Borzon gobi

Surface area: 399,467 ha
Elevation: 1,000-1,200m

Protection status: Partially protected by Small Gobi Strictly Protected Area (Part A).

Site description: Borzon Gobi is a great representation of semi-desert zone. The site is characterized by rolling hills, sand dunes, dry river beds and elm trees along them and saxual forests of true desert and semi-desert zones. Rocky hills and oases can be found occasionally and they provide good habitats for raptors to nest and stopover during migration. Oases of Borzon Gobi are very important for waterbirds and shorebirds, especially during their migration. The major threat of the site is gold mine. Illegal hunting, overcutting of bushes and sexual trees for fire woods causing danger to the site. 

Importance for birds: Globally threatened bird species such as Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), Lesser Kestrel (F. naumanni) and Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulate) nest and breed at the site. The site also supports Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri), Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus) and Mongolian Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni), restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert biome.

Special flora and fauna: Rare and endangered wildlife such as Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa), Argali (Ovis ammon), Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica), Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) and Long-eared Jerboa (Euchoreutes naso) are common at the site.