Involvement of Local Communities in Restoration of Ecosystem Services in Mongolian Rangeland

Mongolia is faced with desertification caused by overgrazing, wind and water erosion of soil in rangelands and abandoned fields, overexploitation of forest resources, and mining, and the effects seemed to be accelerated by climate changes. The need to restore ecosystem services is especially important in the rangelands of Mongolia, which are highly vulnerable to climate change and are greatly affected by overgrazing because of weakened formal and traditional regulatory institutions and changing socioeconomic systems. We reviewed traditional rangeland management practices and changes that have occurred during the last century in Mongolia, as well as the current status of rangeland use there, and we found that well strengthened local herder groups were able to successfully manage rangelands in cooperation with local and central government regulators.