Mapping forest functions using GIS in Selenge Province, Mongolia

Most Mongolian forest areas are located in the northern part of Mongolia. Forest resources are vitally important for rural livelihood and local businesses that rely on timber and other forest products. In addition, forest landscapes serve to maintain fresh water supply, stabilize soil and permafrost and provide diverse habitats for wildlife. With effective forest management, it can also provide a secure supply of forest products that could meet the demands of Mongolia's growing population. Promoting forest management has been identified as a key priority by the Government of Mongolia. Forest function is essential for sustainable forest management. This study presents the process for classifying forest functions with the use of criteria stipulated in the forest laws in 1995 and 2007. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to classify and produce forest function maps. Forest functions were classified into three classes as strictly protected forest, protected forest and production forest, according to the forest law of 1995. The new forest law which was enacted in 2007 has zoned forest into two main forest functions as protected forest and production forest. The area of the final two forest functions increased by the same ratio (21%) due to the change in the law criteria. These functions will be linked with forest management planning, which will improve the forestry of Selenge province in Mongolia.