Influence of cattle breeding on pasture degradation in the steppe zones of Mongolia

Climate change and livestock expansion increase pasture degradation. It becomes starkly evident in the steppe ecosystems, which make up the country’s main resource [1]. The key reasons for degradation are seasonal movements of nomads in search for better pastures, which lead to their further transformation. In recent years, the traditions and skills of nomadic cattle breeding have undergone the significant changes. Cattle farmers with their households and families move from sparsely populated areas closer to more developed settlements, such as sums, centers of aimags or towns. This results in migration of nomads and exhausts pastures around these settlements. The study included a survey of shepherds, aimed at determination of the intensity of pasture land use, and the distance of their movements when grazing.