Changing Taiga

Build local herders’ institutions

Increase dialogue between stakeholders

Conduct a vulnerability and adaptation assessment

Provide technical and financial assistance and training to develop the reindeer herders’ information and knowledge centre in Tsagaannuur. The centre could assist in educating youth in reindeer husbandry, facilitate dialogue between herders and others parties, coordinate data gathering and information management, facilitate student exchanges with reindeer herding communities across national borders, and develop and provide open access to data sets, maps, satellite images, and reports. The Centre could provide legal advice and linkages with similar information centres in other places in the world through the networks of the Association of World Reindeer Herders (WRH), the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR) and the University of the Arctic. It could also be a partner in national and international research initiatives on reindeer husbandry.

Organize community round-table discussions and field visits to promote mutual understanding and dialogue between herders, tourism operators, local government, and other stakeholders on land use and resources in reindeer herding areas. These discussions should aim to increase understanding of stakeholders’ needs and increase transparency and opportunities for herders to engage in decision-shaping processes concerning the land and natural resource management. Dialogue could also enhance relevance and efficiency of policies and regulations for preserving taiga biodiversity and pastures. Undertake a tourism impact assessment and a value chain analysis including identifying all actors in the chain and the flow of revenues between them. This analysis would identify the impacts of tourism on reindeer herders’ livelihood, community and economy, as well as opportunities for intervention to benefit reindeer herders.

Conduct an impact assessment of climate, environmental, social and economic changes in the region. This should include developing scenarios for future land use change and loss of pastures, producing locally-scaled climate scenarios for Tsagaannuur, and developing local adaptation strategies based on herders’ traditional knowledge.

//

11

CHANGING TAIGA: CHALLENGES FOR MONGOLIA’S REINDEER HERDERS