What we can do

The Gobi desert is definitely one of world's greatest treasures. Each of us, no matter who you are, where you are from, should shoulder the responsibility of preserving it.Tree planting is definitely one thing that we have to do, in order to prevent further desertification. Secondly, we should help to raise awareness of being sustainable. The amount of livestock and food they need should be under control, or within a certain range which will help reducing overgrazing problem. Thirdly, the government should absolutely enforce stronger laws to protect all the endangered species, including animals and plants. What's more, allow more projects like this one, to let more people know about the interesting things in Gobi desert and problems it is facing. More people know, more creative solutions we may have. Lastly, we should always keep in mind that if we don't do anything from now, this place is going to get worse, and we all will eventually be the victims.






By: Nicole

Precious Gobi Desert

The Gobi desert is known as one of the main sources of fossil fuels. In particular, dinosaur fossils. It holds the world's richest and most diverse deposits of dinosaur and early mammal remains from 80 million years ago. According to New York Times, the American-Mongolia team excavated tremendous amount of fossils including dinosaurs, lizards, early mammals, modern birds, etc. The coolest discovery I saw from that article was a nest of dinosaur eggs with a broken one exposing a fossilized curled-up embryo. Gobi is just such a world treasure which has countless stories underneath it.



By:Nicole


Picture credits:
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/107197.aspx
http://www.omg-facts.com/Science/Paleontologists-found-two-dinosaurs-froz/52613

Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/science/13gobi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Plants in Gobi

                         This is called the Wild Onion. It has a distinct onion odor with slender grass-like leaves. It can reach about 2 feet in height when flowers appear in late summer. They are used as food and medicine


Sauxal Tree, the most dominant, resilient, and important plant in the Gobi desert. It grows slowly, depends on underground water sources can grow up to 4 meters in height. Mature sauxal is a natural desert stabilizer which prevents wind erosion as well as the expansion of desert sands. It also provides habitat for animals, food for camels, and fuel for nomads.

Mature saxaul (25 years and over) is a natural desert stabilizer, preventing wind erosion and the expansion of desert sands.

Read more: http://www.gobitravel.com/gobi-animals-and-plants/68-gobi-plants#ixzz2CvgUn3lU

By:Nicole


Resourses:
http://www.gobitravel.com/gobi-animals-and-plants/68-gobi-plants
http://www.mongolia-travel-guide.com/gobi-desert-plants.html

The most dominant and resilient of the Gobi desert plant

Read more: http://www.mongolia-travel-guide.com/gobi-desert-plants.html#ixzz2CveeoDtz

Oasis in Gobi

One Hundre Trees Oasis, is a small oasis on the northern edge of the Gobi desert where Gobi desert begins. This oasis although small, provides food and drinking water to herders and their livestock, as well as to travellers. It also offers relief to those herders who bring their cattle out for grazing.



Ekhiingol is another small and isolated oasis in the southern part of Gobi surrounded by barrent desert. This place are used for agriculture. Tomatoes, peppers, watermelon, cucumber, and some fruit can be planted here.


By:Nicole


Picture credits:
http://www.bluepeak.net/mongolia/gobi.html

Resources:
http://pixelsessions.com/oasis.html
http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Asian-Deserts

People in Gobi

Most people in Gobi desert are living with wild. They called nomad their properties are livestock. They usually breeds and horses. These animals are most of their food resources. Nomads live in tent without toilets, electricity and any kind of human technology.

Source:

http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/modern-nomads/

Human activities in Gobi

Jeep Desert Tour

Touring Gobi Desert with Jeep. Travelling around Gobi National park and observe wild life species. Short term travel.

Eagle Hunting Tour

Watching Eagle hunting in Gobi desert. The traditional Mongolian, Kazakh people, trained eagles to hunt. They are living in desert and hunt wild animals with their trained eagles.

Camel Desert Tour

Long term travel about 1 to 2 weeks in Southwestern Gobi with camel riding. The Camel Desert Tour is environmental friendly travel.

Source: 

http://www.mongolianhorsetour.com/tour/south-western-gobi-desert/

http://www.mongolianhorsetour.com/tour/jeep-tour-mongolian-steppe-and-wonders-tour/

http://www.mongolianhorsetour.com/tour/eagle-hunting-festival-tour/

Shrub and Gobi

Whenever we mention desert, we picture it as a non-adaptable place. However, there will always be someone/something find the way to survive.
In the Gobi desert, shrublands are a dominant vegetation type. Unfortunately, when human found the way and started dwelling in Gobi, they brought livestock with them. Overtime, the ascending needs of livestock have "led to a widespread degradation in shrub vegetation." This is not a problem that can be overlooked. The degradation in shrub vegetation can further lead to "substantial alteration of biotic and abiotic conditions in the landscape."




By:Nicole


Sources:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/a084h64h0304g2p5/fulltext.html