34 / 96
34
• In late February and early March 2013, GRID-Arendal,
the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry
(ICR) and members of the national project team held
extensive consultations in Tsaganuur and in the East
and West Taiga with reindeer herders. Feedback was
incorporated in the design of the project and a much
better understanding was achieved of the conditions
on the ground;
58
• Also during this period, the project team conducted
extensive meetings with decision-makers, from the
Ministries at the national level to administrators at the
local level in Tsaganuur, to ensure that the project was
in line with each administration level’s plans over the
coming years, and to ensure support for the project.
59
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Nomadic herders project
Through extensive consultation and persistent follow-
up by the project team, the Mongolian Government has
committed USD 1.32$ million through its allocation
of GEF funds, and a further USD 3.2$ million of co-
financing into the Nomadic Herders’ project for the
coming four years. The GEF FSP is expected to be
officially submitted to UNEP and the GEF in early 2014,
and activities to start by mid 2014.
The proposed structure for managing the GEF project
is unique. Both the local community and relevant
government institutions are strongly embedded within
the project, both in terms of activities and as members
of the project steering committee. Furthermore, this
project represents one of the few current-day examples
of environmental collaboration between Norway and
Mongolia. It is also a unique example of how UNEP
is engaging, through GRID-Arendal, to support
environmental issues and Indigenous Peoples at the
local, community level.
In October 2012, the Nomadic Herders’ project took the
opportunity of a Mongolian State visit to Norway to raise
awareness at the highest levels of government. The Presi-
dent of Mongolia, His Excellency Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj,
was presented with a Mongolian edition of the UNEP re-
port Changing Taiga: Challenges for Mongolia’s Reindeer
Herders (produced and edited by GRID-Arendal), and was
made aware of some of the environmental and social chal-
lenges facing the smallest ethnic minority in Mongolia.
Following this intervention - and at the suggestion of the
project team - the President himself visited the reindeer
herders in December 2012.
60
58.
http://reindeerherding.org/blog/nomadic-herders-team-visits-reindeer-herding-communities-in-tsaganuur-and-east-and-west-taiga/
59.
http://reindeerherding.org/blog/nomadic-herders-consults-with-the-mongolian-ministries/
60.
http://reindeerherding.org/blog/reindeer-people-to-receive-monthly-allocation-the-ub-post/
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Greater support for reindeer
husbandry
In May 2013, the Mongolian Government enacted a
new Special Decree on Support to Reindeer Husbandry
to support reindeer herders. The Nomadic Herders
project cannot claim full attribution for this new policy.
However, as a result of the project awareness-raising
efforts, the project certainly played a major role.
During the 2013 World Environment Day celebrations,
which were hosted by Mongolia, GRID-Arendal and part-
ners organized a seminar on ‘The Future for Reindeer
Husbandry and Conservation in Mongolia’s Biodiversity
Hotspot’. Co-management of the Tengis-Shishged Pro-
tected Area was discussed and a preliminary working
group established to take these issues further. World En-
vironment Day also provided an opportunity for the No-
madic Herders project partners to meet with Mr. Achim
Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, as well as high-level
representatives from the Mongolian Government. At
the same time, GRID-Arendal unveiled a unique photo
exhibit with images from the reindeer herding areas of
Mongolia in Ulaan Bataar’s Central Square, where the
photos remained on display throughout the celebra-
tions.
61
Over 2012 and 2013, the Nomadic Herders project contin-
ued to build important knowledge-sharing synergies with
the EALLIN
62
project of the Arctic Council’s Sustainable
61. For further information see:
http://reindeerherding.org/blog/reindeer-herders-join-in-celebrations-to-mark-world-environment-day/
62. EALLIN means “youth” in Sami
The project team, including two reindeer herders from Mongolia,
meet with the President of Mongolia (His Excellency Tsakhiagiin
Elbegdorj) during his visit to Norway, October 2012