posted by Frank van Schoubroeck
In the upcoming issue of Farming Matters (which has livestock as a special focus) we address the question of how to strengthen the governance of pastoral systems. A highly important topic in terms of global sustainable land use, as pastoralism covers a quarter of the earth’s land surface and provides a livelihood for between 100 and 200 million households. The article briefly mentions the success of a new approach in Mongolia. Farming Matters got on the phone with Mongolia and asked dr. Hijaba Ykhanbai, of the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism, what this approach entails.
‘The recent winter in Mongolia was harsh, what the locals call a dzud,’ says Ykhanbai. ‘Many herders faced severe problems because their animals were dying from cold and hunger.’ Previously, he explains, the government was centrally led and strong. But around ten years ago, with the transformation to democracy and market-led development, central government could no longer manage the grasslands. ‘Some donor projects suggested co-management,’ Ykhanbai says, ‘with primary stakeholders, herders, local communities and local government all co-managing grasslands. Some herders were reluctant to adjust their practices and take part, but when some pastures improved, people started to take notice.’In Mongolia, herders want to possess a lot of animals because it is a traditional sign of wealth. ‘However,’explains Ykhanbai, ‘the fragile ecosystem cannot bear a lot of animals and you may create overgrazing. So co-management involves diversifying activities to include processing skin and wool for marketing, producing vegetables, and shifting to different animals. We also want to encourage herders to build up relationships with others,’ he adds, ‘to help each other. Initially it was difficult to get support from ministry officials and national laws hampered co-management of grasslands. In the centrally led system there were different ministries for animal husbandry, agriculture and the environment, but co-management links the activities of different sectors.’ The main change however was the shift from top-down to bottom-up planning. ‘There was a lot of resistance,’ Ykhanbai stresses. ‘It took many meetings in different ministries. After the elections four years ago, the new minister allowed for the shift to bottom-up planning and now we have different laws that legally underpin co-management, such as the new Environmental Protection Law of 2005, the 2006 (draft) Pasture Law in 2006 and the Forestry Law of 2007.’ These new laws allow for decision-making that involves herders, NGOs and schools. Herders now take the lead in reshaping the use of grasslands and other resources. Together with government officials, schoolteachers and forest wardens they have also helped put together agreements that spell out how the grasslands and related resources are managed. The co-management approach is being tested in three ecosystems by a multi-disciplinary project team that has created two groups: community herder groups and district level co-management teams that include community members, local government and civil society members. Together they have formulated agreements on how to manage grasslands and related resources. Local communities now have secure access to the resources they need and are developing institutions and methods to ensure they continue to have a voice. According to IDRC, who has supported this initiative, co-management has resulted in productive pastureland, healthier herds, and increased incomes at the pilot sites. It is now being expanded into other areas and has led to legal and policy changes. Hopes are high for the future of Mongolia’s herders and grasslands.
The March issue of Farming Matters appears around March 15. The article referred to here, is called ‘Pastoralism: shifts in policy making’, by Jonathan Davies and Guyo Roba of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.