MOR2 Regional Consultation Workshop No1
1.VENUE:
Research Institute of Animal Husbandry
2. REGION:
Tuv and Selenge province
 Tuv province: Undurshireet, Erdenesant, Bayan and Bayantsagaan soums
 Selenge province: Saikhan and Bayangol soums
3. DATE:
June 13, 2014
4. PARTICIPANTS:
There were in total 53 people from six soum, research institutes and government
participated in the regional workshop (Annex 1).
5. OBJECTIVES:
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Obtain feedback on emerging/preliminary results from local stakeholders such as
herders, soum officials, soum-level project officers and to understand whether the
results reflect their experiences in their local soums.
Facilitate a dialog with local stakeholders on the interpretation of the preliminary
results—what do the results mean to them.
Facilitate a dialog with local stakeholders on the management and policy
implications of the preliminary results and how can these results be used to make
management and policy decisions
6. DISCUSSION SESSIONS:
DISCUSSION 1: PARTICPANTS’ FEEDBACK ON PRELIMINARY STUDIES
Rangeland Vegetation Study:
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We agree with the results that says plants are less diverse closer to uvuljuu and
more diverse with distance
I agree that dominant grass cover of steppe region is reducing and annual grasses
over increasing
But don’t agree that forbs cover and biomass are reducing closer to uvuljuu, because
closer to uvuljuu more weeds and unpalatable plants grow and palatable plants are
reducing. Maybe this result might be explained by current year climate condition.
Main reason of rangeland degradation is related:
o to increased livestock number leading to overstocking and exceeding of
carrying capacity almost 2-3 times and loss in proper ration in herd
composition.
o Herders stopped using pasture in seasonal rotation
o Brandt’s Vole and other small rodents population is growing
o Changes in the climate
1
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In terms of the mountain stepee: Rangeland area is not enough, because soums
involved in the study are considered agriculture soums (located in the cropping
region). Therefore, it is not suitable for rangeland livestock and it is important to
develop intensified farming in these areas.
What should be done to improve rangeland management:
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It is very important to possess uvuljuu and havarjaa rangeland for many years. This
will result in appropriate rangeland management and utilization practices. Maybe it
is necesary to privatize summer and fall pasture.
It is important for herders to improve thier knowledge. It is necessary to make
intellectual investment for herders. Herders will need to obtain training at bag,
soum and group level about livestock health, reproduction, selection, rangeland
improvement, management practice, etc. Based on customary knowledge and
practices, it is important to link them to current situation and condition.
Use of public media to inform about rangeland management, rangeland utilization
practices
Appropriate strategy should be developed to regulate and control herd composition
(there was a practice in Saikhan soum that reduced the goats from 43% to 28%)
CBRM research related comments:
o
o
o
o
o
o
We agree with the research findings in general.
As a result of implementation of CBRM, we were able to control movement from
Gobi and also plant biomass increased and reduced weeds in the vicinity of uvuljuu.
The research findings are realistic and they are in line with the herders obsevation.
Question: Is it possible for the herders to ger organized as CBRM without support
from the donors? It is possible and we need training. Herders are not possible to live
on their own, they need some organization.
Question: What would be required from the local government to support CBRM?
- Improve communication and relationship with herders
- They need to make some organized activities
- Improve control and monitoring
- Enable herders to get united and cooperative
Question: What action is important for CBRM?
 It is important to pay attention to livestock number, rangeland capacity
 Water points rehabilitation is important because movement is related to the
availability of water.
 Information sharing and awareness
 It is important to implement training at bag and soum levels, because training
provide a lot of positive information
 Even the research will be completed and it is important to train people at soum
level and have trainers trained at the soum level
 It is helpful to organize this kind of consultation and discussion at the soum
level. Provide some incentives for the soums and herders who implement and
support CBRM.
 It is necessary to involve in the training not only herders, but also people from
the soum centers.
 Local school children should be also involved in the training, especially high
school children, because these kids will influence to their parents.
 Use tax and other policies to improve quality of the herd
2
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o
o
o
Funding and investment should be dedicated not to many small events, but to
develop best model herder groups.
 In the central region, there should be a separate tax policy to reduce number of
livestock.
Question: Are you ready to implement CBRM?
 Herders are ready, but organization is lacking. It is important to start from the
bag civil khural to soum level.
 As a result of CBRM, rangeland will be improve and herders livelihood will be
positively affected.
Question: Is CBRM is appropriate solution? Do you have any other solution?
- It is important to be in-charge of the pasture, at the moment people use it as
commons, and do not provide enough care and attention.
- There should be some law. During the winter people move in from other areas
and we don’t have any rules to let them go away.
- It is hard to regulate use of summer pasture, because people
- Current type of cooperatives are not profitable and it is not linked to the
market.
Question: Is there any obstacles or individuals to implement CBRM? :
- There are some people who doesn’t know about CBRM, so it is important to
conduct training and outreach programs for them.
- Households who don’t have car and people to help have difficulties to make
movements. We put them fine of 5,000-10,000 tug and talk about them during
the bag khural. It will make some changes if an authoritative one will go and talk
to them.
- About 30 percent of the people don’t have possibilities to make movements,
because they got to used to stay in the same place .
- Small rodents, number of livestock and preciptation will affect a lot to make
movement decisions.
Cross-boundary movement related comments:
o
o
o
o
o
The main reason of making movement has more of the administrative and crossborder types and this movement is normally done to access to natural resources. In
terms of central region soums, cross-border movement is one of the most
problematic issue. In Saikhan and Bayngol soums, carrying capacity has been already
exceeded due to the movement from the western provinces. Herders from the west
permanently migrate to these soums.
In Bayan, Bayantsagaan, Erdenesant and Undurshireet soums, herders from Gobi
come for seasonal movements that cause a lot rangeland degradation problems for
local people. In terms of Erdensant soum, there are 80 herders who have more than
1000 livestock and therefore the soum has problem solving local herder’s livestock
problem.
Movement have two types of patterns: 1) during the emergency period (drought
and dzud) movement that is normally done to the neighboring soums; 2) regular
cross-border movements of the Gobi herders that is done all the times.
In Bayangol and Saikhan soums, herders from the western provinces migrated from
the west to these soums and due to access to market, infrastructure and better
schools they prefer to stay there and permanently become residents of these
soums. Ecological condition in these soum are favourable as it has more water and
forage available and herders who move in tend to become semi-pastoral.
Another problem associated with the cross-border movement is related to
controlling registration of the families. To access pasture in different soums, migrant
3
herders households tend to register individual members to different soum. When
members of one household have different residency, they can easily make seasonal
and otor movement without much problems.
o
What measures could be implemented?
 It is appropriate to support herders with fewer livestock by tax policy schemes.
 There is a movement from the west to central and from the south to the north.
In the abondaned pasture, maybe the rangeland condition is getting better and
it would be helpful to send the herders back to their own hopelands.
 It is necessary to control unregulated issuance of the residency.
Dzud observation

Rangeland management is a very important to overcome risk and natural hazards and
when we are organized it is definitely useful during the times of emergency.

Herders can benefit from obtaining the training, as they listen to relevant information
that bring them good knowledge. When we got organized as a group, we started to
protect our common winter pasture and some other herders in the neighborhood did the
same by following our practices

It is important point how to make the research findings into policy documents. At the
local level, we can discuss rangeland management and the training to local officials is
very important, as it increase their knowledge and capacity.

It is impossible to separate livestock management from the rangeland management, so it
is necessary to discuss these issues at bag level khural and based on khot-ail suggestions
and comments it is possible to plan it.

Pastoral livestock herding should be combined with modern management practices.
Khot-ail should be able to implement management.

Local experienced herders need to talk about their good practices and knowledge to
other herders.
DISCUSSION 2: LINKING SCIENCE TO POLICY AT SOUM LEVEL
At this session all soums dicsussed about how to utilize results and findings from the
reaserch in thier respective soums and what action they can plan.
Bayangol soum, Selenge province
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Monitor rangeland for every bag and determine rangeland degradation levels
Carry out rangeland protection and recovery
Develop intensified and semi-intensified livestock husbandry
Inform herders about the research results
Carry out advocacy and awareness programs for herders
Saikhan soum, Selenge

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Combine crop production with livestock husbandry
Establish agreement with herder groups
4
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Develop soum regulation to regulate herders’ movement and farmers’ crop
production
Do planning for the conservation of Kharaa and Orkhon river riparian zone
Learn more about the comparative studies findings of MOR2
Use MOR2 results for the management of pasture
Bayan soum, Tuv aimag:
1. Organize rangeland management:
 Promote herders cooperative and herder groups and improve herders’
knowledge about cooperatives
 Expand activities to support formation of herder groups based on khot-ail
structure
 Establish collective fund to support operation of herder groups and
cooperatives by using 30% from the Local Development Fund, 20% from the
agriculture development fund. Establish one model herder group for
demonstration and learning sites.
2. Develop program and agreement with other soums on using specially designated
otor area for other herders and discuss options at the soum and aimag level Civil
representative khural
3. We all support the preliminary findings of the MOR2 project. It is also very helpful to
know that herders observation are in line with the project results and other
statistical data.
4. It is important to disseminate relevant information and organize various awareness
programs for herders and learn experiences from other herder groups
5. Implement appropriate rangeland management, rotation, resting practices
6. Implement measures to support appropriate herd composition structure and
improve livestock and herd productivity.
Bayantsagaan soum, Tuv aimag
1. At soum level, we will implementation training and awareness on rangeland
management
2. Designated a special area for otor pasture, winter and spring pasture
3. Develop water points for the unutilized pasture
4. Get some fees for the use of the pasture by neighboring herders
5. Use agreement to let in other soum herders and the agreement should specify
current year carrying capacity
6. Implement long-term rangeland related research with the professional research
institutions
7. Encourage herders to focus on quality rather than on numbers
8. Information on appropriate stocking rate is important to disseminate to herders
9. Implement regular rotational use of the pasture
10. We recommend that MOR2 project should have more development oriented
approach rather than being just research oriented
Erdenesant soum, Tuv aimag
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Breeding of the locally adapted and high quality and high productive livestock
Organize series of organized training events to change their attitude towards
sustainable rangeland management (May 25-October 15)
Conduct educational activities for young herders on traditional livestock and
rangeland management practices
5
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Provide policy support to herder groups
Ensure winter preparedness at the herder-scale and develop indicators for the good
preparation
Develop additional water points to expand utilization of rangeland resources
Report to local government and herder on the results of the research. To convey the
information in a language that herders can understand and develop appropriate
handouts.
Undurshireet soum, Tuv province

Formulate local policy to regulate number of livestock in accordance with the
carrying capacity of the rangeland and improvement of breeding
Develop operation of the Pasture User groups by supporting their operation and
helping them to plant fodder crops and growing wind-breaks
Use local development funds for the support of the PUGs
Use rangeland by PUGs on contractual basis and provide protection responsibilities
to certain groups
Formulate certain local regulations to control migration
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7. PARTICIPANTS’ EVALUATION OF THE WORKSHOP
Please rate the following statements on a scale from 1- 5 by circling the appropriate number
1 = strongly agree; 2 = agree; 3=not sure; 4= disagree; 5=strongly disagree
Q1: The information presented was relevant to
me
1
2
3
4
5
total
n
22
10
0
0
0
32
%
69% 31%
0%
0%
0%
Q2: The workshop presenters demonstrated a
comprehensive understanding of the material
presented
1
2
3
4
5
n
13
19
0
0
0
32
%
41% 59%
Q3: I learnt new information from the forum
1
2
3
4
5
n
20
12
0
0
0
32
%
63% 38%
Q4: The information and language used was
appropriate
1
2
3
4
5
n
10
18
4
0
0
32
%
31% 56% 13%
Q5: I was given enough time and opportunity
to share my views, and ask questions
1
2
3
4
5
n
14
16
2
0
0
32
%
44% 50%
6%
Q6: I would attend future MOR2 forums
1
2
3
4
5
n
22
8
1
0
0
31
%
71% 26%
3%
0
0
Q1: What is the most important, interesting or surprising thing you learned?
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Topics related to the rangeland and rangeland management was interesting for me.
Got understanding about unknown plants.
Research related to soil studies.
Climate adaptation innovative practices
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Comparison and result of different research materials of soums
The training is relevant and of importance to us.
As a result of the discussion session, I got an understanding about linking science to
policy.
Obtained innovative information and knowledge about rangeland management.
Community-based effective rangeland use.
Changes in rangeland due to utilization
Got knowledge for differences about urban and country lives, education for children,
herder society and rangeland issues.
Social outcomes and benefits and changes as result of the community based rangeland
management.
It was important to know preliminary understanding about the project results
Obtained understanding about rangeland management, soil quality, plant, climate
About social aspects.
Rangeland management.
Results of the study illustrate current ecological issues and provides interesting
comparison of between soums.
To restore and protect the pasture.
Discussion with herders about rangeland
All were the issues we talk a lot.
Presenters presented clearly and their point was relevant. Got understanding and
knowledge about climate change, soil studies, and rangeland.
Collaborative discussion and interpretation was interesting.
Q2: How will you use what you learned in your work?
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Will conduct training to herders.
Develop some handbook and provide herders.
Use information to tell and inform herders
Use the research methodology and principles to my own research work
Will link to my own work
It is important to train relevant officials in this subject and local civil representative
khural should develop some some regulation to follow.
Will implement the plans that was introduced as the end of the workshop
Create herders groups/cooperative and work with them.
Do more research about this.
Give more information about rangeland to herders.
Talk about this topic, provide some information and training
Going to make some revision to my research work, and will implement this.
Implement training for herders about pasture rotation and increase plants diversity.
Will share to other what ever things I understood.
Tell everybody in my team to conserve and restore pasture.
Integrate what I learned into the soum policy
Q3: What was the most valuable aspect of the workshop?
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Soum level research on the rangeland vegetation
It included different rangelands from many aimag, soums, and comparison between
them was valuable.
It was looking for a way for utilization of rangeland issue.
7
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Attainment of relevant knowledge.
I was able to exchange and share information to others
Use of right statistics, and understanding.
Suggestion, moralism, information, exchanging experiences.
To develop environment-friendly animal husbandry, and improve livelihood.
Group discussion because everyone can tell his or her opinions in a topic.
Hot-topic discussion on rangeland degradation
Research, comments, and recommendations
Hearing of opinions and thoughts of herders and officials who work on the site.
Organised dialogue and discussion.
Discussion went efficiently
Friendly, and compassionate towards people.
Presentation of preliminary research results and comments from the soum
representatives
It will be most valuable if we will turn this into action
Training was about the problems we face
Q4: How could future workshops be improved? What would you change?
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Support establishing soum rangeland monitoring plots to determine rangeland
degradation
Present the research results to herders and bags from where the data was collected
Find solution and ways out for the problems we discussed
Very tight schedule with limited time. There was no chance asking questions from
speakers.
Use images and figures during the presentations.
Free conversation and more discussion is needed.
Our comments were incorporated into the results.
Have a separate law on pastureland.
Discussion time after every speech is needed.
Policy on external factors that affecting rangeland degradation should be explicitly
formulated
Lessons learned and advocacy is needed
Explain result of the research to everyday language.
Change research to development project.
Involve other soums in the MOR2 research and present the results.
Choose daily words in presentation rather than expert words.
Report the result of the MOR2 research.
Presentation of Baasandorj and Altanzul should more clear to understand
Needs to think and advise how to link the results to programming and activity levels.
Organise plant ID training
Improve organisition of the training to improve efficiency
Have more than 6 groups/cafe for discussion.
Improve the training in the next time.
Need more, and detailed information about rangeland management
Q5: What additional information would you like to obtain related to the MOR2
project and research results?
8
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More detail is needed for Selenge, Bayangol soum`s rangeland vegetation findings and
results
It will be better for Selenge aimag`s Bayangol soum to receive the results on the
rangeland vegetation and plants
Results of the research.
To determine rangeland region of the country.
Give more information, research, and new idea through Herder`s TV, and Radios.
We appreciate your work about Mongolian rangeland management
Would like to recommend getting more local opinions and comments and integrate into
the work and research.
Obtain information via social medias.
Information about rangeland vegetation, diversity and want to know what would the
next step of the project
Need to clarify duration of the utilization of each uvuljuu and how many livestock, herd
composition.
In the frame of MOR2 project, to separate rangeland related provisions from the land law
and have a separate law on rangeland
Studying the methods that used in the research
To give more detailed presentation of the results.
To give information which can be practically implemented.
To organize training about identifying different plants, about their palatability for
livestock
Get information about overgazing and rangeland degradation
Project has to be more connected and collaborate with aimag, and soums.
Is this project will continue?
9
8. ANNEX
AGENDA OF THE REGIONAL CONSULTATION WORKSHOP NO1
VENUE:
REGION:
Research Institute of Animal Husbandry
Tuv and Selenge province
DATE: JUNE 13, 2014
09.00–09.20
Registration
09.20–09.30
Opening remarks
Dr. Batsukh, Director, Research Institute of Animal Husbandry
Dr. Fernandez-Gimenez, Principle Investigator, MOR2
09:30-10:00
Introduction of the Mongolian Rangelands and Resilience interdisciplinary research project,
Dr. Batkhishig Baival
10:00-11:00
Presentation of the preliminary research results
 Herder Observations of Climate and Rangeland Change Compared to Climate
Record and Remote Sensing, M.E. Fernandez-Gimenez, J. Angerer, B. Byamba
 Vegetation change in 3 ecological zones 1994-2013; J. Khishigbayar, M.E.
Fernandez-Gimenez, Ya. Baasandorj, D. Zumberelmaa
 Social Outcomes of Community-based Rangeland Management; Tungalag, U.,
Fernandez-Gimenez, M.E., Batbuyan, B., Batkhishig, B.
 Dzud Impact Research findings: Dr. Batkhishig Baival
 Ecological Outcomes; J. Chantsallkham, Robin Reid, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez
11:00-11:15
Tea break
11:15-11:50
Presentation of the preliminary research results
 Movement pattern changes; J. Azjargal
 Rangeland biomass and utilization; Dr. Altanzul
 Herders perception on the Mongolian rangeland changes; J. Odgarav
World Cafe consultation
Participants were divided into six cafe and each cafe run for about 15 min on the following
topics:
 Herder Observations of Climate and Rangeland Change Compared to Climate
Record and Remote Sensing (facilitator - Odgarav, note taker - Diima)
 Vegetation change in 3 ecological zones 1994-2013 (facilitator -Oyunsuvd, note
taker - Narangerel)
 Social Outcomes of Community-based Rangeland Management (facilitator Altanzul, note taker - Gankhuyag);
 Dzud Impact Research findings (facilitator - Batkhishig, note taker - Udval):
 Cross-border movement pattern (facilitator - Azjargal, note taker - Lkhagvasuren)
 Open-ended discussion (facilitator - Tamiraa, note taker - Baasandorj)
11:50-13:00
13:00-14:00
Lunch break
14:00-14:15
Presentation of overall points by the facilitators of each cafe
14:15-15:30
Discussion 2: Linking research to policy/action
During this session participants from one soum will gather as a group and each soum
representatives will discuss action and opportunities of how they can link the research
findings into the action.
16:00-17:00
Presentation of the group dicsussion
10
Closing remarks
List of participants of the Regional Consultation Workshop No1
VENUE:
REGION:
Research Institute of Animal Husbandry
Tuv and Selenge province
11
DATE:
No
JUNE 13, 2014
Name
Organization
Phone
Ulaanabaatar
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Fernandez-Gimenez
Batkhishig
Altanzul
Binye
Batsukh
Batbuyan
Udval
Davaakhuu
Mungunzul
Byambatseren
Tamir
Azjargal
Nomin-Erdene
Odgarav
Gankhuyag
Lkhagvasuren
Oyunsuvd
Narangerel
Diimaa
Baasandorj
Justine smith
Solongo
Baasandorj
24
25
26
27
28
L.Zorigtbaatar
Ts.Odontuya
B.Ulamsaikhan
A.Chimgee
Ts.Oyun
29
30
31
32
33
G.Buyandalai
G.Gereltuya
N.Uugantuya
D.Khishigdelger
P.Oyunchimeg
34
35
36
37
38
A.Tuvshintugs
Sh.Odgerel
Ts.Batdorj
Ts.Jambal
G.Ankhbayar
39
40
41
42
43
T.Aligirmaa
Ts.Nasanjargal
L.Lhagvasuren
A.Biradamba
G.Altangerel
44
45
46
47
48
Kh.Uyanga
B.Baterdene
B.Badamtsetseg
Luvsandorj
L.Alimaa
49
50
51
52
53
B.Ariuntungalag
B.Chantuu
J.Atarsaikhan
D.Buyanbadrakh
L.Batchuluun
CSU
Nutag partners
Nutag partners
Ministry of Industry and Agriculture
Head, RIAH
CNPS
RIAH
Head, Industry and Agriculture Agency
Environmental officer, Tuv province
Nutag partners
Nutag partners
Nutag partners
Nutag partners
IMH
RIAH
RIAH
Ecosystem study center
Ecosystem study center
Ecosystem study center
Institute of Geoecology
WCS / Nutag volunteer
Institute of Geoecology
Institute of Geoecology
Undurshireet, Tuv province
Land officer
Head of Animal husbandry and breeding
Herder
Herder
Soum consultant, Human and livestock NGO
Erdenesant, Tuv province
Soum governer
Head of Animal husbandry and breeding
Agricultural officer
Herder
Soum consultant, secretarian of soum civil representative
Bayan, Tuv province
State inspector environmental agency
Pasture and land officer
Herder
Herder
Soum consultant, soum administration
Bayantsagaan, Tuv province
Agriculture and pasture officer
Soum registration agency
Herder
Herder
Soum consultant, Head of Animal veterinary and breeding
Bayangol, Selenge province
Head of Animal veterinary and breeding
Zootechnician
Herder
Herder
Soum consultant
Saikhan, Selenge province
Veterinarian
Veterinatian at Nomgon bag
Herder
Herder
Soum consultant
12
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99732539
99781280
99242319
95043733
99663967
99731254, 99370305