Accounting for pastoralists in Mongolia
Rangelands cover 83% of Mongolia, and include steppes, deserts and mountain areas. Pastoralism supports over 250,000 herderhouseholds who herd 58 million livestock of five main species – Bactrian camels, cattle, goats, horses and sheep – plus some reindeerand yaks. Transhumant herders, predominantly Khalkha, account for 22.5% of the workforce and contribute around 7% of GDP. Harsh winters (dzuds) kill millions of animals. Some 70% of the country’s rangelands are degraded. Mongolia has relatively good data on pastoralism and rangelands, with some indicators down to the subdistrict level. But project-supported datasets are not integrated into these official databases. Pastoralism is an important part of Mongolia’s cultural identity. The government’s long-term development strategy aims to build on pastoralism to modernize the country’s economy and society.