2010年-世界发展银行全球_Mongolia___Livestock_and_Wildlife_in_the_Southern_Gobi_Region_with_Special_Attention_to_Wild_Ass_130页_3mb

Summary of "Livestock and Wildlife in the Southern Gobi Region, with Special Attention to Wild Ass"

Core Content

This discussion paper examines the Southern Gobi Region (SGR) of Mongolia, focusing on the interactions between livestock and wildlife, particularly the Wild Ass (Khulan), and the impacts of economic development on these ecosystems. The study highlights the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing the region, emphasizing the need for sustainable resource management.

Main Points

1. Region Overview

• The SGR is a vast area with mineral wealth and threatened wildlife species.
• It is sparsely populated, but livestock herders are the primary residents.
• The region has relatively intact grassland and desert ecosystems and a long-standing pastoral culture.
• It is highly sensitive to environmental changes, especially drought and dzud (severe winter weather).

2. Livestock and Production System

• Livestock production is the dominant economic activity in the SGR.
• The region’s natural rangeland ecosystems have supported domestic and wild herbivores for thousands of years.
• The main livestock species include sheep, goats, camels, horses, and cattle.
• Livestock numbers have increased significantly since the collapse of the socialist system, from ~762,000 to over 5 million.
• Goats and camels dominate the current herd, with goats increasing from 30% to 57% and camels decreasing from 18% to 2.6%.
• The extensive livestock system is low-input and low-cost, relying on natural forage and renewable resources.

3. Wildlife: Status and Trends

• The Wild Ass is a key species in the SGR, with a single sustainable population in Mongolia and vestigial populations in Iran, Turkmenistan, and India.
• Wild Ass is critically endangered globally and endangered regionally.
• Other large herbivores include Argali bighorn sheep, wild camels, gazelles, and snow leopards.
• Habitat degradation and over-hunting (both legal and illegal) are major threats to these species.
• Dzud and drought have also led to declines in wildlife populations.
• Herders have a complex relationship with wildlife, and collaboration can be beneficial for conservation.

4. Development Impacts

• Economic development, including mining, energy, and transportation, is accelerating in the SGR.
• These developments threaten rangeland and water resources, which are critical for both livestock and wildlife.
• Infrastructure expansion (roads, railways, wells) leads to habitat fragmentation and increased competition for resources.
• Wild Ass are highly mobile, which limits direct competition with individual herders, but herder density increases competition for forage and water, especially during droughts.
• Wild Ass winter range is less extensive than summer range, making it more vulnerable to intensive land use.

5. Climate Change

• Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and vegetation growth.
• Seasonal precipitation has a marked influence on herbivore distributions and dietary quality.
• Drought and dzud have historically impacted livestock and wildlife, and climate change is expected to exacerbate these effects.
• Water availability is declining, and shallow aquifers are being exploited, reducing natural water sources.

6. Sustainable Resource Management

• The report calls for coordinated natural resource management that involves local herders.
• Herder participation is essential for conservation efforts, especially when compensation is provided.
• Environmental assessments and policy frameworks need to be strengthened to ensure sustainable development.
• Monitoring of resource trends and livestock pressures is necessary to prevent further degradation.

Key Information

• Wild Ass is a keystone species in the SGR, with a declining population due to illegal hunting and habitat loss.
• Livestock and wildlife are interdependent, sharing forage and water resources.
• Economic development poses significant threats to the ecological balance of the SGR.
• Climate change is altering the availability of water and vegetation, which affects herbivore populations.
• Local herders are key stakeholders in conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• Policy and institutional reforms are necessary to address resource degradation and ensure long-term sustainability.

Conclusion

The primary challenge in the SGR is resource competition and habitat degradation, not direct conflict between livestock and wildlife. The lack of a conservation ethic is threatening the sustainability of both livestock herding and wildlife populations. The future of the Wild Ass is intertwined with the lifestyle and practices of herders, and effective natural resource management is critical to preserving the region's ecological integrity and cultural heritage.