A research study on the development of the indicators to assess the tourism impacts on protected areas of Mongolia

Over 80 percent of protected areas is occupied by tourism and related activities which impose such adverse impacts as environmental pollution, land degradation, loss and damage of historic and cultural heritage sites in Mongolia. On the other hand, tourism is the main source for funding Protected Area administrations. Therefore, it is crucial to develop indicators to assess the environmental and socioeconomical impacts of tourism on Protected Areas. Development of such indicators will enable the policy makers, project initiators and project beneficiaries to duly monitor, evaluate the project implementation in order to promote and sustain positive outcomes while preventing and minimizing adverse impacts.