Case StudyCase StudyThe Reindeer Herders in the Area The Reindeer Herders in the Area

of Lake of Lake KhovsgolKhovsgol, Mongolia, Mongolia(Dr. N. (Dr. N. UrtnasanUrtnasan))

Natural Heritage of the Natural Heritage of the KhovsgolKhovsgolRegionRegion

Lake Lake KhovsgolKhovsgol, sister of Baikal, is the second , sister of Baikal, is the second largest lake in Central Asia, with 1% of the largest lake in Central Asia, with 1% of the worldworld’’s freshwaters freshwaterAncient tectonic lake basin that remains Ancient tectonic lake basin that remains relatively pristinerelatively pristineExtreme Extreme oligotrophicoligotrophic environment, surrounded environment, surrounded by permafrost, with low phosphorus contentby permafrost, with low phosphorus contentThe lake and its surrounding area have a rich The lake and its surrounding area have a rich biodiversity, including many rare and biodiversity, including many rare and endangered speciesendangered species

Physical Cultural Heritage of the Physical Cultural Heritage of the KhovsgolKhovsgol RegionRegion

Stone Stone toolstoolsKeregsurKeregsurSlab Slab graves, graves, deer deer stonesstones““Man Man stonesstones””Sacred Sacred natural natural sitessitesOvooOvoo

MonumentsMonuments

Indigenous populationIndigenous population

Indigenous groups: Indigenous groups: DarkhadDarkhad, , TsaatanTsaatanThe The TsaatanTsaatan reindeer reindeer herders are one of the herders are one of the smallest and most smallest and most culturally endangered culturally endangered minority groups of minority groups of MongoliaMongolia

TsaatanTsaatan

The The TsaatanTsaatan occupy 2 distinct areas, occupy 2 distinct areas, known as the known as the ““east taigaeast taiga”” and and ““west taigawest taiga””

Out of which

No LocationHouseholds

Peo-ple Male Fem.

1 Western taiga 22 110 51 59 385 427

2 Eastern taiga 20 97 46 51 178 167

Total 42 207 97 110 563 594

ReindeerLivestock of

Mongol breed

State Policy and the Reindeer State Policy and the Reindeer HerdersHerders

TsaatanTsaatan regularly deported to regularly deported to TuvaTuva from from 1920s to 1950s1920s to 1950sTsaatanTsaatan ranted Mongolian citizenship in ranted Mongolian citizenship in 19551955Government policies to Government policies to sedentarizesedentarize the the TsaatanTsaatanHunting bans increased the reliance on Hunting bans increased the reliance on reindeerreindeer

Recent Social ProblemsRecent Social Problems

Reindeer herds reReindeer herds re--privatized in 1995privatized in 1995Reindeer health problems due to:Reindeer health problems due to:

Early cutting of hornsEarly cutting of hornsAbsence of veterinary careAbsence of veterinary careInbreedingInbreeding

TsaatanTsaatan not a priority for local and national not a priority for local and national authoritiesauthorities

Current Social ConditionsCurrent Social Conditions

Lack of educationLack of educationDifficulty of access to Difficulty of access to health carehealth care““Reindeer Reindeer FoundationFoundation”” and other and other NGOs now work to NGOs now work to support the support the TsaatanTsaatanand improve their and improve their living conditionsliving conditions

Intangible Heritage of the Intangible Heritage of the TsaatanTsaatanPeoplePeople

Reindeer breedingReindeer breedingBear huntingBear huntingMarriage ceremonyMarriage ceremonyLanguage and oral Language and oral traditiontraditionTraditional wigwamTraditional wigwamBirchbarkBirchbark containerscontainers

Traditional shelterTraditional shelter

Endangered LanguageEndangered Language

No No TuvanTuvan--language language education at schooleducation at schoolTsaatanTsaatan language is language is being forgottenbeing forgottenOral traditions have Oral traditions have not been documented not been documented or studiedor studied

ShamanismShamanismShamanism retains Shamanism retains considerable considerable authenticity in the authenticity in the KhovsgolKhovsgol regionregionThe shaman is the The shaman is the bearer of a rich bearer of a rich tangible and tangible and intangible heritageintangible heritageOnly 3 Only 3 TsaatanTsaatanshamans are alive at shamans are alive at presentpresent

Cultural Tourism in the Cultural Tourism in the KhovsgolKhovsgolRegionRegion

Tourism in the Tourism in the KhovsgolKhovsgolregion is region is increasingincreasingTsaatanTsaatancurrently evade currently evade tourists, but tourists, but tour operators tour operators are keen to are keen to market this market this minority cultureminority culture

Official Protective MeasuresOfficial Protective Measures

Little human impact Little human impact due to remoteness of due to remoteness of this areathis areaEstablishment of Lake Establishment of Lake KhovsgolKhovsgol National National Park in 1995Park in 1995Archaeological and Archaeological and ethnographical ethnographical research remains research remains inadequateinadequate

UNESCO World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site NominationNomination

Constituents of the Constituents of the original nomination:original nomination:

Lake Lake KhovsgolKhovsgolNational ParkNational ParkShamanistic Shamanistic landscapelandscapeTsaatanTsaatan landslandsUushgiinUushgiin UvurUvurarchaeological sitearchaeological site

Difficulties defining protected area Difficulties defining protected area for for TsaatanTsaatan

TsaatanTsaatan move over move over a vast, imprecise a vast, imprecise areaareaDifficulty connecting Difficulty connecting TsaatanTsaatan territory territory with Lake with Lake KhovsgolKhovsgolNeed for direct Need for direct involvement of involvement of TsaatanTsaatan in the in the protection regimeprotection regime

ConclusionsConclusionsThe Lake The Lake KhKhöövsgvsgööll region of northern Mongolia has region of northern Mongolia has a rich biological and cultural diversity, which needs a rich biological and cultural diversity, which needs to be protected.to be protected.Action needs to be taken to increase the number, Action needs to be taken to increase the number, reproduction and health of reindeer, and to provide reproduction and health of reindeer, and to provide incomeincome--generation opportunities for the generation opportunities for the TsaatanTsaatan..The The TuvanTuvan dialect of the dialect of the TsaatanTsaatan people, and its people, and its associated oral tradition, are highly endangered. associated oral tradition, are highly endangered. There is a need for There is a need for TuvanTuvan--language schooling and language schooling and studies of the studies of the TsaatanTsaatan oral tradition.oral tradition.More inclusive forms of education need to be More inclusive forms of education need to be adopted, to address the poor educational levels of adopted, to address the poor educational levels of the the TsaatanTsaatan..The The TsaatanTsaatan need to be given more political rights need to be given more political rights and opportunities for selfand opportunities for self--governance.governance.