Nomad Green: Citizen Journalists Address The Menace Of Desertification

In today's post we will look at some of the reports of the cyber environmentalists of Mongolia, who received citizen media training from Rising Voices grantee Nomad Green. They tell about the horrors of desertification in Mongolia and highlight some local heroes who are trying to preserve the environment in Mongolia.

The works of Nomad Green are getting noticed. The Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism is following them on Twitter.

Badamgarav wrote in a post (translated by Solongo) that most parts of Mongolia are affected by sand movement which is causing desertification.

1.6 million hectare of forest has been destroyed because of fire and human activities. It is obvious that territories can become desert quickly if there are no trees and plants. [..] Process of desertification has been increasing in residential areas, and 145 soums of Gobi region have been affected by sand movement in some way. So almost most part of Mongolia have been affected by desertification.

If desertification goes by this speed, in ten years Mongolia will become same like Arabian countries.

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Botanist Dorjgotovariungerel asks (translated by Ariungerel) why Mongolians are satisfied with their poor livelihood. The blogger criticized that Mongolians do not complain about their problems which can be exploited by the government citing that their is nothing to be worried about.

Nobody say anything for the election, as they play us and our livelihood is getting worse that is to be going on next how many years.

Dorjgotovariungerel also notices that the Mongolians are forgetting to wear the traditional Deel, however, the culture of carrying mobile phone is ubiquitous in the country.

The citizen journalists are also highlighting some local heroes who are contributing to save Mongolia's environment.

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Dorjgotovariungerel highlights (translated by Ariungerel) the wheelchair woman group who were trained by Byatshandai, head of Mongolian Farmer Women Association and agronomist Bayarsaikhan. They learnt how to grow vegetables in their own backyards and provide organic vegetable for their family. The blogger proposes that mining companies can buy seedling and seed of trees from them for the rehabilitation of mining fields.

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Image courtesy Nomad Green

Dorjgotovariungerel also portrays Environmentalist and Inspector Euguzer Khutukhutu (holy). Khutukhtu (born in 1869) graduated from Buddhist school, and then he established “Ono oglogt” temple in his hometown Mendsaikhan.

He introduced two deers and two marmots into his hometown from Umnodelger soum of Khentii aimag. A male and a female marmots were from the south slope of Khuran and the two deers were from Khondlon khailast which is surrounded by elm forest that is unique in the Steppe. The introduced marmots can feed our five generation while introduced deers are now up to 300000.

Image Courtesy Nomad Green

84 years old gamekeeper, image Courtesy Nomad Green

Otgonsuren Jargal publishes an interview of a 84 years old gamekeeper who follow the Goby bear for the past 20 years in the Segs Tsagaan Bogd mountains. The interview was taken by the Nomad Green citizen journalists.

The footprints of the cubs is unmistakable, very little and cute footprints they are. I heard that a Gobi bear gives birth to 1 cub every two years, so they are slow breeding animal.

Desertification is getting faster. Many rivers and lakes are drying. The herbs and graces are disappearing year by year. Once the greenery /herbs, plant/ is getting poorer and the wild animals are going to die from starvation or migrate to nother places.

I would like to say that we need to search any methods to make more the rains in the Gobi area. After a good rainy summer in Gobi the wild animals will have enough food for 2-3 years.

Narantsogt writes about D. Erdenedalai, a young Mongolian man who wants to save the earth.

Read more posts from the project website where already the 300th post has been published. There is good news for the international readers. Apart from the Mongolian, English and Chinese versions, the Nomad Green posts are also available in German language.

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