In Pictures

In Mongolia, using new science to preserve traditional lifestyles

Herders are attempting to stop the degradation of grass upon which their animals depend.

Mongolia 2 — Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world - second only to Greenland. Most of Mongolia's herder families live in "gers", the traditional circular tents that can be seen dotted throughout the landscape.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Since it emerged from Soviet rule in the early nineties, Mongolia’s vast grasslands have fallen into decline.

Under communism and the planned economy, the number of animals that lived on the steppe was tightly controlled. Today, however, under Chapter 52 of Mongolia’s pasture management law, the steppe has been opened to all and there is no limit to the number of animals herders keep.

Overpopulation of livestock and the effects of climate change mean grass on the steppe, which animals eat to survive, is becoming thinner year on year. The nomads who have herded animals on horseback for centuries are finding it harder to keep their animals, the main source of their livelihoods, fed properly.

With their livelihoods at risk, some are being forced to the capital, into Ulaanbaatar’s “Ger districts”.

Approximately 60 percent of Ulaanbaatar’s population is crowded into these areas, which often lack basic sanitation, running water and enough places in local schools.

But some herders are bucking the trend of moving to the city and are fighting to bring about changes that could save the steppe from further degradation.

With some help from schemes supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), The Swiss Development Agency and the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock, groups of herders are attempting to show how proper management of the grassland can stop the degradation.

Their work has acted as a template for a proposed change to the Chapter 52 law that could see the grasslands begin to recover and the herders’ nomadic way of life continue in one of the few parts of the world it still exists.

Mongolia 3 — Although many centuries-old traditions such as using irons for branding horses remain, signs of modernity are everywhere. Many families who live in gers have solar panels, televisions and smartphones. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 4 — Iron brands are now dipped in cans of liquid nitrogen for freeze branding, which is thought to be a more humane process than hot branding as it numbs the point of contact with the animal. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 5 — A side-effect of increasing modernity is that the grasslands of Mongolia are gradually deteriorating, making It more and more difficult for herders to feed their livestock and maintain their way of life. Climate change has played a major role in this, with temperatures on the steppe increasing rapidly over the past five decades, increasing desertification. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 6 — Since the communist era ended, the number of livestock on the steppe has increased by around 80 percent. Today, herder families typically keep 200 to 500 heads of livestock. Goats are especially numerous as their hair can be sold for a high price to make cashmere. Unlike other animals, some research suggests that goats also eat grass's roots, which could be contributing to accelerated degradation. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 7 — Erdenebat lost his herd after using them for collateral on a loan he then defaulted on. He now works for another herder based in the region of Tsenkher Soum, taking care of his animals. "I hope that the owner will pay me in livestock so I can start my own herd again," he says. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 8 — Some herders look to alternative sources of income as traditional livelihoods disappear. Battur gives yak rides to passing tourists at Taikhar Rock, a famous landmark. He has around 65 goats in his herd but says government policy and the increased number of animals on the steppe means he can't compete with bigger herders. He worries he may have to move to Ulaanbaatar. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 9 — Many herders who have lost their livelihoods on the steppe are forced to move to Mongolia's capital. Nearly half of Mongolia's three million people now live in the country's only major city. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 10 — Batgerel, 50, once lived on the steppe but since her family lost their herd she moved to one of Ulaanbataar's ger districts, where families live in tents on the outskirts of the city. They often lack running water, sanitation and access to local schools. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 11 — Some herder families have decided to stay and fight to preserve the grasslands for future generations. Lus Takhilga and her family have participated in Green Gold, a project run by the Swiss Development Agency. It encourages herder families to use the grassland sustainably by allowing pastures time to recover. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 12 — The land on the left was managed sustainably under the Green Gold project while the area on the right has been over-grazed. The Swiss Development Agency believes that much of Mongolia's grassland could recover within 10 years if properly managed. The work carried out under Green Gold now may bring about a change in pasture management law. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 13 — The Purevsuren family - from Mongolia's High Mountain region - took part in a pilot scheme that incentivised them to reduce the number of animals they keep, using carbon credits. The scheme was led by Leicester University, UK. The FAO says that to reduce the number of animals on the steppe, export markets must be found for Mongolia's abundance of meat which has huge potential for the country's economy as well as bringing animal numbers down. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 14 — Another step towards stopping grassland degradation is encouraging herders to keep fewer goats. Bodios runs a business that buys yak fur from herders, processes it into cashmere and then sells it at a high-end store in Ulaanbaatar. Yak herding causes less damage to the grassland than goat herding. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 16 — Mukh-Ider, 14, on his horse Khuren. After completing school, many boys stay on the steppe to help their families manage the herd. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]

Mongolia 18 — The older generation of herders are determined to continue their way of life on the steppe. Datmonkh uses a motorcycle to herd his animals as arthritis in his legs makes riding difficult. A motorcycle is no substitute for a horse though, he says. [Henry Wilkins/Al Jazeera]