391.14 ha | 44,966.03 ha | 3132 |
| Oyu Tolgoi | 1,520.96 ha | 12,055.51 ha | 692 |
Table 2
Percent change in NDVI vegetation cover by distance from mine, 2003–2022.
| PERCENT CHANGE IN VEGETATION COVER | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KILOMETRE FROM MINE SITE | GURVANTES | TAVAN TOLGOI | OYU TOLGOI |
| 0 to 5 | –1.93 | –27.09 | –23.34 |
| 5 to 10 | –0.46 | –26.65 | –11.98 |
| 10 to 20 | + 0.88 | –23.32 | –5.9 |
Figure 5
Average NDVI in Gurvantes from 2003–2022 by buffer zones of 0–5 km, 5–10 km and 10–20 km.
Figure 6
Average NDVI in Tavan Tolgoi from 2003–2022 by buffer zones of 0–5 km, 5–10 km and 10–20 km.
Figure 7
Average NDVI in Oyu Tolgoi from 2003–2022 by buffer zones of 0–5 km, 5–10 km and 10–20 km.
Table 3
Increase in population by district (NSO 2024). Note: Khan Bogd district is home to Oyu Tolgoi; Tavan Tolgoi is located in Tsogt Tsetsii district.
| POPULATION | 2003 | 2022 | % INCREASE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gurvantes | 3573 | 5283 | 48 |
| Khan Bogd | 2535 | 8533 | 330 |
| Tsogt Tsetsii | 2243 | 9149 | 407 |
Table 4
Increase in livestock by district (NSO 2024). Note: Khan Bogd district is home to Oyu Tolgoi; Tavan Tolgoi is located in Tsogt Tsetsii district.
| LIVESTOCK # | 2003 | 2022 | % INCREASE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gurvantes | 78540 | 173600 | 221 |
| Khan Bogd | 53380 | 208330 | 390 |
| Tsogt Tsetsii | 38700 | 177970 | 459 |
Table 5
Interview Summary.
| AWARENESS OF SDGS | NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| No Awareness | 29 | No knowledge of SDGs |
| Some Awareness, No Details | 11 | Heard of programs but lack detailed information |
Figure 8
Gurvantes: road to China, border crossing. Note blackened coal storage sites in China. White line is the border. Planet Labs.
Figure 9
Reconfiguring the herding environment – Tavan Tolgoi pasture land meets a mountain of mine tailings (MQW 2020).
Figure 10
Tavan Tolgoi: satellite image of site. Image © 2024 Planet Labs.
Figure 11
Oyu Tolgoi’s Khanbumbat Airport – new (top) and old (bottom right) air strips and road to airport. The fenced air strips are excluded from grazing and animals crossing. Image © 2024 Planet Labs.