The Eastern Mongolian Steppe is the largest area of contiguous grasslands on Earth - the last bio-region of its type.

Covering an area almost the size of Japan, it is home to numerous rare and endangered species, as well as plants which have yet to be identified. As yet largely undeveloped, this oasis has recently attracted the attention of foreign companies eager to develop the oil and gold reserves which lie beneath it.

And what of the indigenous population? Mongolians have traditionally lived a sustainable way of life on the Steppe, purposefully moving their camps and herds to find the best grass and living conditions. This semi-nomadic way of life has minimised the human impact on the steppe and allowed Mongolians to live for thousands of years without fundamentally altering the ecosystem. In addition to the threat development poses to the Steppe itself, this life style may also disappear as the developers move in.

In an ambitious attempt to temper development demands with conservation needs, the Mongolian Ministy of the Environment and the UNDP, supported by the Global Environment Facility, has launched the Eastern Steppe Biodiversity Project. While acknowledging the need for economic growth, the project aims to balance this need with protecting the fragile nature of this region, and to implement sustainable strategies. But can multinational companies make a return on their investments without destroying a truly unique ecosystem in the process?

Beijing based film-maker John D. Liu travelled to the Steppe for Earth Report to assess the chances for safeguarding the grassland ecosystem, and the semi-nomadic way of life which has maintained the region's diversity intact.