A land cover change study conducted between 2020 and 2025 has revealed significant environmental changes around the Bogd Khaan Mountain Strictly Protected Area, with pastureland decreasing by 11 percent and urban development increasing by three percent.

The decline in natural habitats has intensified human pressure along the boundaries of the protected area, contributing to the degradation and fragmentation of Mongolian marmot habitats. According to the study, some marmot populations have been directly affected by human activities, forcing them to concentrate in limited areas with high population densities and reducing their ability to naturally expand their habitats.

In response, the Institute of Biology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Administration of the Bogd Khaan Mountain Strictly Protected Area have launched a conservation initiative to relocate marmots from densely populated areas to more suitable habitats with lower population densities. As part of the project, a selected number of marmots will be captured from populations located within land-use areas managed by individuals and organizations in the restricted and buffer zones of the protected area. The animals will then be reintroduced into ecologically suitable environments to restore and expand their natural habitats.

The initiative aims to ensure the long-term stability of Mongolian marmot populations, restore their distribution range, reduce risks associated with naturally occurring zoonotic diseases, prevent illegal hunting, and protect biodiversity.