THE WORLD BANK THE WORLD East Asia Region andPacific andSocial Development Environment worldbank.org/eapsocial E-mail: Facsimile: Telephone: worldbank.org/eapenvironment 1666 522 202 Washington, D.C. USA 20433, 1000 473 202 HStreet, N.W. 1818 37796 EnvironmentPublic Disclosureand Authorized Social DevelopmentPublic Disclosure Authorized — EastPublic Disclosure Asia Authorized and pacificPublic Disclosure Region Authorized Discussion Papers September 2006September Intrusion Human from Ass) Khulan (Wild to Threat The Room to Roam? MONGOLIA MONGOLIA Room to Roam? The Threat to Khulan (Wild Ass) from Human Intrusion September 2006 © 2006 Th e International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / THE WORLD BANK 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 USA September 2006 All rights reserved. Th is study was prepared by the Environment and Social Development Unit (EASES) of the East Asia and Pacifi c Region, and was funded by the World Bank’s Netherlands-Mongolia Trust Fund for Environmental Reform. Environment and social development issues are an integral part of the development challenge in the East Asia and Pacifi c (EAP) Region. Th e World Bank’s Environment and Social Development Strategy for the region provides the conceptual framework for setting priorities, strengthening the policy and institutional frameworks for sustainable development, and addressing key environmental and social development challenges through projects, programs, policy dialogue, non-lend- ing services, and partnerships. Th e EASES Discussion Paper series provides a forum for discussion on good practices and policy issues within the development community and with client countries. Th is publication is available online at www.worldbank.org/eapenvironment. Suggested citation: Kaczensky P., D.P. Sheehy, C. Walzer, D.E. Johnson, D. Lhkagvasuren and C.M. Sheehy. 2006. Room to Roam? Th e Th reat to Khulan (Wild Ass) from Human Intrusion. Mongolia Discussion Papers, East Asia and Pacifi c Environment and Social Development Department. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Contact details for authors: Dr. Petra Kaczensky, University of Freiburg, Germany & University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Petra. [email protected] Dr. Dennis P. Sheehy, [email protected], www.ICAPSnet.com Dr. Chris Walzer, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, www.wildvet.at www.fi wi.at Dr. Douglas E. Johnson, Oregon State University, [email protected] D. Lkhagvasuren, National University of Mongolia, [email protected] Cody Sheehy, Oregon State University, [email protected], www.AutonomyProductions.com Cover design by the Word Express. Th is volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / Th e World Bank. 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Contents Foreword vii Acronyms ix Acknowledgments xi Executive Summary xiii Introduction Herder and Livestock Situation 2 Khulan Situation 5 Study Area 6 Study Area Location 6 Climate Conditions 7 Vegetation 7 Water Occurrence 8 Chapter : Methods Study Limitations 11 Human and Livestock Trends 11 Herbivore Distribution 12 Transect Routes 12 Capture and Satellite Telemetry 12 Livestock Distribution 12 GIS Analysis 12 Impact of Diff erent Habitat Parameters 12 Local Attitudes Toward Khulan 13 Questionnaire Survey 13 In-Depth Interviews 14 Media Presentations 14 iii Mongolia—Room to Roam? Th e Th reat to Khulan (Wild Ass) from Human Intrusion Chapter : Results Human Population Trends 15 Livestock Trends 17 Khulan Capture 17 Collared Khulan Distribution 17 Sample Size 18 Distances Covered 20 Movement Barriers 20 Home Range Size 20 Khulan Seasonal Habitat Use 20 Khulan Distribution in the Southeast Gobi 20 Khulan Habitat Use 20 Vegetation Type 22 Khulan and Human/Livestock Interactions 25 Pasture and Water Use by Livestock 25 Water Use by Khulan 27 Khulan Spatial Relation to Human Intrusion 28 Impact of Well Construction and Rehabilitation 29 Human Attitudes Toward Khulan 30 Attitude Survey 30 Local Wisdom 32 Chapter : Discussion and Conclusions Spatial Dimension of Khulan Conservation 33 Habitat Fragmentation Th reats 34 Water Access 34 Poaching and Hunting for Sale 36 Khulan Monitoring 37 Conservation Management Planning 38 Lack of Institutional Capacity 38 Chapter : Recommendations Gobi-wide Initiatives 41 Develop a Gobi Region Infrastructure Strategy which Gives Attention to Conservation 41 Explore Potential for Sustainable Local Khulan/Wildlife Harvest 41 Develop Ecotourism Opportunities 42 Improve Khulan/Wildlife Access to Water 42 Enforce Existing Regulations 42 Improve Well Planning and Management 42 Enforce Hunting Regulations 42 Raise Awareness of Gobi Issues Relating to Large Herbivores 43 Database and Monitoring 43 Create a Habitat Database 43 Institutionalize a Herder/Livestock Monitoring System 43 Develop Khulan/Wildlife Monitoring Systems 43 Bibliography iv Contents Appendix A: Field Teams Involved in Data Collection in the SW Dornogovi Study Area Appendix B: Plant Community Composition in the Southeast Gobi Appendix C: Survey Instrument Used to Determine Local Attitudes Toward Khulan Appendix D: Interview Guidelines for the Six Semi-structured Interviews on Wildlife Values Appendix E: Daily Protocol of Herder in the SW Gobi (// to //) Appendix F: Selected Statements from Six In-depth Interviews About Human-Wildlife Relationships Figures Figure 1: Human Population Trends in Mongolia, 1950–2005 4 Figure 2: Livestock Numbers in Mongolia, 1961–2004 5 Figure 3: Study Area in the Core of the Khulan (Equus hemionus) Distribution Range in Mongolia 6 Figure 4: Average Annual Precipitation Based on Local Weather Stations in the Gobi 7 Figure 5: Vegetation Type Distribution in the Southeast Gobi 8 Figure 6: Population Development (since 1985) and Livestock Numbers (since 1970) in Southeast Gobi 15 Figure 7: Increase in Human Population in the Two Largest Aimag Centers in the Study Areas 16 Figure 8: Change in Livestock Composition in the 13 Soums of the Study Area in the Southeast Gobi, 1970–2004 16 Figure 9: Distances Traveled by Khulan Within 7-hour Time Steps 19 Figure 10: Movement Paths of Individual Khulan (July 2005 to February 2006) 19 Figure 11: Total Area Used by All Collared Khulan in the Southeast Gobi (July 2005 to February 2006) 21 Figure 12: Areas Covered by Individual Khulan over an Eight-Month Period in the Southeast Gobi Study Area 21 Figure 13: Seasonal Use of Habitat by Collared Khulan in the Southeast Gobi (July–August 2005) 22 Figure 14: Seasonal Use of Habitat by Collared Khulan in the Southeast Gobi (September–October 2005) 23 Figure 15: Seasonal Use of Habitat by Collared Khulan in the Southeast Gobi (November–December 2005) 23 Figure 16: Locations of Khulan Groups Encountered between June and October 2005 in the SW Dornogovi Study Area 24 Figure 17: Locations of Khulan Carcasses Encountered between June and October 2005 in the Southeast Gobi in Mongolia 24 Figure 18: Availability and Use of Diff erent Plant Community Types by Khulan as Compared to Two Sets of Random Points 25 Figure 19: Location and Movements of GPS-equipped Herders in July and August 2005. 26 Figure 20: Distribution of Ulaankhuu’s Small Livestock (16 July—27 August 2005). 26 Figure 21: Example of Additional Livestock Pasture Area Obtained by Well Rehabilitation in Dornogovi Aimag (5 km grazing buff er) 30 Figure 22: Local Attitudes Toward Khulan According to Perceived Population Trends 32 Figure 23: Khulan Locations and Movements Relative to Current and Planned Mining Operations 35 Tables Table 1: Summary of Environmental Constraints Aff ecting Large Herbivores in the Study Area 9 Table 2: Khulan Captured and Radio-Collared in the Southeast Gobi 17 v Mongolia—Room to Roam? Th e Th reat to Khulan (Wild Ass) from Human Intrusion Table 3: Khulan Location Statistics, 7/7/2005–2/16/06 18 Table 4: Areas Covered by Individual Khulan During the Study Period 20 Table 5: Number of Khulan Counted During Five Trips in the Southeast Gobi between June and October 2005 22 Table 6: Distance to Open Water and Soum Centers. 29 Table 7: Water Source Availability and Grazeable Pasture 30 Table 8: Human Population in the Study Area and Sampled Population 31 vi Foreword ongolia is facing a period of rapid habitat can be diffi cult and contentious, with percep- change, resulting from the need to tions of human-wildlife confl ict often as important a strengthen its economy, provide factor in development decisions as the confl ict itself. services to its population, and create Th e importance of rigorous, high-quality scientifi c Mnew infrastructure. Meeting these needs will require research cannot be underestimated in informing sound planning and eff ective management if adverse development decisions, as the consequences can be environmental impacts—such as overgrazing and the far-reaching, and in some cases irreversible.