Herders and Wolves in Post-Soviet Society: An Ethnographic Study in Mongolia’s Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

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“…The meso-carnivore project also initiated annual monitoring of small mammal and lizard populations (Murdoch et al, 2010c(Murdoch et al, , 2010c. The project further led to research on resource partitioning by two species of hedgehogs (Murdoch et al, 2006b;Zapletal et al, 2012Zapletal et al, , 2015, the role of Siberian marmots (Marmota sibirica) as a keystone species (Murdoch et al, 2009(Murdoch et al, , 2013, insect fauna, wolf (Canis lupus) ecology and conservation (Davie et al, 2014a(Davie et al, , 2014b, and ecological impacts of landscape change (Lkhagvasuren et al, 2016). Herpetological work expanded from population surveys to ecological and disease studies.…”

“…More formal social science research included a major archaeological project (Tserendagva et al, , 2015Schneider et al, In press), studies focused on local people's values and attitudes towards Ikh Nart, its species and conservation (Davie et al, 2014a;Sarmento & Reading 2016), and work to assess the effectiveness of our education and outreach programmes (see below). Informally, the project team evaluated the structures of local communities; power and authority relationships between key stakeholders and different levels of government (bag 1 , soum, aimag and national); and the distribution of resources, including wealth, knowledge and expertise.…”

“…Approximately 110 families live as transhumant pastoralists in and around the immediate vicinity of the reserve, raising livestock (mostly sheep, goats and horses) Davie et al, 2014a). These families move about 5 to >50 km between winter and summer ger (or yurt) sites.…”

“…These families move about 5 to >50 km between winter and summer ger (or yurt) sites. A network of 2-track dirt roads connects ger sites and some lead to aimag and soum governance centres (Davie et al, 2014a). Humans have inhabited the region for millennia and numerous archaeological sites occur in the landscape (Tserendagva et al, , 2015Schneider et al In press).…”

“…Our project began in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (hereafter Ikh Nart) in 2000, four years after its establishment and prior to active management . Since then, studies have examined Ikh Nart's biota, and human attitudes and values, land use practices, and culture to serve as a knowledge base for management (e.g., Jackson et al, 2006;Reading et al, 2003Reading et al, , 2011Davie et al, 2014a). Simultaneously, management activities started, including funding law enforcement officers, education and outreach, livelihood enhancement, cultural resource protection, and naturebased tourism development working closely with local people and governments responsible for Ikh Nart.…”