Balanced development of pastoralism in the steppe complex of the regions of Inner Asia: actualization of the study of natural, economic and cultural foundations

Pastoralism is one of the oldest branches of the economy that has survived to this day and continues to play an important role in the economy of a number of states with significant grassland areas. The actualization of the study of natural, economic and cultural foundations for the development of this industry is aimed at finding primary ways for its balanced development in the steppe complex of the regions of Inner Asia. At present, there are prerequisites for strengthening the role of pastoralism, such as disruption of world economic relations and centuries-old experience of the effective use of pasture lands in the regions of Inner Asia. In 1992-1996 Cambridge University's Mongolia and Inner Asia Unit (the Great Britain) carried out the international project "Preservation of the Natural and Cultural Environment in the regions of Inner Asia", which addressed the issues of the balanced development of pastoralism in the grassland zone of the regions of Inner Asia. Over the past years, this branch of agricultural production has undergone significant changes in the territorial, production and economic, organizational and managerial, as well as natural and environmental aspects. The scientific significance of the problem under consideration lies in determining the forms of socio-economic organization of pastoralism that are most consistent with the natural development of the steppe complex in the regions of Inner Asia on the back of the changed political content. The definition of these forms will reveal the foundations for the balanced development of this territory. The study of the transformation of the conditions and factors, which have undergone significant, often dramatic, changes over a short historical period (a little over than 30 years) is of particular importance in the proposed project. The research should be carried out at various administrative-territorial levels - from the level of a settlement to the level of a state subject, including various natural zones of the steppe complex - from dry steppe to forest-steppe.