Climate Change in Mongolia

Infographics produced for the following publication: Changing Taiga: Challenges for Mongolia’s Reindeer Herders

Storyline: Mongolia’s reindeer herders and their taiga homeland are today facing unprecedented challenges from unregulated mining, forest logging, loss of access to natural resources, tourism, and climate change.

Herders from both the East and the West Taiga are concerned about the environmental changes that are taking place in their homeland. They report that snow seems to take longer to melt during springtime. Summers seem shorter and hotter, making it more challenging for the reindeer that prefer cooler temperatures. Patches of snow and ice that used to last through summer are now disappearing in mid-July. The rivers have less water and the soil is dryer. There are fewer mushrooms and flies. This is supported by the Environmental Inspector in Tsagaannuur sum, who has also noticed decreasing water flow in the region’s rivers.