Resource information
The purpose of this report is to examine development trends in the Southern Gobi Region (SGR) as they affect livestock and wildlife. It provides an overview of the environment and natural resources of the region, discusses existing relationships and interactions among humans, livestock, large herbivore wildlife, and the natural resources on which they are dependent. It then explores the impact that economic development of the region is likely to have if that development does not consider the needs of the current users. The importance of rangeland and water resources in this region is illustrated by the case study of herder interactions with the Wild Ass or Khulan. This study found that Mongolians in the SGR, especially pastoralists, are interested in wildlife and can be willing cooperators in conservation, especially if they receive some compensation for their efforts. The general conclusion reached by this report is that direct competition for resources is not now the primary issue affecting the relationship between humans, pastoral livestock and large herbivore wildlife; rather it is the lack or loss of a conservation ethic that provides protection for traditional users of natural resources, enforcement of hunting regulations, and prevents illegal sport hunting that is rapidly reducing populations of large wild herbivores in the region. Although economic development of the region will undoubtedly proceed, having in place an effective and functional natural resource management program is critical.
