Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Agriculture, livestock and food · Mongolia · 2010–2024

Mongolia's dzud winters and degraded pasture: emergency funding for herders

Nature's voice · report
In the 2018 national assessment, 57 percent of my monitoring sites were altered; only 42.4% were non-degraded, and the heavily and fully degraded shares rose 5.9 and 4.3 points from 2014.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record.
Recorded
  • The assessment found that 79% of my rangeland was recoverable within 10 years with reduced stocking. Green Gold–Animal Health Project / SDC / ALAMGAC / IRIMHE
  • More than 7.19 million livestock died on my pastures in winter 2023–2024, according to the UN. UN in Mongolia
  • More than five million carcasses had to be disposed of on my land; the IFRC said burial was prioritised near my rivers because of expected “yellow floods”. IFRC
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not disclosed · 3 disputed · 1 unclear See the gaps

Severe winters (dzud) killed millions of livestock in Mongolia in 2009–2010 and 2023–2024, in rangelands where most monitored sites are altered from reference condition. UN, Red Cross and state funds paid for cash transfers and carcass removal.

more than 7.19 millionLivestock deaths, winter 2023–2024 (UN)
UN, 29 April 2024. The IFRC gave 8.1% (5.2 million) of national livestock on 19 March 2024.

Status As of April 2024: CERF allocated USD 1.55 million and the IFRC appealed for CHF 4.5 million after the 2023–2024 dzud; the IFRC reported a lack of comprehensive livelihood support for herders with large losses.

What?
Dzud winters in 2009–2010 and 2023–2024 killed millions of livestock in rangelands where 57 percent of monitoring sites are altered, and the UN, the IFRC and the state paid emergency cash, vouchers and carcass removal. IFRC
Where?
Nationwide; 2023–24 worst in eastern and central provinces. IFRC
When?
Dzud winter 2009–2010 (CERF reported 29 March 2010); dzud winter 2023–2024 (DREF 2 February, appeal 15 March, CERF 29 April 2024). UN News
Who?
Gained
  • 5,862 herder households — Cash grant of MNT 550,000 per household and, for 10,000 families, food vouchers of MNT 100,000 (IFRC appeal) IFRC
  • 2,000 herder households — To receive cash under the 2024 CERF allocation UN in Mongolia
Lost
  • 2,758 herder families — Lost over 70% of their herds in 2023–2024 (IFRC) IFRC
Harmed
Why?
The IFRC attributed the escalation in herders' mortality since 2010 to climate change; the rangeland report found 70% of consulted herders and local specialists said livestock numbers exceed carrying capacity. Green Gold–Animal Health Project / SDC / ALAMGAC / IRIMHE
How?
UN CERF allocations, an IFRC appeal, state reserve funds and a national donation campaign paid for cash transfers, vouchers and carcass removal. IFRC
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

The winter of 2009–2010 was a dzud; the UN reported a Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocation of “$3.7 million” on 29 March 2010. In the same article, UNDP announced US$1.5 million for carcass removal and income generation for 120,000 people who had lost at least 50% of their livestock, UNICEF US$1.5 million, FAO about US$600,000, WHO US$227,000 and UNFPA US$227,000.

The winter of 2023–2024 was a dzud again. The IFRC opened a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) allocation on 2 February 2024 (CHF 499,480, later a DREF total of CHF 1 million) and an emergency appeal on 15 March 2024 for CHF 4.5 million (Federation-wide CHF 5.2 million), with a cash grant of MNT 550,000 per household to 5,862 households and food vouchers of MNT 100,000 to 10,000 families. On 29 April 2024 the UN CERF allocated USD 1.55 million (FAO $700,000, UNFPA $350,000, UNICEF $500,000) for 12,050 people, with 2,000 herder households to receive cash. According to the IFRC the government provided MNT 17.9 billion from the National DRR and State Reserve Fund to 21 provinces, a national donation campaign raised MNT 3.3 billion in cash and MNT 801 million in kind, and bank loan repayments for herders were extended by six months.

The UN reported that “more than 7.19 million livestock” died in 2023–2024. The IFRC (19 March 2024) gave mortality of 8.1% (5.2 million) of national livestock, with 2,758 herder families losing over 70% of their herds and more than five million carcasses to dispose of; burial was prioritised near rivers because of expected “yellow floods”. The IFRC stated that herders' mortality had “escalated since 2010 due to climate change” and that damages reached up to MNT 70 billion annually.

The 2018 National Report on the Rangeland Health of Mongolia (second assessment, 2016 data) found 42.4% of monitoring sites non-degraded, 13.5% slightly degraded, 21.1% moderately, 12.8% heavily and 10.3% fully degraded; the heavily and fully degraded shares rose 5.9 and 4.3 points from 2014, and “57 percent of monitoring sites are altered”. The assessment found that 79% of the rangeland was recoverable within 10 years with reduced stocking, and 70% of herders and local specialists consulted said livestock numbers exceed carrying capacity.

  1. 2010CERF allocation reported (29 March) after the 2009–2010 dzud
  2. 2018National Report on the Rangeland Health of Mongolia, second assessment (2016 data)
  3. 2024IFRC DREF (2 February); IFRC appeal (15 March); CERF allocation USD 1.55 million (29 April)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“there is a lack of comprehensive livelihood support tailored to the needs of those who have suffered significant livestock losses”

IFRC emergency appeal operational strategy · March 2024 · IFRC

“Rangeland health is in decline in many areas”

“more than 7.19 million livestock”

UN in Mongolia, on 2023–24 livestock deaths · 29 April 2024 · UN in Mongolia

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

How many livestock died in the 2023–2024 dzud?
International bodies
UN in Mongolia (29 April 2024)

More than 7.19 million livestock died.

UN in Mongolia
International bodies
IFRC (19 March 2024)

Mortality of 8.1% (5.2 million) of national livestock.

IFRC

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • Herders' mortality has escalated since 2010 due to climate change.
    IFRC (March 2024) · IFRC
  • Livestock deaths of more than 7.19 million in 2023–2024.
    UN in Mongolia (29 April 2024) · UN in Mongolia

Recorded

  • 2010 CERF allocation of $3.7 million; 2024 CERF allocation of USD 1.55 million for 12,050 people.
    UN News
  • 2024 IFRC appeal of CHF 4.5 million; state MNT 17.9 billion from the National DRR and State Reserve Fund to 21 provinces.
    IFRC
  • Rangeland health, 2016 data: 57 percent of monitoring sites altered; heavily and fully degraded shares up 5.9 and 4.3 points from 2014.
    Green Gold–Animal Health Project / SDC / ALAMGAC / IRIMHE
  • UN Humanitarian Country Team plan revised to USD 15.3 million with a USD 9.7 million gap (IFRC, March 2024).
    IFRC

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
No figure published.

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
CERF allocation, 2010 dzud$3.7m
Window: 2010
CERF allocation, 2023–24 dzud (FAO 0.7, UNFPA 0.35, UNICEF 0.5)$1.55m
Window: 2024
IFRC emergency appeal (CHF 4.5 million; DREF CHF 499,480)—
Window: 2024
Swiss francs, not converted.
Government: National DRR and State Reserve Fund to 21 provinces (MNT 17.9 billion)—
Window: 2024
Tugrik, not converted.
Currency: USD · Window: Mixed — see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • ifrc (March 2024): Opened a DREF allocation on 2 February 2024 and an emergency appeal on 15 March 2024; stated that herders' mortality had escalated since 2010 due to climate change. · IFRC
  • un-cerf (29 April 2024): Allocated USD 1.55 million to dzud-affected herders. · UN in Mongolia

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Livestock deaths, 2023–2024
more than 7.19 million
UN, 29 April 2024; IFRC gave 8.1% (5.2 million) on 19 March 2024
Rangeland sites altered
57%
Monitoring sites, 2016 data (2018 national report)
Heavily and fully degraded sites
12.8% and 10.3%
Up 5.9 and 4.3 points from 2014
Carcasses to dispose of
more than 5 million
IFRC, March 2024

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
No court case

Money

  • None on record IFRC emergency appeal (CHF 4.5 million; DREF CHF 499,480) — Swiss francs, not converted.
  • None on record Government: National DRR and State Reserve Fund to 21 provinces (MNT 17.9 billion) — Tugrik, not converted.

Court

Accounts

  • Disputed How many livestock died in the 2023–2024 dzud?

Record

  • Unclear Unclear: which agency amounts in the March 2010 UN article came from CERF; the article lists amounts for UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, WHO and UNFPA alongside the US$3.7 million CERF figure.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: per-household cash amounts and appeal funding total in the UN's April 2024 page.
  • Disputed Figures differ: the UN gives more than 7.19 million livestock deaths for 2023–2024 (29 April 2024); the IFRC gave 8.1% (5.2 million) of national livestock (19 March 2024).
  • Disputed Disputed: a 2018 study in Ecological Applications reported very severe degradation as rare (1–18% of land), against the national report's monitoring-site shares.

Did the harm stop?

None on record.

Who paid?

UN CERF, the IFRC and the state paid for emergency cash, vouchers and carcass removal; herders lost livestock: IFRC reported 2,758 families losing over 70% of their herds in 2023–2024.

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts— Press and investigations— Communities and civil society✓ Researchers✓ International bodies

Researchers

  1. National Report on the Rangeland Health of Mongolia: Second Assessment
    Green Gold–Animal Health Project / SDC / ALAMGAC / IRIMHE · 2018

International bodies

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Places and local terms

Pastoralists
People whose livelihoods depend on moving livestock between grazing lands.
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