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Crane Festival
Joint Commitment to Biodiversity and Regional Cooperation

Since 2014, the annual Crane Festival has been held in the community of Binder (Khentii Province). The event is organized by the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia and the International Crane Foundation. The goal of the festival is to work together with the local population to strengthen the protection of sensitive wetlands, promote environmental education, and establish sustainable ecotourism in the region.

 

The Khurkh-Khuiten river valley in northeastern Mongolia is one of the most important breeding and resting sites for the white-naped crane. The region is known for its high biodiversity and provides a vital habitat for numerous migratory bird species along the Central Asian Flyway.
 

Since 2014, the annual Crane Festival has been held in the community of Binder (Khentii Province). The event is organized by the Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia and the International Crane Foundation. The festival aims to work together with the local population to strengthen the protection of sensitive wetlands, promote environmental education, and establish sustainable ecotourism in the region.

 

Symbol of Regional Nature Conservation

The white-naped crane is an endangered bird species that breeds in Mongolia and winters in South Korea and Japan. As a transboundary species, the crane symbolizes the protection of shared natural resources and peaceful cooperation in Northeast Asia.

In this spirit, the Crane Festival serves as a platform for exchange and understanding among countries in the region. In 2016, the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSS) became involved in the region for the first time as part of its regional projects to promote biodiversity, environmental education, and confidence-building in the ecological sector. The first-time participation of a North Korean delegation at that time marked an important step in environmental cooperation across political borders.

Contribution of the Hanns Seidel Foundation

As part of its global climate initiative, the Global Mitigation and Adaptation on Climate Change Project (GMACC), the Hanns Seidel Foundation is dedicated to protecting ecologically important habitats in East Asia and fostering regional cooperation in climate protection. Wetlands, such as the Khurkh-Khuiten Valley, play a crucial role in supporting migratory birds, maintaining water balance, storing carbon, and enhancing the resilience of rural ecosystems. This year, the Hanns Seidel Foundation was present on-site to support these efforts.

Education, Exchange, and Future Perspectives

The Crane Festival plays a vital role in increasing awareness about biodiversity and ecological change through various educational programs, informational events, and workshops. It also creates an opportunity for dialogue across generations and borders regarding innovative conservation strategies in Northeast Asia.

In the long term, the initiative aims to enhance environmental education in rural areas, promote professional exchanges among stakeholders from government, science, and civil society, and establish a common foundation of environmental awareness for sustainable development in Northeast Asia.