Mongolia: Country Features, the Main Causes of Desertification and Remediation Efforts - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 205

Chapter 11
Mongolia: Country Features, the Main Causes
of Desertification and Remediation Efforts

O. Dorj, M. Enkhbold, S. Lkhamyanjin, Kh. Mijiddorj, A. Nosmoo,
M. Puntsagnamil, and U. Sainjargal

Synopsis Mongolia's efforts to combat desertification are outlined. There is a
new action plan and a strategy is in place. Legislative reform has sought to make
new provisions for securing land users rights and securing tenure over grazing
lands. Community-based Grasslands Management in Mongolia's Gobi has proven
successful in raising household incomes. Examples are given of successful projects.

Key Points

• Agriculture is one of the key sectors of Mongolian economy. Nearly 80 %

of Mongolia's territory is used for agriculture. Nearly half of the working
population is engaged in agriculture, and many changes in agriculture sector have
been taking place recently. The agricultural sector consists of two main subsector,
these are crop production and livestock production.

• Vast pasture resources, the harsh climate and low population densities have

favored the evolution of extensive livestock/pastoral livestock production in
Mongolia. New livestock breeds of cattle, sheep and goats were developed
for the extensive livestock production system. The newly-emerged intensive
livestock subsector is characterized by using foreign breeds which have a higher
productivity.

• Main causes of desertification are anthropogenic impacts, which accelerate the

process of land degradation created by natural impacts such as global warming,
drought and climate change. These factors are interrelated; sometimes they are
affecting each other positively, and other times negatively. Human activities as a