Plants and Vegetation

Mongolia is a sparsely populated country with a comparatively low developed industry. Therefore, its nature has not been severely influenced by human activities and in most parts of the country the nature is still pristine. Indigenous species of animals and plants have formed a unique assemblage. Mongolia has diverse vegetation that includes an important part of Central Asia’s plant life. Plant species representative of Siberia’s coniferous taiga forest, Central Asian steppe and desert, and the Altai Mountains are found here. Over 3000 vascular plants, 927 lichens, 437 mosses, 875 fungi, and numerous algae have been recorded up to date. There are many other species still to be classified. 150 species are endemic to Mongolia and more than 100 plant species arc recorded as rare or endangered.
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 foothills 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-shrub, 6 species of fodder and herbaceous, and 400 species of mushroom were registered.