Ulaanbaatar, September 8, 2026: Mongolia’s vast grasslands are facing increasing pressure as climate stress, deteriorating pastures and shrinking water availability make traditional livestock-based livelihoods more difficult to sustain.

Covering roughly 1.2 million square kilometres, Mongolia’s grasslands extend across an area larger than France and Germany combined. They are the foundation of the country’s pastoral economy, supporting millions of livestock and the communities that depend on them.

But the very system that supports rural families is under strain.

More Animals, More Pressure on Pastures

For many herding households, livestock serve as both an income source and a form of financial security. When weather becomes unpredictable or markets are uncertain, increasing herd numbers can appear to be a practical way to protect household wealth.

That strategy, however, can create a damaging cycle.

More animals grazing limited pasture can accelerate vegetation loss and soil degradation. As pasture quality declines, livestock receive less nutrition, become more vulnerable to harsh weather and produce less meat, wool and other products per animal. Herders may then respond by keeping even larger herds.

The Asian Development Bank has previously reported that Mongolia’s livestock-sector expansion was driven largely by rising herd numbers rather than productivity improvements.

Climate Adds to the Challenge

Drought, drying water sources and severe winter conditions known as dzud can rapidly expose weaknesses in the pastoral system.

When grasslands have already been weakened by excessive grazing, animals have fewer resources to survive difficult seasons. Severe winters can then result in substantial livestock losses, threatening household incomes and food security.

The ADB says healthier pasture and stronger livestock could help break this cycle by allowing herders to generate more value without continuously expanding herd sizes.

The Case for Fewer, Better Animals

A major part of the proposed solution is a gradual move toward fewer but more productive animals.

Better breeding, veterinary care, nutrition and herd management can increase the amount of meat, wool, milk or fibre produced by individual animals. This could allow families to maintain or improve their incomes while reducing pressure on fragile grazing areas.

Earlier ADB research similarly found that improving livestock quality and productivity could make it possible to generate comparable income from smaller herds.

Rotating Pastures Could Help Land Recover

Pasture management is another important part of the transition.

Rotating grazing areas, allowing damaged land to rest and protecting important winter and spring reserves can give vegetation time to recover. Better planning of livestock movements can also reduce the concentration of animals in vulnerable areas.

The approach is not aimed at abandoning Mongolia’s traditional pastoral lifestyle. Instead, it seeks to make herding more resilient by aligning livestock numbers with what the land can sustainably support.

Quality Could Become More Valuable Than Quantity

Markets are also central to the solution.

If buyers pay better prices for higher-quality cashmere, wool and meat, herders have a stronger financial reason to invest in animal quality rather than simply increasing the size of their herds.

ADB research has identified weak market integration and limited quality-based pricing as obstacles for Mongolian herders. Cooperatives and stronger links between producers and processors could help households capture a larger share of the value generated by livestock products.

Protecting the Grasslands and Rural Incomes

The challenge facing Mongolia is therefore not simply environmental. It is also economic.

For herding families, reducing livestock numbers without providing alternative ways to maintain income could create serious hardship. A sustainable transition requires incentives that reward productivity, better market access, veterinary and breeding services, reliable water supplies and effective pasture management.

The ADB argues that gradual herd reductions combined with higher productivity could ease grazing pressure while protecting household livelihoods.

A Long-Term Shift for Mongolia’s Pastoral Economy

Mongolia’s grasslands remain one of the country’s most important natural and economic assets. Their future will depend on whether livestock production can become more productive without placing ever-greater pressure on the land.

The emerging model is built around a simple principle: earn more from better animals rather than relying on ever-larger herds.

If supported by appropriate policies, quality-based markets and community-led pasture management, that shift could give Mongolia’s herders a better chance of protecting both their incomes and the grasslands on which their livelihoods depend.