1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Darkhan-Uul
Region
Asia
Native title of the NBS intervention
Дархан хотын Соёл, Амралтын хүрээлэн
Short description of the intervention
The Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City is a government-led initiative that provides an environment for citizens to enjoy their leisure time. It is comprised of multiple facilities, including the "My Mongolia" Park, "Darkhan-50" Complex, Friendship Square, Morinkhuur Complex, Burhantai Tolgoi Complex, Duujin Bridge, and Suren Street, covering 43.0 hectares.

The "My Mongolia" Park, spanning 28.0 hectares, is the most significant section of the Center and boasts an 80% coverage of lush greenery. It features a recreation and leisure park centered around the twelve Western zodiac signs and two pedestrian paths that are 1.2 km long and 2.5 m wide. "My Mongolia" Park is a popular destination for Darkhan City residents seeking leisure and relaxation.

The "Darkhan-50" Complex covers 4.2 hectares of land and includes green spaces, fountains, and classical sculptures, while the "Morin Khuur" complex is adorned with a statue of a galloping horseman inspired by the legend of Khukhuu Namjil. Occupying an area of 3 hectares, the complex is surrounded by around 1200 trees and bushes. Additionally, the Burkhantai Tolgoi Complex is a memorial park established in 2003, featuring a Buddha statue. (Ref. 1, 2, 8)
Address

Darkhan-Uul
49000
Mongolia

Area boundary
POINT (105.9458122131 49.473689578126)
POINT (105.94868754121 49.461557549156)
POINT (105.95654104918 49.462770887247)
POINT (105.95669125289 49.466048144531)
POINT (105.94652799661 49.47370498367)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google Earth Pro Map, Imagery Date: 05/18/2022, (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
Total area
445000.00m²
NBS area
280000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
unknown
End date of the intervention
unknown
Present stage of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The Center was created with the following objectives:
- To create a comfortable environment for people to relax and spend their free time;
- To increase green area and be fully responsible for irrigation, maintenance and shaping of trees and shrubs;
- To increase air humidity;
- To absorb background noise;
- To reduce environmental dust and improve air quality
- To offer opportunities for recreation and the organization of social and cultural events
- To support the service sector and contribute to job creation by opening an amusement park in the Center (Ref. 1, 2)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
- The number of trees and shrubs planted
- Visitor numbers
- Amount of green space per person (Ref. 1, 2)
Implementation activities
The Center is predominantly made up of lush green spaces, where tree planting is an ongoing endeavor. In 2022, "My Mongolia" park saw the addition of nine new types of trees, with a 80% growth rate. These trees include a mixture of deciduous and coniferous species, such as maple, elm, poplar, moil, lilac, spruce, pine, and black wood. Meanwhile, 350 pine trees were planted along the railway with a 70% growth rate. The Darkhan-50 and Morin Khuur complexes also received new tree plantings, including 17 spruce and 27 pine trees at Darkhan-50, and 22 spruce and 17 pine trees at Morin Khuur. To further enhance the beauty of the city, 5000 flowers were planted in "My Mongolia" park and the "Darkhan-50" complex. (Ref. 1,2)
These green spaces are also equipped with irrigation systems, with the Darkhan-50 Complex, Morin Khuur Complex, and "My Mongolia" park all receiving this benefit. Besides, the Center also provides various amenities such as benches, sunshades, game centers, and playgrounds, as well as an amusement park and Mongolia's first children's railway, established by Ulaanbaatar Railway. Additionally, the Center hosts numerous social events and festivals, including the International Children's Day and the Naadam Festival. For accessibility, "My Mongolia" park has been designed to offer a barrier-free environment for all visitors. (Ref. 2, 9, 10)


NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Institutional green space
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Air quality regulation
Noise reduction
Cultural services
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Governance
Governance arrangements
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The "Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City" is an initiative of the local government. Darkhan-Uul province has set a goal of planting 20 million trees in the next 10 years within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" national campaign and the "Green Darkhan-2032" program. According to this, green structures, afforestation, rehabilitation, and protection strips will be built on 15.7 thousand hectares. "My Mongolia" park is one of the places where trees will be planted. Government, non-government organizations, and general education institutions has been also involved in the tree planting activities (Ref. 1, 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
"One Billion Trees" National Campaign (Ref. 3, 4)
Darkhan-Uul province has set a goal of planting 20 million trees in the next 10 years within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" national campaign and the "Green Darkhan-2032" program. According to this, green structures, afforestation, rehabilitation, and protection strips will be built on 15.7 thousand hectares. "My Mongolia" park is one of the places where trees will be planted.
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
"Green Darkhan-2032" program (Ref. 5)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
"Green Darkhan-2032" program (Ref. 5)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Financing
Total cost
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Type of fund(s) used
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Type of innovation
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
Improved air quality: As a result of the planting activities, the project is expected to increase air humidity and reduce environmental dust and as a result, improve air quality (Ref. 1, 2)
Increased green space: In 2022, 17 spruce trees and 27 pine trees were planted in Darkhan-50 complex, 22 spruce trees and 17 pine trees were planted in Morin Khuur complex, 13 pine trees and 61 spruce trees were planted in "My Mongolia" park. (Ref. 1,2)
Increased number of species present: In 2022, 9 more types of trees were planted in "My Mongolia" park. Growth is at 80%. 3 types of coniferous trees: spruce, pine, and black wood. Deciduous trees are dominant (Ref 1,2)
Economic impacts
Description of social and cultural benefits
Improved access to urban green space: The largest part of the center is the "My Mongolia" Park, which covers 28.0 hectares and features a recreation and leisure park centered around the 12 signs of the Western zodiac.
Improved visibility for marginalized groups: "My Mongolia" park creates a disabled-friendly environment. They work hard to build a comfortable environment for wheelchair users and disabled people. (Ref. 2)
Increased involvement of locals in green space management: 1,800 students from 54 classes of high school, together with the staff of the park actively participated as a group, sorted the garbage and cleaned the area. (Ref. 2)
Opportunities for social interaction/Promotion of cultural diversity: In this park, many social events and festivals, such as International Children’s Day, the Naadam Festival, and many other events, are organized for the citizens. (Ref. 2)

Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: Additionally, the park includes two pedestrian paths that are 1.2 km long and 2.5 m wide. "My Mongolia" Park is one of the primary places for citizens of Darkhan City for recreation, with over 80% of the park covered in lush greenery. (Ref. 1, 2)
Type of reported impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
List of references
1. "Report on the maintenance of green structures in "My Mongolia" park of Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City", (2023), (Report provided by the specialist of the center), Ulaanbaatar
2. "Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City" official facebook page, available at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081877837732 (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
3. President online news website, (18/05/2022), "Darkhan-Uul province has planted 105 thousand trees within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" National Campaign.", available at https://president.mn/23404/ (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
4. Montsame online news website, (24/03/2023), "Darkhan-Uul: 300 million MNT was approved for the increase of green facilities.", available at https://montsame.mn/mn/read/315311 (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
5. Unuudur online news website, (27/02/2022), "Green Darkhan-2032" program will be implemented in Darkhan-Uul province", available at https://www.unuudur.mn/a/228287 (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
6. Introduction video of tree planting work by Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City within the framework of "GREEN DARKHAN-2032" program, (2022), available at https://www.facebook.com/da.boajg/videos/653821722792008 (Accessed on 11/04/2023)
7. "We love Darkhan" Youtube channel (2020), "My Mongolia" park, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-0YnPPcVOw (Accessed on 11/04/2023)
8. Montsame online news website, (01/12/2017), "Eight honored places of Darkhan-Uul province", Available at https://montsame.mn/en/read/74085 (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
9. Polit online news website: Mongolia's first child train. Available at: https://www.polit.mn/a/92303 (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
10. Montsame online news website (05/25/2022) The entertainment park has opened. Available at: https://montsame.mn/mn/read/296887 (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
Attachments
Comments and notes
Public Images
Image
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 6)
Image
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 6)
Image
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Mini Mongolia section
(Ref. 7)
Image
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 2)
Image
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 2)