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Eastern Mongolian Grassland Steppe

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Climate and Conservation

Abstract

Nomadic livestock herders have coexisted with migratory wildlife in Mongolian grasslands for centuries, but both are now threatened by a combination of climate change, overgrazing, and increased extractive development (i.e., mining and petroleum). Both people and wildlife depend on grassland productivity for their survival, but increasing temperatures are projected to drive higher rates of evapotranspiration leading to moisture stress and decreased productivity. Combining ecoregional assessments with ecosystem-based adaptation strategies—such as the use of grass banks and sustainable grazing management—has the potential to help herders cope with climate change impacts and maintain sustainable livelihoods into the future. Accomplishing this will require coordinated regional planning that identifies where to implement specific on-the-ground conservation strategies to address climate change impacts such as desertification, soil loss, water scarcity, and overgrazing.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard University, USA

    Robert McDonald (senior scientist)

  2. The Nature Conservancy, Colorado, USA

    Michael Heiner (conservation scientist), Joseph Kiesecker (lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy), Galbadrakh Davaa (director) & Chris Pague (senior conservation scientist)

  3. The Nature Conservancy, Mongolia

    Enkhtuya Oidov

Authors
  1. Evan H. Girvetz
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  2. Robert McDonald
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  3. Michael Heiner
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  4. Joseph Kiesecker
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  5. Galbadrakh Davaa
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  6. Chris Pague
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  7. Matthew Durnin
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  8. Enkhtuya Oidov
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Berkeley, USA

    Jodi A. Hilty (director) (director)

  2. environmental politics at Brandeis University and the Fletcher School at Tufts University, USA

    Charles C. Chester (assistant professor) (assistant professor)

  3. Wildlife Conservation Society, USA

    Molly S. Cross (coordinator) (coordinator)

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© 2012 Island Press

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Girvetz, E.H. et al. (2012). Eastern Mongolian Grassland Steppe. In: Hilty, J.A., Chester, C.C., Cross, M.S. (eds) Climate and Conservation. Island Press/Center for Resource Economics. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-203-7_8

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