Silent Steppe: The Illegal Wildlife Crisis in Mongolia

The single greatest threat facing many species of wildlife across the world today is hunting for commercial wildlife trade. This publication reveals that the problem is not confined to tropical forest ecosystems, but that harvest levels are also vast and unsustainable in the temparate steppe and forests of Mongolia. Populations of both endangered and previously widespread species have declined dramatically.

The wildlife trade is not only devastating Mongolia's biodiversity, but is also threatening rural livelihoods - Mongolia has approximately 245,000 hunters, one tenth of the total population. The fur trade alone contributes an estimated US$100 million to the economy, possibly the third largest contributor behind mining and tourism.

The groundbreaking research presented in this report, which arose from a study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society, in cooperation with a variety of other NGOs, makes a strong case for addressing the problems associated with the wildlife trade in and from Mongolia; seeking solutions to conserve Mongolia’s unique and diverse wildlife community; and ensuring that rural livelihoods are sustainable and not tied to a dwindling resource base.

 

The report reviews the history of wildlife trade in Mongolia; examines the current levels of take and trade through comprehensive surveys of hunters, trade chains and markets; investigates current wildlife management practices; and makes recommendations to improve wildlife management.

 

 Download Full Report (3.86mb pdf)