Archaeology sheds light on Mongolia ’s uncertain nomadic future

As a herding lifestyle practiced for millennia is threatened by contemporary climate change, archaeology offers a long-term perspectiveAround the world, traditional subsistence practices provide a resilient source of ecological knowledge thatimproves humanity ’s ability to respond to environmental crises. In Central Asia, a herding lifestyle practiced for millennia is increasingly threatened by the speed and magnitude of climate change.Although the global mean temperature is predicted torise by 2C over the coming century, this trend will likely be more severe in high altitude and high latitude environments. In the subarctic steppes of Mongolia, nearly one-third of the population makes their living through migratory herding of livestock – sheep, goat, horse, cattle, camel, and yak. For these herders, the effects of climate change have beenimmediate and dramatic. Mongolia has experienced summer droughts, extreme winter weather, pasture degradation,a shrinking water supply, and desertification, leading to seasonal herd die-offs. These processes have a cascading effect, reinforcing other issues caused by human activity and globalisation.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Archaeology Climate change Science Mongolia Environment World news Source Type: news