For Researchers
Research Partnerships
Need extra hands in the field? We provide trained citizen scientists, end-to-end logistics, and expedition management so you can focus on the science.
Field research is logistically demanding. Permits, transportation, accommodation, food, safety protocols — it all takes time and money away from actual science. And sometimes you just need more people to check camera traps, run transects, or record observations.
Conservation Mongolia provides full expedition support for researchers working in Mongolia — from logistics and permits to motivated citizen scientists who genuinely want to contribute to your project.
What We Provide
Services for Research Teams
Trained Citizen Scientists
Motivated participants who want meaningful involvement in real research. We screen for fitness, attitude, and genuine interest. They arrive briefed on your project and ready to work under your direction.
Complete Logistics
We handle everything: permits, 4x4 vehicles, drivers, fuel, accommodation (ger camps to spike camps), all meals, emergency protocols, satellite communication, and airport transfers. You show up and do science.
Expedition Management
Our experienced team manages day-to-day operations — schedules, group dynamics, meals, camp setup, safety monitoring. You direct the research; we run the expedition.
Local Expertise
25+ years of relationships with rangers, herders, park authorities, and local communities. We know who to call, where to go, and how to navigate Mongolia's bureaucracy and terrain.
Equipment Support
Access to field equipment: camera traps, GPS units, spotting scopes, thermal imaging, vehicles outfitted for remote work. Bring your specialized gear; we provide the basics.
Flexible Arrangements
Need us for one expedition or an entire field season? Want 4 citizen scientists or 12? Full logistics or just transportation? We customize packages to fit your project and budget.
The Process
How It Works
Tell Us What You Need
Share your research goals, field locations, timing, and what kind of support would help most. We'll discuss options and provide a proposal with costs.
Design the Expedition
Together we build an itinerary that serves your research objectives. We identify which tasks are suitable for citizen scientists and structure appropriate training and supervision.
We Recruit Participants
We market the expedition through our network of conservation-minded travelers. You get trained, motivated field assistants ready to contribute to your project.
Run the Expedition
Our team handles all logistics while you lead the science. Participants work under your direction — checking traps, recording data, assisting with equipment, whatever serves the project.
Ongoing Support
We can run multiple expeditions per season, provide annual logistics support, or help with one-off projects. Many researchers build us into their ongoing fieldwork plans.
Good Fit
Projects We Support Well
Camera trap studies — Citizen scientists excel at trap deployment, checking, battery/card swaps, and preliminary image sorting. More traps checked = more data.
Wildlife surveys and transects — Extra observers covering more ground, recording sightings, tracking sign. Properly trained participants significantly expand survey capacity.
Behavioral observation — Patient, motivated watchers logging activity budgets, social interactions, movement patterns. Especially valuable for species requiring extended observation periods.
Sample collection — Scat surveys, plant specimens, water samples, soil cores — tasks where more hands directly translate to more data points.
Habitat assessment — Vegetation plots, prey counts, human impact documentation. Systematic data collection across larger areas than a small research team could cover alone.
Any Mongolia-based fieldwork — Even if citizen science isn't central to your project, our logistics support can save enormous time and hassle. We know the country, the systems, and the people.
Current Research Partners & Active Projects
Each of our 13 expeditions funds a specific research project with an identified partner institution. Current active projects include snow leopard population censuses with the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation, oasis hydrology modelling with the Gobi Bear Project, wild camel hybridisation genetics with the University of Kent, Przewalski's horse forage studies with Hustai National Park Trust, Pallas's cat occupancy modelling with the Manul Working Group, gazelle fence corridor monitoring with WCS Mongolia, and more.
Academic Output
Graduate Students We Fund
Every expedition supports graduate-level research at Mongolian and international universities. Each project listed below is funded directly by guest conservation contributions.
Let's Talk
Planning fieldwork in Mongolia? Tell us about your project and we'll discuss how we can help.