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Workshop: PEM in Mongolia

March 26-27, 2019 - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

workshop report

The workshop sensitized the participants on the benefits of participatory environmental monitoring and showed the added value for all partners involved: the environmental authorities, civil society and the private sector.

Involving citizens in the environmental monitoring process is a powerful tool to reduce environmental risks and social conflicts. Participatory environmental monitoring gives citizens and communities voice and power to influence decisions that affect their lives and their future.

The workshop was organized by UNDP Mongolia and the Government of Mongolia under the joint Swedish Environmental Protection Agency - UNDP Environmental Governance Programme (EGP).

Read the Workshop Report here

Presentations

Participatory Environmental Monitoring:

Introduction to Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committees - What has been learned in Latin America; What is useful in Mongolia?, by Flaviano Bianchini, Source International
Key Elements for an Effective Participatory Environmental Monitoring, by Flaviano Bianchini
Successful Participatory Environmental Monitoring in Mexico, by Flaviano Bianchini
Experience of Conducting Participatory Monitoring for the Implementation of Laws on Environment, Water, and Mineral Resources, by B. Bayarmaa, Chair, Association of Khuvsgil Lake Owners, Mongolia
Participatory Environmental Monitoring in Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia, by Erdenebayar Naran, Oyu Tolgoi mining company
Experience of Environmental Monitoring for Energy Resources, by Badrakh Energy company, Mongolia
Environmental Monitoring and Procedural Rights, by Mats Kullberg, Communications Advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish EPA)
Environmental Monitoring Systems in general with Swedish examples, by Tove Lundeberg, Senior Advisor, Swedish EPA

Mongolia:

Mongolian Environmental Monitoring Systems, by A. Enkhbat, Head of Division - Environmental Assessment and Auditing, Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Data, Information and Communication, by Mats Kullberg and Tove Lundeberg
Environmental Protection in Mining Areas and Reclamation, by P. Tsogtsaikhan, Director, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Ministry of Environment and Tourism
The Policy and Current Developments of the Mining Industry, by B. Delgerjargal, Director of Division on Mining Policy and Coordination, Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry
Human Rights & Mining Sector: Current Challenges for Mongolia, by Altangerel Choijoo, Director of Secretariat, National Human Rights Commission
Environmental, Geological and Mining Risk Inspection in Mongolia, by N. Batbayar, Chairman of the Environment, Geology, and Mining Inspection Department, General Agency for Specialized Inspection

Photo gallery

agenda

Study Visit: Monday, March 25

10:30 - 13:30 vISIT TO MINING OPERATIONS IN ZAAMAR AREA, FOCUSING ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MINE REHABILITATION

14:30 - 16:30 Visit to Hailaast bagh, and meetings with local communities and authorities

16:30 - 18:30 Visit to artisanal mining operations in Urihan area

DAY 1: Tuesday, March 26

Session 1: Welcome and Objectives

8:30 - 9:00 REGISTRATION AND COFFEE

9:00 - 9:10 Opening Remarks

Hon. Mr. Ts. Batbayar, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia
Tim Scott, Policy Advisor - Environment, UNDP, New York

9:10 - 9:20 objectives and desired outcomes for the workshop

Dagva Myagmarsuren, Founder and Director-General, QMC Group; and Workshop Co-Facilitator
Erdenechimeg Dashdorj, Natural Resource Governance Manager, Open Society Forum; and Workshop Co-Facilitator

Session 2: Introduction and Background Focusing on the Current Situation in Mongolia

Session Facilitator: Nyamdavaa G., Ministry of Environment and Tourism

9:20 - 9:30 Challenges of policy and legal environment of Mongolia on natural resource management and environmental protection

Tsogtsaikhan P., Director-General, Department of Natural Resources Management and Environment, Ministry of Environment and Tourism

9:30 - 9:40 current situation and mining sector policy in mongolia

Delgerjargal B., Director of Division on Mining Policy and Coordination, Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry

9:40 - 9:50 Human rights & Mining Sector: Current Challenges for mOngolia

Altangerel C., Director of Secretariat, National Commission for Human Rights of Mongolia

9:50 - 10:00 risk-based inspection in geology, mining and environment in mongolia

N. Batbayar, Chairman of the Environment, Geology, and Mining Inspection Department, General Agency for Specialized Inspection

10:00 - 10:15 Q&A/Discussion

Session 3: Implementation of Environmental Monitoring Systems – What are the Challenges?

The objective of this session is to set community-based monitoring and self-monitoring into a wider context of environmental monitoring in both Sweden and Mongolia with a focus on links to procedural rights and principles of good governance and the need to strategically plan engagement and communication efforts.

10:15 - 10:25 Links between procedural rights and monitoring

Mats Kullberg, Communications Advisor, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish EPA)

10:30 - 10:40 Environmental monitoring systems in general with Swedish examples

Tove Lundeberg, Senior Advisor, Swedish EPA

10:40 - 10:50 Mongolian environmental monitoring system

A.Enkhbat, Head of Division - Environmental Assessment and Auditing, Ministry of Environment and Tourism

10:50 - 11:00 Data, information and communication

Mats Kullberg and Tove Lundeberg

11:00 - 11:30 Questions & Answers

11:30 - 11:45 Break

Session 4: Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committees in Mongolia: What has been learned so far and how can this be developed to keep communities, land and water safe?

11:45 - 12:25 pANEL DISCUSSION

Panelist #1: Experience of environmental monitoring programme in Oyu Tolgoi mining project, focusing on community participation
Panelist #2: Experience of environmental monitoring programme for local environmental agency in South Gobi province, focusing on local governments' participation
Panelist #3: Experience of environmental monitoring programme for energy resources, focusing on government's participation
Panelist #4: Non-governmental Organizations' experiences in participating in environmental monitoring

12:25 - 12:40 Discussion/Q&A

12:40 - 13:40 Lunch

Session 5: Global Introduction to Participatory Environmental Monitoring - What has been learned in Latin America; What is useful in Mongolia?

13:40 - 14:00 Introduction to PARTICIPATORY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING COMMITTEES - What has been learned in Latin America; What is useful in Mongolia?

Flaviano Bianchini, Founder and Director, Source International

14:00 - 14:15 Key elements for an effective pemc

Flaviano Bianchini

14:15 - 14:45 q&a/dISCUSSION

14:45 - 15:00 BREAK

15:00 - 17:00 Group work

Group 1: Internal Governance

What level of committee’s formalization is optimal?
What are the pros and cons of government authorities participating in the committees?
What role do government agencies play in the committees (at each level of government)?

Group 2: internal Governance

How do committees move from tracking environmental parameters to taking action if there are abnormal results? What process can committees use, in order to bring about action?
Should committees be approaching the government agency or the company?
Can committees take action to bring about policy changes? If so, how?

Group 3: Learning

What do you think are the most important skills or topics that members learn by participating in the monitoring committees – is it about environment, about mining or other?
On the other hand, what do the companies participating in the committees most need to learn to allow them to work effectively as committee members?
If you have previously been involved in a community based environmental monitoring initiative, what factors have contributed to the success or achievements of the committee you work with?

Group 4: Socioeconomic topic

Do you think the legislation in Mongolia supports the establishment and work of the committees?
Do you see any other benefits of the committee’s work beyond the measuring of environmental parameters?
Are there any unintended costs or consequences?

GROUP 5: Environmental TOPIC

How should committees choose the monitoring sites?

Group 6: Gender TOPIC

In Mongolia, are there opportunities for women to participate in this type of forum?
If you have worked in a committee that has notable participation of women, what is different in these committees? How did women’s participation affect how the committee worked or the outcomes reached?

17:00 - 17:30 REPORTING BACK TO PLENARY: PRESENTATIONS BY 6 GROUPS

17:30 - 17:40 wrapping up

17:40 END OF THE DAY

DAY 2: Wednesday, March 27, 2019

9:00 - 9:15 - Review of previous day’s findings from group work

Dagva Myagmarsuren, Workshop Co-Facilitator
Erdenechimeg Dashdorj, Workshop Co-Facilitator

Session 6: Solutions-Forming Session on Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committees

9:15 - 10:00 Topics requiring solving and creating solutions are presented to the plenary:

A - Optimal structure for the governance of PEMCs

B - Communicating results effectively

C - Proposed sustainable financial support for PEMCs

D - Dispute resolution & compliance: Judge, compensation, fine, and penalties

E - Proposed solution for linking formal government environmental monitoring with Participatory Environmental Monitoring work

F - Mine rehabilitation and environmental restoration

10:00 - 10:15 formation of groups

10:15 - 11:00 Group Identifies key Challenge for their Topic

11:00 - 11:15 Coffee-Break

Session 6: Solutions Forming (Cont.)

11:15 - 12:30 Groups generate solution to the challenge they identified

What is the situation? What is the context of the challenge?
Who are the key stakeholders in that challenge?
What are the main barriers at the moment preventing you from getting to a solution?
What kind of solution are you looking for?

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

Session 7: Presentation of Group Solutions

13:30 – 14:30 Groups Present their Solutions

Session 8: Concluding remarks

Nyamdavaa G., Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Delgerjargal B., Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry
Tim Scott, UNDP

15:00 end of the workshop

Workshop facilitators

The workshop will be co-facilitated by Mrs. Erdenechimeg Dashdorj and Mr. Dagva Myagmarsuren:

Erdenechimeg Dashdorj is the Natural Resource Governance manager at the Open Society Forum Mongolia. Mrs. Dashdorj is a lawyer specialized in public interest environmental litigation. Prior to joining the Open Society Forum, Mrs. Dashdorj was a programme officer at the Centre for Human Rights and Development. She holds a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Dagva Myagmarsuren is the founder and Director-General of the QMC Group in Mongolia, one of the leading national mining consulting companies. Prior to founding the QMC Group, Mr. Myagmarsuren was a Senior Lecturer at the School of Geology and Mining Engineering of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology and Deputy Director of the Mining Research and Design Centre at the same university. Mr. Myagmarsuren has a strong academic and teaching background and solid experience in leading teams engaged in mining studies, including exploration, feasibility, mine development, mine production, and infrastructure.

about us

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations Development Programme launched in 2014 the Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) for Sustainable Natural Resource Management, focusing on the mining sector.

EGP supports countries to integrate environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector.

visit the egp website

DOWNLOAD THE EGP BROCHURE

The Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) for Sustainable Natural Resource Management is a joint initiative of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations Development Programme.

Our work in mongolia

Mongolia's GDP growth reached 6.9 percent in 2018. The share of the mining sector in the economy grew from 16.7 percent in 2016 to 23.79 percent by July 2018, and was one of the main contributors to economic growth.

In Mongolia, the EGP works closely with key government and civil society stakeholders to improve the environmental and social outcomes of the mining sector, including the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia; the General Agency for Specialized Inspection; Ministry of Environment and Tourism; Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry; Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority; and the National Police Department’s Environmental Crimes Division.

VISIT THE EGP MONGOLIA WEBSITE

Mongolia has improved the identification and monitoring of land degradation caused by mining activities. The EGP has been providing technical support for inspectors and officials, and supporting the use of drones. Photo: UNDP Mongolia

global guide

Extracting Good Practices: A Guide for Governments and Partners to Integrate Environment and Human Rights into the Governance of the Mining Sector is the EGP flagship publication.

This guide seeks to support governments and other stakeholders to better manage the environmental, social and human rights aspects of mining in a way that rebalances relations in favour of more just and sustainable outcomes that benefit the country and local communities, including women and children, now and in the future.

The EGP has also developed an online training course on Integrating Environmental, Social and Human Rights Protection into the Governance of the Mining Sector in collaboration with the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The course is free of charge and will run throughout 2019.