The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sponsored GEF Project "Strengthening of the Protected Areas Network of Mongolia (SPAN)" (2010-2015) is providing support to the Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism. The objective of the project is to catalyze the management effectiveness and financial sustainability of Mongolia's protected areas system. The project has three major outcomes that will contribute to achieve its objective: (1) Strengthened national policy, legal and institutional frameworks for sustainable management and financing of the national PA system; (2) Institutional and staff capacity and arrangements are in place to effectively manage and govern the national PA system; and (3) Sustainable financing mechanisms and innovative collaboration approaches demonstrated at demonstration sites, increasing funds and effective strategies for PA management.

In order to achieve the overall project objective, and particularly to mobilize political will to expand financial support to the Mongolian Network of Protected Areas (MNPAs), an economic valuation of the contribution of the MNPAs to the economy has been deemed necessary. This valuation includes a site level report on the Orkhon Valley National Park (OVNP). This report is an integrated part of the above-indicated UNDP's SPAN Project, and focuses on the OVNP.

This report is organised in 4 sections: Section 1 and 2 provide an introduction, objective and basic concepts related to ecosystems services.

The objective of this study is to analyse selected productive sectors and determine the gains or losses of undertaking productive activities by comparing "poor" with "sound" protected area's ecosystem management practices.