The Eastern Steppe Living Landscape program aims to sustain wildlife and traditional livelihoods in the arid grasslands of the Eastern Steppes region of Mongolia, including the aimags of Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and southern Khenti. Funded from October 2003 - Septermber 2008, this program will develop a management system for the Eastern Steppe that preserves its ecological integrity using a wildlife-focused, proactive approach to landscape planning and implementation, and promote the adoption of sustainable conservation practices on the Eastern Steppe and throughout Mongolia. The main implementer of this program is Wildlife Conservation Society, in partnership with USAID Global Conservation Program II, UNiri-GEF, and Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Location

Eastern Steppes region – Dornod, Sukhbaatar, and southern Khenti Aimags

Goal

Develop a management system for the Eastern Steppe that preserves its ecological integrity using a wildlife-focused, proactive approach to landscape planning and implementation, and promote the adoption of sustainable conservation practices on the Eastern Steppe and throughout Mongolia.

Objectives

• Improve landscape-level planning and management based on the landscape species approach.
• Promote policy changes based on sound knowledge of the needs of humans and wildlife.
• Assist with development of economic alternatives that allow for sustainable use of steppe resources.
  

Funding Period

October 2003 – September 2008

Funded By

• USAID Global Conservation Program II
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
• Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund
• UNiri-GEF

• Started a monthly conservation networking and information sharing event.
• Presented recommendations to the Mongolian Government on hunting regulations.
• Presented recommendations to the Government on Brandt’s vole management and use of rodenticides.
• Collected, created metadata for, and began analyzing spatially explicit landscape data sets.
• Performed research and published peer-review information on gazelle biology and management.
• Hosted an international workshop on Mongolian gazelle harvest and management.
• Submitted Mongolian gazelle harvest recommendations to the Mongolian Government.
• Instituted agreements to review and assess eight Protected Area management plans.
• Sent a research associate for spring semester coursework at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
• Developed plans to perform a formal Threats Assessment in collaboration with government, NGOs, and local communities.