Environmental mining in Mongolia

Mongolia is rich in natural resources, and mining accounts for a quarter of its GDP and 89% of its annual exports, however, it is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, as huge amounts of water are used and polluted to extract mineral resources which contribute to the destruction and disturbance of the ecosystems, the surrounding environments, and the agricultural areas, risking the nomadic identity and that characterizes Mongolia. Nomadic herders in the mining areas are facing pollution, soil degradation, water shortage, and other serious problems due to the failure of the government to hold corporations to account, pushing local communities and NGOs to organize to protect their environment.