Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
factor of desertification occur in the frame of natural dryness, causing negative
impacts. Within these anthropogenic factors, animal husbandry has the strongest
influence throughout the years by its exploitation of pasturelands that covers
80 % of the total territory.
There has been a shift from sheep keeping to goat keeping among herders
who are trying to respond to the growing international demand for cashmere
wool. Goats, however, are much more harmful to the environment than sheep
because they disturb the pasture's regenerative capacities by feeding on roots and
flowers. Consequently, the shift to goat keeping is putting increasing pressure on
the pasturelands in Mongolia, threatening to accelerate pasture degradation and
processes of desertification. Over the past few years, the number of goats has
increased significantly by ten million. Currently, goats make up 47 % of the total
number of livestock in Mongolia.
Keywords Gobi • Cashmere • Land use rights • Dust storms • Infrastructure
protection • Forests • Water supply • Biodiversity • Climate change •
Population growth • Market economy • China • Republic of Korea • Russia •
Legislation • Strategic plan • Dzud • Constraints • Dinosaurs
1
Country Background
1.1
Geographic Location
Mongolia is located in Central Asia bordered by Russia to the north and China to
the east, west and south (Fig. 11.1 ). It has 1,566 million square kilometer (km 2 )in
area with maximum extent west-east of approximately 2,200 km and north-south
1,250 km, but sparsely populated with an average density of 1.5 persons/km 2 .The
18th largest country in the world, 5th in Asia.
Elevation in Mongolia ranges between 560 meters above sea level (m asl) and
4,374 m asl, with an average altitude of 1,580 m asl.
1.2
Landscape
There are mountains in the north and west. Nearly 10 % of the land is forested,
mostly in the north. The Central Region is steppe or grassland. The southern part
of Mongolia is Gobi or semi-desert. Most of rivers and lakes are located in the
northern part of the country (Fig. 11.2 ). Nearly 90 % can be used for agricultural or
pastoral pursuits, 9.6 % is forest and 0.9 % is covered by water. Less than 1 % has
no effective use.
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