ALM UNDP

Summary:

Summary

To increase the resilience of Mongolian livestock system to changing climatic conditions by strengthening the adaptive capacity of the livestock system as well as the capacity of herders' groups to cope with climate change impact.

Background

Livestock is the basis of the country’s rural economy, contributing about 90 percent of agricultural GDP. Livestock production in Mongolia is mainly based on small household subsistence-level economic units. These small herders have increased in number significantly since the transition to a market economy in the early 1990s, when livestock became a last resort source of income for many people. For centuries, Mongolia's herders were nomadic, but as a consequence of the transition to the free market economy many herders have abandoned the traditional nomadic system of herding.

The result has been overgrazing and degradation of pastures, permanent occupation of reserve pastures and areas close to water supply, and destruction of the overall ecological balance on which herding in Mongolia has relied for centuries. Grazing pressure has increased for the central and western regions of Mongolia during the recent decade, especially in Arhangai, Bayan-Olgii, Uvs and Hovd aimags1 by 50%-100%2. In the period from 1986 to 2001, pasture carrying capacity exceeded in 145 soums3 of which in 73 soums by 150 percents, in 18 soums by 200 percents. Research results on grassland condition show that the yield of grasslands has decreased by 20-30% in the last 40 years4. Also, increased drought at the level of 95 percent in Mongolia, has resulted in the decrease of palatable pasture plants and grass, and reduced availability of water and supplementary feed for animals.

Problem

In the past 60 years Mongolia has experienced an increase of 1.80ºC in annual mean temperatures5, changes in the duration of heat and cold waves, and changes in the patterns and predictability of rainfall. Melting of high mountain glaciers has increased, and permafrost is degrading intensively. The ground water table is decreasing in arid regions, and degradation and desertification of the land due to shortage of water and precipitation have been intensifying. Climate change has also increased the frequency and the intensity of extreme events such as drought and "dzud" (harsh winter), including three consecutive severe winters from 1999-2002. These changes have had and will continue to have significant negative impacts on the livestock sector and overall economic development in Mongolia.

Solution

The main objective of the proposed IFAD-SCCF project is to increase the resilience of Mongolian livestock system to changing climatic conditions by strengthening the adaptive capacity of the livestock system as well as the capacity of herders' groups to address climate induced changes. This encompass, among other measures, (i) improving natural resources management to increase their resilience to climate change; (ii) climate-proofing the pasture water supply; (iii) building the capacity of herders' groups to address climate change, and (iv) improving the risk management system as a response to climate change. In more detail, the project will be organized into four components: (1) Increased climate change adaptive capacity of the Mongolian livestock system; (2) Strengthened capacity of Rangeland Monitoring and Management Committees (RMMCs) and awareness raising on climate change impact; (3) Improved rural risk management system; and (4) Project management.