Nigeria can learn sustainable pastoralism from Mongolia's Hustai National Park model
Premium Times journalist Abdulkareem Mojeed participated in the UNCCD media fellowship in Mongolia, visiting Hustai National Park 96km west of Ulaanbaatar. The park, covering 50,000 hectares, is renowned for reintroducing the Przewalski's horse and demonstrates how biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and sustainable pasture management can restore ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods.
Mongolia's nearly 80 million livestock—far exceeding its human population—contrast sharply with Nigeria's pastoral challenges. Unlike Nigeria where farmer-herder conflicts persist over land and water, Mongolian herders report minimal clashes due to geographical separation of farming and pastoral communities. Hustai helps communities increase value from fewer animals through dairy products, alternative livelihoods like greenhouse farming, and eco-tourism rather than expanding herd sizes.
The fellowship coincides with COP17 in Ulaanbaatar beginning Monday, themed 'Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.' For Nigeria, the Mongolian model suggests that resolving pastoralism challenges may require focusing on value addition, better pasture management, alternative income sources, and community engagement rather than solely increasing animal numbers or grazing routes.