Land degradation induced by anthropogenic factors is common to all ecological zones of Mongolia. There are several specific human activities that have led to serious and widespread soil erosion and land degradation. Crop cultivation is an important reason of soil erosion. Spring tilling coincides with the season of intensive wind and most cultivated areas are devoid of trees or other wind breaks. In the Gobi region the average wind speed is 3?4 meters per second or even more which can cause significant soil moisture loss and erosion. It is estimated that over the past 30 years, an average of 35?50 tons of soils have been lost from each hectare of cultivated land due to erosion. Half of all cultivated land in Mongolia is considered to be degraded to some degree of erosion. New land brought under cultivation is mostly fodder pasture and a significant percentage of this area is marginal and environmentally unsuitable for crop production. Another factor is vehicle-induced degradation from overland travel in the absence of an established road system. It is estimated that nationwide there are four times as many vehicle tracks as are necessary, causing degradation and denudation of 0.7 million ha of land. The deforestation due to clearcutting for timber harvest, fire and insect infestations are among the factors contributing to soil erosion. Generally located on sloped or steep terrain, deforested areas as well as vehicle tracks are particularly subject to water erosion. Mining and inadequate waste management can also make significant contribution to land degradation. An estimated 100,000 ha of land have been degraded by coal and gold mining activities. The development of strip mines and the deposition of overburden, spoils, and tailings all degrade land resources. Only a very minimal amount of the land degraded by mining activities has been restored. Domestic, industrial, construction, and other forms of waste are currently deposited on the soil surface in unnecessarily large dumping sites on the outskirts of cities and towns.