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Ts. Munkhbayar, Head of Onggi River Movement

The Mongolian Constitution states that the citizens of Mongolia shall enjoy the “right to a healthy and safe environment, and to be protected against environmental pollution and ecological imbalance” (chapter 2, article 16.2). It is to protect that right from its current violations that the United Movement of Mongolian Rivers and Lakes (UMMRL) was established on June 04th, 2009.

The UMMRL is a federation of seven civil movements that were constituted separately on the initiative of local people willing to see their basic rights respected. These seven River Movements are Onggi River Movement, Toson Zaamar Movements, Salkhin Sandag Associaton, Angir Nuden Munduuhei, Khuder River Movement, Calling of Mountains & Rivers Movement and Nature Protection - Local Development.

The non-profit and non-governmental organization is based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and currently covers 21 soums (urban centers) in 9 out of the 21 provinces of Mongolia. Its mission is to protect and/or to rehabilitate watersheds of rivers and to provide environmental and legal education to local people. It pulls its strength from its members’ long time experience and from their network that spreads throughout the country.

The UMMRL has combined civic mobilization with the knowledge and understanding of environmental policies and laws to identify violations and call the government to account for them. The UMMRL notably illustrated itself in summer 2009 when it successfully lobbied the passing of the law “Prohibiting mining operations at headwaters of rivers, protected zones of water reservoirs and forested areas”.