Overview
The research project “MORE STEP – Mobility at risk: Sustaining the Mongolian Steppe Ecosystem” is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research project of Mongolian and German partners funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The main aim is to bring social and ecological sciences together to identify societal drivers that can lead to an ecological tipping point of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem. The objective is the early identification including possible consequences for nature and society. In this context land degradation and the reduced sustainability of ecosystems by societal transformation processes – such as urbanization or changes to the nomadic way of life – will be central themes. The project particularly emphasizes the importance of mobility of wildlife and livestock in the context of societal change and seeks to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mongolian Steppe ecosystem.
Background
Learn more about mobility in nomadic pastoralists
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Learn more about mobility in wildlife
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Project Goals
1. To assess the effects of the key drivers of current societal transformations – urbanization,
changing nomadic lifestyles, and economic development – on Mongolian rangelands
as a social-ecological system,
2. To identify the key regulating mechanisms for mobility and their interactions that could
lead to a tipping point with regard to herbivore abundance,
3. To identify a set of indicators capable of assessing the system state with regard to the
tipping point, and
4. To synthesize and identify management measures as well as governance options that will
best avert reaching the potential tipping point.
changing nomadic lifestyles, and economic development – on Mongolian rangelands
as a social-ecological system,
2. To identify the key regulating mechanisms for mobility and their interactions that could
lead to a tipping point with regard to herbivore abundance,
3. To identify a set of indicators capable of assessing the system state with regard to the
tipping point, and
4. To synthesize and identify management measures as well as governance options that will
best avert reaching the potential tipping point.
Expected results
The primary deliverable of MORE STEP is the development of policy options to avoid or stall the tipping point of the social-ecological system, as well as the development of indicators to assess its state. Moreover, future strategies and scenarios for a more sustainable development of industry, infrastructure and livestock farming in the Mongolian steppe will be generated, with a focus on the conservation of natural vegetation as well the mobility of wildlife and livestock. Furthermore, solutions to improve the lifestyle of nomadic herders will be devised.
Another important deliverable is the creation of an interdisciplinary public database regarding the dynamics of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem. In addition, the project results will be published in scientific journals.
Finally, MORE STEP serves the development of junior scientists especially in Mongolia as well as the continued exchange of data and ideas between Mongolian and German scientists.
Another important deliverable is the creation of an interdisciplinary public database regarding the dynamics of the Mongolian steppe ecosystem. In addition, the project results will be published in scientific journals.
Finally, MORE STEP serves the development of junior scientists especially in Mongolia as well as the continued exchange of data and ideas between Mongolian and German scientists.