Comparison of pastoralists’ pastoral strategies in the Mongolian Plateau

Abstract

This article compares pastoral strategies on the Mongolian Plateau, which is politically divided into northern and southern parts. Beginning in the 2000s, global capital investment has brought pastoralists into the market economy more deeply through paved roads and the availability of mobile phones. At present, two main pastoral strategies coexist, each predominant in a different environment, namely, in suburban pastures and in remote pastures. In north Mongolia (=outer Mongolia), pastoral strategies changed after a nationwide disaster of extreme cold and snow from the winter of 1999 to the spring of 2002, which drastically reduced the amount of livestock. In suburban pastures that are close to cities or major roads, fewer livestock are required. As a result, the number of pastoralists who migrate into suburban pasture increased, although there had been a low density of pastoralists during socialist era. However, a significant number of pastoralists decided to remain in remote pasture. This dichotomy is also seen in south Mongolia (=inner Mongolia). Because the number of livestock that pastoralists keep is strictly controlled according to the carrying capacity set by local government, pastoralists in remote areas who generally have a greater extent of pasture keep larger number. On the other hand, pastoralists in suburban areas often acquired cash income in new ways. This phenomenon also emerged in south Mongolia after 2000s, when the central government recognized environmental problems of pastoral areas and attributed them to the overgrazing of pastoralists.