Mongolia's capital bans extraction of black earth

ULAN BATOR, Oct.23 (Xinhua) -- The municipal government of Ulan Bator has announced a ban on the extraction of black earth in the Mongolian capital.

"As Ulan Bator, which is home to more than half of the country's population of 3.2 million, develops, demand for black earth has increased dramatically. As a result, it is now virtually impossible to extract black earth in the territory of the capital city," the mayor's press office said Wednesday in a statement.

The ban will start from Jan.1, 2020 and last three years. The humus-rich black earth is ideal for growing most nutrient-dependent plants.