Mongolia, with its expansive landscapes and centuries of history, is a treasure chest full of information about the past and current state of our planet.

To unlock this treasure, there is a problem to solve.

Why is Mongolia's natural history collections in big trouble and not content with keeping the knowledge locked there?

Disease outbreaks, climate change, and loss of species are big challenges for Mongolia.

Climate change and disease outbreaks are global challenges. Mongolia's natural history collections could help in responding to these challenges.

They need to be stored and studied properly. In Mongolia, they are not in good condition.

It is not just Mongolia that needs to rely on them, but the whole world. Mongolia's natural history collections are not in good condition. That is a problem because they hold clues about how life has changed over time. With them, researchers could track and respond to global environmental changes. They could also predict and control disease outbreaks, and make decisions about conservation and agriculture.

Imagine how helpful it would be to predict a disease outbreak or climate change and act on it. Imagine having the knowledge to make smart choices about the environment and agriculture.

    Mongolia has faced interference from foreign nations in the past. There have been struggles to gain and maintain its scientific independence. Some of this has led to a situation where valuable collections are stored overseas making them hard to access for local researchers. If something is hard to access, it is hard to study and learn from. Mongolia's struggle to maintain its scientific independence is not the only obstacle it faces. It also needs to find the money and resources to properly maintain and study its collections. Without relevant and accessible collections, the goals of studying and responding to climate change, predicting and controlling disease outbreaks, and making smart conservation choices will be nearly impossible to achieve.

    Investing in Mongolia's museum capacity and training could help create collections that are more accessible to locals. Proper storage and study would make them easier to access and provide more information, allowing for better decision-making about the environment and agriculture. The money and resources to maintain and study Mongolia's natural history collections are not there. That is why the world needs to come together to address these problems. By doing so, it could help secure a better future for everyone.

        Mongolia is facing big challenges.  It has the potential to provide valuable information about the past and the present. It also has the potential to help us make decisions about the future. The world needs to come together to support Mongolia in preserving its natural history collections. This would also support our shared global future.

Mongolia’s Natural Gems: Saving Our Shared Past and Future

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