There’s not much Urantsetseg doesn’t know about farming. She’s been working this land for 30 years, and before that she and her husband drove tractors and combine harvesters for a grain cooperative. In 2000, the couple started a bee keeping and forestry business in addition to livestock herding. Her energy and passion are all the more remarkable considering she has had to overcome serious health issues. “A few years ago I got cancer, but fortunately the treatment was successful, and with the support of my family and community I have recovered both physically and mentally.”
Mongolian herders are a tough breed. Average winter temperatures in Binder regularly plunge to -25°C, and climate change has led to unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts and extreme weather. For a community so reliant on farming, it’s an uncertain outlook.
“Livestock farming is the main source of income for local people. All the members of our FUG are engaged in animal husbandry. We produce 20-30 different local dairy products such as yoghurt, curd butter, sour cream, various creams and dry curds which we sell to increase our household income.”
As Urantsetseg returns to her never-ending round of tasks, she reflects on what climate change might mean for the future. “I do believe that livestock farming, sustainable forestry and beekeeping will be passed down from our generation to next. I just hope we can avoid natural disasters.”
The Delger-Onon forest user group has been working with the Sustainable Resilient Ecosystem and Agriculture Management in Mongolia (STREAM) project, which supports local communities with sustainable landscape management and food security. STREAM received funding from the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. The Global Climate Change Alliance Plus is a European Union flagship initiative which is helping the world’s most vulnerable countries to address climate change.
