Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Page 114

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Desertification in Mongoua
SOME ASPECTS OF THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PROBLEM IN MONGOLIA
RELATED TO THE DESERTIFICATION RISK ÍSSUES
The experience of pastoralism in Mongolia suggests that even the most degraded ar-
eas, with some exceptions, appear to be ecologically capable of responding to proper
livestock management strategies.
In this regard, it was necessary to consider the applicability of so called “Clement-
sian Succession Theory” to the Mongolian condition. This theory is well known and
found good application in North America, Aírica and Australia. The reasons, why this
is less applicable in case of Mongoiia, are (NPACD 1994):
• The long history of pastoral livestock grazing precludes the recognition of
climax plant communities in most regional ecosystems.
• The long history of pastoral grazing indicates evolution of plant species and
plant communities either adapted physiologically to being heavily grazed sea-
sonally or having evolved characteristics that enable the plants to resist graz-
ing by herbivores (spines, toxins, etc.).
• Most forage plants comprising Mongolian pasture communities are highly
grazing tolerant or grazing resistant.
• Evidence that at least the majority of regional ecosystems are characterized by
multiple steady state equilibrium rather than a single steady state equilibrium,
i.e., that if the factor causing ecological degradation is sufficiently severe to
destroy plant community composition and structure, the soil erosion will be
such that a new steady state equilibrium of plants and soil will be achieved
rather than secondary succession to the original climax community on re-
moval of the factor causing degradation.
• The management of livestock by adjusting stocking rate or excluding grazing
herbivores entirely to achieve higher stages near the ecological climax be-
comes a costly and probably impossible management goal, especially as it ap-
plies to the Mongolian pastoral livestock production system.
CONCLUSION
• Desertification is evident in Mongolia and the most important factors of it are
the vulnerability of the ecosystem to human activities, especially animal hus-
bandry.
• The management of livestock should focus on maintaining the current steady
state equilibrium rather than trying to change plant community species com-
position and structure towards the higher ecological condition of a possible
hypothetical climax of plant community.
• The plant communities and land resources should be rated according to their
susceptibility (indicators of physical and chemical properties of the soil, in-
cluding the amount of moisture) to factors causing a shift to a less productive
steady state.
• If the multiple steady state hypothesis is accepted, the focus of livestock man-
agement should be on preventing movement of pastoral grazing resources to a