Advancing the Billion Tree Movement in Mongolia

Breaking Ground with Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi

In alignment with Mongolia's Billion Tree national movement, Oyu Tolgoi (OT) and Rio Tinto are collaborating with AirSeed by grovia to trial its innovative pod-based seed planting technology. This initiative aims to restore native biodiversity in the region while addressing the environmental impact of mining activities.

A Milestone in Reforestation Trials

The project began with a promising trial of drones delivering extruded seed pods, encapsulating seeds from native Mongolian conifers. Following a site visit in November 2022 to assess the operational environment, AirSeed by grovia planted the first trial project in Yalbag, Selenge Province, in June 2023. Concurrently, greenhouse trials were initiated at The Institute of Biology in Ulaanbaatar to establish a germination benchmark for project success.

Monitoring Progress for Long-Term Impact

With an average pod germination rate benchmark established, AirSeed by grovia conducted monitoring visits in 2023 and 2024 to evaluate seedling data. During the first monitoring period, AirSeed by grovia addressed the impacts of the June 2023 flooding event by reassessing site conditions and reapplying water retention treatments to affected plots. Early results from these efforts are showing promise, with further evaluations underway.

This partnership underscores the potential of scalable technologies like AirSeed by grovia to contribute meaningfully to global reforestation and climate resilience initiatives.