Entrenched in its economic, social and political history, pastoralism is woven into Mongolian identity and nationhood. Pastoralism is an extensive animal production system specialized to environments that show a high degree of variability such as deserts, drylands, steppes, forest and steppes, tundra and high-altitude mountain ranges. It is well suited to Mongolia’s sparsely populated high plains that serve as vast open pastures for livestock herds and is one of the main occupations in Mongolia.

This policy brief highlights the economic contribution of pastoralism at the national level, not only through the production and sale of animal-based products, but also through household self-consumption. It presents the main needs and challenges faced by the families that carry out this practice in Mongolia and highlights the need for local civil society organizations to collect and manage data relevant to the sector, paving the path for advocating for evidence-based policies.