Paper short abstract:

In today’s Mongolia, there are two types of pastoral strategies; that of suburban area and remote area. My presentation discusses a case of a remote area in Southeastern Mongolia, and makes it clear the way in which to stay there as pastoralists, based on field research data in 1998 and 2008.

Paper long abstract:

In today's Mongolia, as pastoralists are allowed free movement unprecedentedly by law, they move to suburban area of cities because of economic advantage. As to pastoral strategies, a dichotomization is in progress; one with higher density and lesser movement in suburban area, another with more livestock and more movement like socialist era in remote area. This dichotomization started shortly after cold and snow disaster from 1999 to 2002, which brought Mongolian pastoralists severe decrease of livestock. My presentation discusses a case of remote area, based on my field researches in Ongon Sum (county) of Southeastern Mongolia, which is over 100km away from the nearest city.

A comparison between field research data collected in 1998 and in 2008, following characteristics are made clear.

Pastoralists move longer and more frequently than in suburban area without relation to the era. Their movement patterns are basically similar from the socialist era to today.

The proportion of little livestock, which means sheep and goats in Mongolia increased, whereas that of cattle decreased. In remote area, pastoralists' income comes from sales of live sheep and cashmere, although cow's milk and dairy products cannot sell.

The minimum number of a household's little livestock increased. It means that the minimum number to keep their lives as pastoralists in remote area increased, with the penetration of market economy.

As a result, some pastoralists who can keep a large amount of livestock stay there as pastoralists, whereas others who failed to do so moved out, to suburban area for example.