Ebook: The Mongolian Ecosystem Network: Environmental Issues Under Climate and Social Changes

The aim of this book is to describe what is currently occurring in the Mongolian grasslands, to analyze how various factors creating environmental problems interact, and to suggest solutions for sustainable management of the grasslands. The book has three parts. Part I is an introduction, explaining the key concept of an ecosystem network and providing background information on the general features of Mongolian nomadic pastoralism as well as distribution of vegetation in Mongolian grasslands. Part II describes the effects of natural environmental factors and nomadic activities on grassland conditions. Water dynamics that maintain the grassland system are analyzed in a steppe region with shrubs and in a forest-steppe region with trees. Part III describes the effects of economic and social factors on land-use and the livelihood of herders. As nomadic people moved closer to large cities for economic advantage in the 1990s, degradation of pastures by overgrazing resulted. Finally, the impacts of global warming and globalization on the Mongolian society and ecosystem are examined. This book analyzes environmental problems in Mongolian grasslands, but the contents contribute to consideration of environmental problems and sustainable pasture use in grassland areas worldwide.

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The aim of this book is to describe what is currently occurring in the Mongolian grasslands, to analyze how various factors creating environmental problems interact, and to suggest solutions for sustainable management of the grasslands. The book has three parts. Part I is an introduction, explaining the key concept of an ecosystem network and providing background information on the general features of Mongolian nomadic pastoralism as well as distribution of vegetation in Mongolian grasslands. Part II describes the effects of natural environmental factors and nomadic activities on grassland conditions. Water dynamics that maintain the grassland system are analyzed in a steppe region with shrubs and in a forest-steppe region with trees. Part III describes the effects of economic and social factors on land-use and the livelihood of herders. As nomadic people moved closer to large cities for economic advantage in the 1990s, degradation of pastures by overgrazing resulted. Finally, the impacts of global warming and globalization on the Mongolian society and ecosystem are examined. This book analyzes environmental problems in Mongolian grasslands, but the contents contribute to consideration of environmental problems and sustainable pasture use in grassland areas worldwide.

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The aim of this book is to describe what is currently occurring in the Mongolian grasslands, to analyze how various factors creating environmental problems interact, and to suggest solutions for sustainable management of the grasslands. The book has three parts. Part I is an introduction, explaining the key concept of an ecosystem network and providing background information on the general features of Mongolian nomadic pastoralism as well as distribution of vegetation in Mongolian grasslands. Part II describes the effects of natural environmental factors and nomadic activities on grassland conditions. Water dynamics that maintain the grassland system are analyzed in a steppe region with shrubs and in a forest-steppe region with trees. Part III describes the effects of economic and social factors on land-use and the livelihood of herders. As nomadic people moved closer to large cities for economic advantage in the 1990s, degradation of pastures by overgrazing resulted. Finally, the impacts of global warming and globalization on the Mongolian society and ecosystem are examined. This book analyzes environmental problems in Mongolian grasslands, but the contents contribute to consideration of environmental problems and sustainable pasture use in grassland areas worldwide.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Ecosystem Networks as Social–Ecological Systems....Pages 3-7
Characteristics and Transformation of the Pastoral System in Mongolia....Pages 9-21
Distribution Patterns of Vegetation as a Fundamental Factor in Mongolian Ecosystems....Pages 23-29
Front Matter....Pages 31-31
Long-Term Study of the Relationship Between Precipitation and Productivity in the Main Pasture Vegetation of a Steppe Ecosystem in Eastern Mongolia....Pages 33-42
Water Dynamics Within the Soil–Vegetation–Atmosphere System in a Steppe Region Covered by Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants....Pages 43-63
A Possible Future Picture of Mongolian Forest-Steppe Vegetation Under Climate Change and Increasing Livestock: Results from a New Vegetation Transition Model at the Topographic Scale....Pages 65-82
Deforestation and Reforestation of Degraded Forestland in Mongolia....Pages 83-98
Soil Diversity in Mongolia....Pages 99-103
Effects of Climate and Grazing on Surface Soil in Grassland....Pages 105-114
Degradation of Mongolian Grassland Vegetation Under Overgrazing by Livestock and Its Recovery by Protection from Livestock Grazing....Pages 115-130
Annual Production and Species Diversity of Mongolian Pasture Plants in Relation to Grazing Pressure by Livestock....Pages 131-143
Use of Steppe Vegetation by Nomadic Pastoralists in Mongolia....Pages 145-156
Vegetation Interactions for the Better Understanding of a Mongolian Ecosystem Network....Pages 157-184
Front Matter....Pages 185-185
Pastoral Mobility and Pastureland Possession in Mongolia....Pages 187-203
A Mathematical Model of Population Shift Between Urban and Rural Areas....Pages 205-214
Change in Livestock Species and Their Spatial Distribution....Pages 215-232
The Cash in Cashmere: Herders’ Incentives and Strategies to Increase the Goat Population in Post-Socialist Mongolia....Pages 233-245
Marketability of Dairy Products in Relation to Distance in Northern Mongolia....Pages 247-253
The Impact of Agricultural Development on Nomadic Pastoralism in Mongolia....Pages 255-267
Conflict Between Mining Development and Nomadism in Mongolia....Pages 269-294
Back Matter....Pages 315-319
Interference Impact of Global Warming and Globalization on the Society and Ecosystem in Mongolia....Pages 295-313

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The aim of this book is to describe what is currently occurring in the Mongolian grasslands, to analyze how various factors creating environmental problems interact, and to suggest solutions for sustainable management of the grasslands. The book has three parts. Part I is an introduction, explaining the key concept of an ecosystem network and providing background information on the general features of Mongolian nomadic pastoralism as well as distribution of vegetation in Mongolian grasslands. Part II describes the effects of natural environmental factors and nomadic activities on grassland conditions. Water dynamics that maintain the grassland system are analyzed in a steppe region with shrubs and in a forest-steppe region with trees. Part III describes the effects of economic and social factors on land-use and the livelihood of herders. As nomadic people moved closer to large cities for economic advantage in the 1990s, degradation of pastures by overgrazing resulted. Finally, the impacts of global warming and globalization on the Mongolian society and ecosystem are examined. This book analyzes environmental problems in Mongolian grasslands, but the contents contribute to consideration of environmental problems and sustainable pasture use in grassland areas worldwide.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Ecosystem Networks as Social–Ecological Systems....Pages 3-7
Characteristics and Transformation of the Pastoral System in Mongolia....Pages 9-21
Distribution Patterns of Vegetation as a Fundamental Factor in Mongolian Ecosystems....Pages 23-29
Front Matter....Pages 31-31
Long-Term Study of the Relationship Between Precipitation and Productivity in the Main Pasture Vegetation of a Steppe Ecosystem in Eastern Mongolia....Pages 33-42
Water Dynamics Within the Soil–Vegetation–Atmosphere System in a Steppe Region Covered by Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants....Pages 43-63
A Possible Future Picture of Mongolian Forest-Steppe Vegetation Under Climate Change and Increasing Livestock: Results from a New Vegetation Transition Model at the Topographic Scale....Pages 65-82
Deforestation and Reforestation of Degraded Forestland in Mongolia....Pages 83-98
Soil Diversity in Mongolia....Pages 99-103
Effects of Climate and Grazing on Surface Soil in Grassland....Pages 105-114
Degradation of Mongolian Grassland Vegetation Under Overgrazing by Livestock and Its Recovery by Protection from Livestock Grazing....Pages 115-130
Annual Production and Species Diversity of Mongolian Pasture Plants in Relation to Grazing Pressure by Livestock....Pages 131-143
Use of Steppe Vegetation by Nomadic Pastoralists in Mongolia....Pages 145-156
Vegetation Interactions for the Better Understanding of a Mongolian Ecosystem Network....Pages 157-184
Front Matter....Pages 185-185
Pastoral Mobility and Pastureland Possession in Mongolia....Pages 187-203
A Mathematical Model of Population Shift Between Urban and Rural Areas....Pages 205-214
Change in Livestock Species and Their Spatial Distribution....Pages 215-232
The Cash in Cashmere: Herders’ Incentives and Strategies to Increase the Goat Population in Post-Socialist Mongolia....Pages 233-245
Marketability of Dairy Products in Relation to Distance in Northern Mongolia....Pages 247-253
The Impact of Agricultural Development on Nomadic Pastoralism in Mongolia....Pages 255-267
Conflict Between Mining Development and Nomadism in Mongolia....Pages 269-294
Back Matter....Pages 315-319
Interference Impact of Global Warming and Globalization on the Society and Ecosystem in Mongolia....Pages 295-313
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