Mongolia's One Billion Trees movement: pledges, offset trees and reported survival rates
- Government and regulators National Forest Agency (13 May 2025): 83.9 million trees: 61,011,353 planted and 22,962,042 offset. National Forest Agency of Mongolia
- Government and regulators National Forest Agency lecture slide (28 July 2025): “2024 year 107,4 million planted trees”. National Forest Agency of Mongolia
- International bodies AFoCO (February 2026): About 84 million trees in 2021 to 2024; cumulative approximately 114.6 million as of October 2025. AFoCO
A presidential decree presented on 4 October 2021 launched a national campaign to plant one billion trees by 2030. Reported totals mix trees planted directly with “offset” trees counted from investment, and reported survival rates differ by source.
61,011,353 planted and 22,962,042 offset trees, against a target of one billion by 2030.
Status As of October 2026: the National Forest Agency reported 83.9 million trees in May 2025 and AFoCO approximately 114.6 million cumulative as of October 2025; survival figures differ by source.
- Oyu Tolgoi and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi — Their commitments (10.2 million trees and investment equivalent to 12.7 million trees) are counted towards the national total National Forest Agency of Mongolia
- National Forest Agency — Received about MNT 1.5 billion of forestry equipment from Oyu Tolgoi (company figure) ikon.mn
- Planted trees — Survival of 41.5% for state-owned companies' plantings and 74.7% for the private sector, per iKon.mn ikon.mn
What happened
On 4 October 2021 a presidential decree was presented that aimed at a legal framework for “at least one percent of Mongolia's GDP to be spent annually on combating climate change and desertification”, in support of a campaign to plant one billion trees. According to the AFoCO country forestry brief (February 2026), the target is one billion trees by 2030 and forest cover of 9% of national territory, with phases of 2021–2024 (preparatory), 2024–2026 (intensification) and 2027–2030 (sustainable implementation).
On 13 May 2025 the National Forest Agency's Director General, Dr. Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, reported that 83.9 million trees had been planted “either directly or through offset programs”: 61,011,353 planted and 22,962,042 offset. The presentation listed commitments from Oyu Tolgoi (10.2 million trees) and Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi (investment equivalent to 12.7 million trees), 3.0 million trees planted or offset by the bank and finance sector, and 4.4 million by government organisations. In October 2024 the Forest Agency head said 84 million trees had been planted since the start, that aimags and the capital had pledged 680 million and planted 38.4 million, and that 22 mining companies had planted 33 million (Erdenet 4.1 million).
Other totals appear in other documents. AFoCO gave about 84 million trees in 2021 to 2024 and a cumulative approximately 114.6 million as of October 2025; a National Forest Agency lecture slide of 28 July 2025 gave “2024 year 107,4 million planted trees”. Oyu Tolgoi said in April 2025 that it had planted 1.3 million trees directly and counted forestry investment as equivalent to 19.2 million trees, a total of 20.5 million, and had handed about MNT 1.5 billion of forestry equipment to the Forest Agency.
Survival rates are reported differently. At the iKon.mn “Data Freedom” exhibition (11 December 2025) the survival of trees planted by state-owned companies was given as 41.5% and of the private sector as 74.7%, without a cited primary dataset. AFoCO wrote that “Reported survival rates in monitored areas exceed 90%”. The forest cover baseline was 7.9% in 2019, with targets of 8.6% for 2024, 8.7% for 2025 and 9.0% for 2030 (National Forest Agency lecture slide).
- 2021Presidential decree presented on a legal framework for at least 1% of GDP a year for climate and desertification (4 October)
- 2024Forest Agency head: 84 million trees since the start (October)
- 2025National Forest Agency reports 83.9 million trees, 61,011,353 planted and 22,962,042 offset (13 May); Oyu Tolgoi reports 20.5 million (8 April); iKon.mn survival figures (11 December)
- 2026AFoCO brief: cumulative approximately 114.6 million trees as of October 2025 (February)
What was said
“a total of 83.9 million trees have been planted either directly or through offset programs”
“at least one percent of Mongolia's GDP to be spent annually on combating climate change and desertification”
“Reported survival rates in monitored areas exceed 90%”
“depends on ecosystem-based restoration, strengthened governance, and a focus on survival and ecological impact rather than planting targets alone”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
83.9 million trees: 61,011,353 planted and 22,962,042 offset.
National Forest Agency of Mongolia“2024 year 107,4 million planted trees”.
National Forest Agency of MongoliaAbout 84 million trees in 2021 to 2024; cumulative approximately 114.6 million as of October 2025.
AFoCOOyu Tolgoi JSC committed 10.2 million trees.
National Forest Agency of Mongolia1.3 million trees planted directly plus investment counted as equivalent to 19.2 million; total 20.5 million.
ikon.mnHow it looked
Shown
- 83.9 million trees planted “either directly or through offset programs”.National Forest Agency (13 May 2025) · National Forest Agency of Mongolia
- 1.3 million trees planted directly and forestry investment counted as 19.2 million trees, a total of 20.5 million.Oyu Tolgoi, as reported by ikon.mn (8 April 2025) · ikon.mn
- Survival rates in monitored areas exceed 90%.AFoCO (February 2026) · AFoCO
Recorded
- Offset trees: 22,962,042 of the 83.9 million reported in May 2025.
- Reported totals differ by document and date: 83.9 million (May 2025), 84 million (October 2024), 107.4 million for 2024 (lecture slide), approximately 114.6 million cumulative as of October 2025.
- Survival of trees planted by state-owned companies 41.5% and by private companies 74.7%, per iKon.mn; the article cites no primary dataset.
- Forest cover baseline 7.9% (2019); target 9.0% by 2030.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- mongolia-national-forest-agency (13 May 2025): Reported 83.9 million trees planted directly or through offset programs and 5.45% implementation against plan. · National Forest Agency of Mongolia
- oyu-tolgoi-llc (8 April 2025): Reported 1.3 million trees planted directly and forestry investment equivalent to 19.2 million trees, a total of 20.5 million. · ikon.mn
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: No independent ecological evaluation is on record.
- Disputed How many trees have been planted under the campaign?
- Disputed What share of planted trees survive?
Money
- None on record Government pledge: at least 1% of GDP a year on climate change and desertification — Share of GDP, no amount stated; spending against the pledge: None on record.
- None on record Oyu Tolgoi forestry equipment handed to the Forest Agency (MNT 1.5 billion) — Not converted.
Court
- None on record No court case on record.
Accounts
- Disputed How many trees does Oyu Tolgoi contribute?
Record
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the dataset behind the iKon.mn survival figures; the article cites no primary dataset.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: survival rate of Oyu Tolgoi's tree planting; the ikon.mn article gives none.
- Disputed Figures differ: the National Forest Agency gave 83.9 million trees in May 2025 and 84 million in October 2024; a lecture slide gave 107.4 million planted in 2024; AFoCO gave approximately 114.6 million cumulative as of October 2025.
- Disputed Figures differ: the National Forest Agency lists Oyu Tolgoi as committed to 10.2 million trees; Oyu Tolgoi reports 20.5 million (1.3 million planted and 19.2 million equivalent).
Did the harm stop?
Planting was continuing; the campaign runs to 2030.
Who paid?
Pledges came from mining companies, banks and state bodies, with an offset mechanism converting investment into trees; total state spending: None on record.
Sources
Government and regulators
- “Billion Trees” National Movement: cooperation with private sector and international organizations (presentation by Dr. Oyunsanaa Byambasuren)National Forest Agency of Mongolia · 2025-05-13
- NDC and Billion Trees National Movement in Mongolia (lecture by Chultem Bold)National Forest Agency of Mongolia · 2025-07-28
Press and investigations
- Mongolia to spend at least 1% of its GDP to plant one billion treesAKIpress · 2021-10-04
International bodies
Connected cases
- Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine: Gobi water, Undai River diversion, herder complaints and project finance Mongolia · 2004–2025 Related matter
- Government of Mongolia (Government) — here: Presidential campaign; 1% of GDP pledge; there: Shareholder via Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi; party to 2022 agreement
- Oyu Tolgoi LLC (Company) — here: Pledged 10.2 million trees; reports 20.5 million; there: Mine operator
- Ulaanbaatar winter air pollution: stove programmes, the 2019 raw-coal ban and subsidised briquettes Mongolia · 2008–2024 Related matter
- Government of Mongolia (Government) — here: Presidential campaign; 1% of GDP pledge; there: Raw coal ban; briquette discounts
- Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC (Company) — here: Committed investment equivalent to 12.7 million trees; there: Provided MNT 1.1 trillion of repayable financing
- Mongolia's 2009 ban on mining at river headwaters and in forests: licence cancellations, compensation duty, 2015 amendment and artisanal gold-mining programmes Mongolia · 2009–2025
- Government of Mongolia (Government) — here: Presidential campaign; 1% of GDP pledge; there: Duty to compensate licence holders; 2015 amendment
- Mongolia's dzud winters and degraded pasture: emergency funding for herders Mongolia · 2010–2024
- Government of Mongolia (Government) — here: Presidential campaign; 1% of GDP pledge; there: National DRR and State Reserve Fund; donation campaign