Pastoralists’ Herding Strategies and Camp Selection in the Local Commons—A Case Study of Pastoral Societies in Mongolia

Chifumi Ono,Mamoru Ishikawa

doi:10.3390/land9120496

Abstract

Local commons are underutilized in resource management models, thus limiting the effectiveness of the commons concept. This study examined the actual situation of the local commons in Altanbulag soum, a suburb of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia, where land degradation is a concern, using the case study method. Interviews using semi-structured questionnaires were conducted with pastoralists. It investigated land use and pastoralists’ relationships to open-access summer pastures, summer camp selection, grazing practice, and acceptance of migrants. The study concludes that herders in Altanbulag select their summer camp locations considering four elements: attachment to the place, territorial bonding, convenient environment, and winter camp safety. We also defined four types of herding strategies that identify the positive and negative aspects of local commons. The study suggests a potential gap between the community-based resource management promoted by international donors and the actual practices around local commons. It also highlights the need for further research into assessing local commons.

Highlights

Hardin [1] imagined a tragic scenario in which resources other than those under state or private management would eventually perish: “In the pastures that belong to everyone, pastoralists with rational economic thinking increase the number of animals they keep for profit, and the pastureland eventually deteriorates and collapses due to overgrazing” [1]
The actual conditions of local commons were examined using the case of Mongolia while clarifying the land use and herding strategy of the local society
We first focused on land use and people’s relationships during summer, such as summer camp selection, grazing practice, and migrant acceptance

Summary

Introduction

Hardin [1] imagined a tragic scenario in which resources other than those under state or private management would eventually perish: “In the pastures that belong to everyone, pastoralists with rational economic thinking increase the number of animals they keep for profit, and the pastureland eventually deteriorates and collapses due to overgrazing” [1]. While he envisioned the commons as a space open to all and free for grazing, these spaces were, not available to just anyone

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion