This immersive field school explores the profound impacts of climate change on Mongolia's rangelands and the remarkable adaptations employed by nomadic herding communities. Participants will investigate how herders navigate climate-induced challenges, particularly Dzud—the devastating winter phenomenon that threatens livestock survival and pastoral livelihoods. Through hands-on fieldwork at Hustai National Park and engagement with local herder families, you will examine Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) strategies, observe sustainable grazing practices, and analyze rangeland conflicts between herders and crop farmers in buffer zones. Activities include participating in traditional herding tasks, studying biodiversity shifts in response to environmental pressures, and understanding how adaptive management practices help preserve both ecological integrity and cultural traditions across Mongolia's vast steppe landscapes.

The program provides critical insights into Mongolia's dramatic rural-to-urban migration patterns driven by climate change, economic pressures, and access to public services. You will analyze the forces propelling population shifts from pastoral regions to urban centers, examining how environmental degradation, employment opportunities, and educational access influence migration decisions. Through immersive experiences in Ulaanbaatar's rapidly expanding Ger Districts—where traditional felt tents merge with urban infrastructure—you will observe firsthand the challenges facing migrants as they adapt nomadic housing to city environments. Site visits to Ger district households and khoroo administration offices will reveal the complexities of local governance, public service delivery, and the environmental and public health crises emerging from rapid urbanization, including severe air pollution from coal burning and water contamination issues affecting vulnerable populations.

This course welcomes academics focused on climate change studies, migration scholars and demographers interested in internal migration patterns, members of non-governmental environmental and conservation organizations, and enthusiastic lay-public individuals seeking an insider's perspective on Mongolia's unique environmental and cultural landscape. Whether you're a researcher investigating climate adaptation strategies, a conservation practitioner seeking community-based management insights, or a cultural enthusiast eager to understand nomadic traditions, this program offers comprehensive frameworks for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, migration, and cultural sustainability. Participants will conclude by developing actionable policy recommendations and presenting solutions to local officials and community leaders, contributing directly to real-world conservation and development initiatives in Mongolia.