Burmaa Dashbal & Sumjidmaa Sainnemkh – Rangeland Management in Mongolia

Mongolian rangelands, which make up about 65 percent of the country’s land, support the livelihood of herders and diverse wildlife populations.  However, climate change and rapid increase in the number of livestock, currently estimated to be more than 60 million, are putting pressure on the rangeland and causing increased desertification and extreme climatic events, such as dzud.  These changes not only affect the livelihood of herders that depend on the land, but also have broader impact on the country as herders continue to seek better economic opportunities in urban areas.  Two recent U.S. government-funded Borlaug Fellowship recipients will discuss their latest research on rangeland management and share their experience during the fellowship.

The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship program was established in 2004 to promote food security and economic growth by providing training and collaborative research opportunities in fellows from developing and middle-incoming countries.  The fellowship runs from 8-12 weeks, and fellows are partnered with a mentor from a U.S. land grant university, research center, or government agency.  Mongolia participated in the fellowship for the first time in 2016.