Changing Taiga

Negdels are privatised,

reindeer herders no longer receive State support.

A festival is held in Ulan-Uul to celebrate reindeer numbers exceeding 1 000 individuals.

1 000

Tourists start visiting Dukha remote communities, by helicopter and horseback.

800 reindeers slaughtered in Ulan-Uul for meat consumption.

1 000

X X

X X X

X

Tsagaannuur sum (district) is created. A national enterprise for reindeer herding is estabilished.

No estimations available Reindeer population estimates from local sources and literature

Due to the new market economy, many of the social services are no longer available for Dukha reindeer herders.

H

Nedgel begin harvesting and selling velvet reindeer antlers.

Estimated number of reindeer 2 000

Antler market routes are closed. The national enterprise for reindeer goes bankrupt after a period of privatisation.

Reindeer are imported fromTuva in order to strengthen the breeding stock.

1 500

1 000

500

0

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

Dzud kills 20% of the country’s livestock (8.5 million), though the reindeer husbandry area was not a ected by the dzud.

Mongolian Government introduces nation-wide hunting ban.

Street demonstrations force the resignation of the Mongolia People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP). Mongolia initiates the transition to democracy and a market economy.

25% of all livestock is lost due to extreme cold ( dzud ). There were just small losses in the reindeer husbandry

First parliamentary elections. The breakdown of the Russian system severely impacts the Mongolian economy.

The Mongolian Stock

Exchange is created.

Sources: Inamura, T., The Transformation of the Community of Tsaatan Reindeer Herders in Mongolia and Their Relationships with the Outside World . Pastoralists and Their Neighbors in Asia and Africa , K. Ikeya and E. Fratkin. Senri Ethnological Studies 69: 123-152, 2005; Jernsletten, J.-L., and K. Klokov, Sustainable reindeer husbandry , Tromsø, Senter for samiske studier, Universitetet i Tromsø, 2002; Reliefweb, Mongolia: Severe winter-Dzud , 2010.

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CHANGING TAIGA: CHALLENGES FOR MONGOLIA’S REINDEER HERDERS