Shelter belt
PROGRAMME · ANTI-DUST CORRIDOR
Linear, multi-row tree strips at city edges and farm boundaries — engineered to reduce wind speed 40-60% downwind and intercept airborne dust before it reaches population centres.
Why this programme exists
Spring dust storms originating in the Mongolian steppe carry millions of tonnes of sediment east — into Korea (NIER estimates $5-7B/yr economic damage), Japan and northern China. Shelter belts at the right places break wind speed and trap particulate matter close to source. They're the most cost-effective dust mitigation tool available.
How it works
- 1
Wind analysis
Position the belt perpendicular to prevailing winds (NW in most of Mongolia). 10-year wind-rose data from Mongolia's NAMHEM.
- 2
Multi-row design
3-5 rows of mixed-height species. Tallest (poplar) at upwind edge, denser middle (elm), shorter (sea buckthorn) at downwind face for porosity.
- 3
Linear plantings 50m+
50m minimum for a meaningful shelter effect. Longer belts (200m+) for city edge. 1.5m within row spacing, 2-3m between rows.
- 4
3-year care
Year 1 watering + windbreak fencing protecting young trees. Year 2-3 monitoring including downwind dust deposition measurement.
- 5
Downwind audit
Y3 audit measures wind speed reduction at 5×, 10×, 20× tree height downwind, plus particulate-matter capture. Belt is replanted if it fails to meet 40% reduction target.
Where we plant
- Töv (UB corridor)
- Darkhan-Uul
- Orkhon
- Sükhbaatar
- Govisümber
Measured impact
- Wind speed reduction
- 40-60% at 5× height downwind
- Protected zone
- ~30× tree height downwind
- 50m belt protects
- ~1,500 m² downwind area