LocationsCombating Desertification in Mongolia’s Gobi: Story of Resilience and Restoration
November 28, 2024
As the world gears up for COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, one of the most urgent global conversations will be about desertification, land degradation, and the future of our ecosystems. Under the theme “Our Land. Our Future,” the conference aims to heighten global ambition and accelerate action for land restoration.
This is particularly relevant for countries like Mongolia, where desertification is a growing challenge, exacerbated by climate change and human activity. To support Mongolia’s efforts in addressing these challenges, the Ensuring Sustainability and Resilience of Green landscapes in Mongolia (ENSURE) project, funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and implemented by Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and UNDP, with the partnerships with local governments and herders, is providing vital support to restore ecosystems, improve livelihoods, and secure a future where both people and nature can thrive together by working closely with herders and local communities.
Over 76.9% of Mongolia's land area is affected by degradation.
A Land Under Pressure
Mongolia, a vast country of rugged terrain and extreme climate, has been identified as one of the top ten nations most impacted by climate change. With an average temperature increase of 2.26°C over the past 80 years and a significant decrease in annual precipitation, the country is increasingly vulnerable to desertification. As of 2020, over 76.9% of Mongolia's land area is affected by degradation, and many of the regions worst hit by desertification are also home to Mongolia’s nomadic herders, who rely on the land for their livelihood.
The southern Gobi, a unique and ecologically rich area, lies at the heart of this challenge. For generations, nomadic herders have grazed livestock across this region, but with the ongoing impacts of climate change and unsustainable land management practices, the pastureland is showing signs of severe stress. Thus, providing support to local communities while focusing on land restoration and conservation efforts became vital as these initiatives not only help herders sustain their livelihoods but also preserve centuries-old nomadic tradition, culture and way of life.
A black tailed gazelle equipped with a protective collar for conservation.
Restoring Ecosystems and Biodiversity
One of ENSURE’s key initiatives in combating desertification is its focus on sustainable pasture management. In particular, the project worked with 120 herder groups (sub-provincial administrative units) in the southern Gobi region to implement the “5-Year Rangeland Management Plan,” which aims to reduce livestock numbers to the carrying capacity of the land.
In 2023, participating herder groups managed to reduce livestock numbers by 23.4%, a significant achievement compared to the 13.3% reduction seen among non-participating herders. These reductions contribute to healthier rangelands and help mitigate the harmful effects of overgrazing. Also, they set aside pooled funds for fodder during times of drought, which directly supports their livestock during harsh weather conditions.
Donoinyamba, a member of the local herders’ group, says “With support from the project, our group, in collaboration with the soum’s environmentalist, established the boundaries of our pastures, developed a plan for their sustainable use, and began working together to protect the wildlife in our pastures. We were also able to dig wells, and fence off the sources of springs and streams together.”
This kind of people-centered and community-driven approach is crucial for ensuring greater equity in land use and ownership. Of the 1,899 herders involved in the herder group initiative, a significant percentage are women, who are playing key roles in pasture management, biodiversity conservation, and improving livestock quality. The establishment of local herder groups has also created a strong sense of community and collective responsibility, with participants regularly meeting to discuss and plan sustainable land-use practices.
In addition to rangeland management, the ENSURE project promotes biodiversity conservation expanding the protected area network for ecological corridor areas. In total, 1.2 million hectares of land have been taken as protected areas of which 18 new protected areas covering nearly 850,000 hectares in the southern Gobi region have been designated as vital biodiversity corridors. These efforts are not just about protecting the environment, but also ensuring the survival of endangered species such as the endangered snow leopard, argali sheep, and black-tailed gazelles that are vital to the ecosystem.
"One of the most effective ways to protect our environment and nature is by safeguarding the land—designating it as a specially protected area," says renowned Mongolian nature scientist Oyungerel.
Regenerated saxual forest
Expanding the Scope of Restoration and Protection of the Saxaul Forest
Another vital and unique natural asset is the saxaul tree - the only tree species found in the vast Gobi Desert region of Mongolia, making it a vital part of the ecosystem. It plays an essential role in stabilizing sand dunes, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity. However, over the past 20 years, the distribution of saxaul forests have significantly declined, leading to increased desertification and a loss of natural resources. This decline threatens not only the land’s health but also the livelihoods of local communities who rely on the land for grazing and other resources.
To support Mongolia in addressing this pressing issue, the project has been implementing community driven restoration measures since 2020 focusing on the regeneration of saxaul forests over 400 hectares, having an encouraging result. In the protected areas, saxaul trees have started to regenerate, with improved biomass, carbon storage, and tree density. These activities are vital for halting land degradation, increasing the region’s carbon sequestration capacity, and restoring the Gobi’s natural balance.
Sustainable Livelihoods
Another crucial area of focus is creating long-term solutions that can help support herders diversify their income sources for reducing their reliance on the land. Among the various initiatives, the lamb fattening initiative is proving effective help to reduce the number of animals grazing on rangelands, allowing the land to regenerate more quickly. The result? A reduction in the number of animals on rangeland by 15-20%, allowing the grasslands to recover.
Furthermore, ENSURE has worked to add value to wool production, which has long been a staple of Mongolia’s agriculture economy. By providing training on the use of electric sheep shears, herders have increased their wool production significantly. For example, in 2022, a total of 7,080 kg of wool was produced through these improved methods, which were then sold to local wool processing factories. It was a significant improvement of productivity with electric shears and grading which allows six times faster shearing than current hand-clipping methods (200 sheep/day vs current 30 sheep/day) and harvesting of much more wool from each sheep. The training also included international internships in New Zealand, where Mongolian herders learned advanced techniques, further improving their skills and income potential.
Mongolia's pastureland
Looking to the Future
“Land. We walk on it every day. It feeds, clothes, and shelters us. It sustains our economies, our lives, and our livelihoods. Today, the future of our land is on the line. But we have the power to bring the land back to life. For this, we need to scale up ambition and investment.” – COP 16
As COP16 approaches, Mongolia’s progress through projects like ENSURE sends a rallying call to the international community. By combining community-driven conservation efforts with sustainable land management practices, the project is not only contributing to desertification challenges but is also paving the way for a greener, more resilient future.
The tangible results—from restored pastures to improved livelihoods—show that with the right support, it is possible to reverse the damage of desertification and create a sustainable balance between human development and environmental preservation. It also demonstrates that land restoration is not just a technical issue but a human issue, deeply intertwined with the livelihoods and well-being of local communities.
Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and its surrounding steppes, home to a vast array of globally significant plants and wildlife and the largest steppe ecosystem in the world, is truly a global public good that requires protection. But national actions, braving this phenomenon alone, are not enough. Coordinated global action is critical as well.
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