Strengthening rangeland governance and management: Issues and options

FAO;

Strengthening rangeland governance and management: Issues and options

Autores

FAO;

Editor

FAO ;

Descripción

Nomadic livestock husbandry is a dynamic and adaptive livelihood system that coexists with nature and embodies traditional knowledge, historical experience, ecosystem stewardship, cultural diversity, and identity. In line with Mongolia’s long-term development policy, Vision 2050, which aspires to preserve a nomadic civilization centred on national heritage and creative citizens, the sustainable use, protection, and restoration of rangelands is essential.As of 2024, Mongolia’s rangelands cover approximately 129.3 million hectares, accounting for 82.7 percent of the national territory. Globally, rangelands represent about 54 percent of the Earth’s land surface, yet remain among the most vulnerable and least protected ecosystems. In Mongolia, degradation has become a critical concern: according to a 2021 national monitoring report, 31.3 percent of assessed rangelands are severely degraded. While climate change is a contributing factor, overgrazing due to livestock numbers exceeding carrying capacity is a primary driver, compounded by insufficient implementation of sustainable practices such as rotational grazing.Although recent legal reforms, including amendments to the Land Law in 2024, have introduced clearer governance mechanisms – such as contractual pasture use by herder groups and formal recognition of carrying capacity – implementation capacity remains limited. Institutional coordination and dedicated management structures are still insufficient to address the scale of the challenge.Strengthening governance, improving enforcement, and establishing specialized institutional arrangements are therefore critical. Ensuring sustainable rangeland management is fundamental not only for maintaining ecological balance but also for safeguarding Mongolia’s nomadic heritage and supporting long-term socioeconomic development.