Demographic Changes in Mongolia

Between 1999 and 2002, Mongolia lost more than 10 million animals, almost a third of its domestic herds to the dzud. The dzud is a natural disaster of prolonged extreme cold. For many traditional Mongolians the dzud threatens their way of life. Now each year up to 5% of the population are leaving the land and heading for the cities, particularly the capital Ulaanbaatar.

Demographic Changes in Mongolia Host: The Urtuu Mukhar valley lies to the West of the Mongolian capital Ulaan Baatar. It takes its name from the mounted express mail station that the Great Khan set up here in the 13th century. Seven centuries later the valley still has no road and no electricity and Mongol herders live a traditional lifestyle closely dependent on their animals and the land. Dorjmaa Tugchin and her family moved here in 1970. At 70 years old Dorjmaa is the matriarch of the family and knows the valley well. Tugchin Dorjmaa: This was the most beautiful place. Ours was the only Gher. The grass was high and the water was clean. Host: Dorjmaa and her family live in a traditional Mongolian Gher. Arguably the most perfectly designed tent ever made, it’s insulated with rolled wool - felt - a natural barrier against extreme cold. Mongolians heat their Ghers by burning wood and dried animal dung. It’s not very efficient and has adverse consequences for the soil and water cycles. But when survival is an issue, ecological damage is not necessarily the first thing considered. T. Enkhtuvshin: Out here you have to work hard and rely on your self. You can’t rely on others or just sit and wait for help. Each person determines how their life will be. Host: Survival has become even more of an issue within the last decade, as Mongolian herders like Dorjmaa and her family have lived through increasing incidence of what Mongolian’s call Dzud. Dzud is a disaster, a climatic event of prolonged extreme cold which some scientists put down to global climate change. Between 1999 and 2002 Mongolia lost more than 10 million animals almost a third of its domestic herds to the Dzud. For the traditional nomadic peoples of Mongolia the Dzud threatens their way of life. And it comes at a time when increasing numbers up to 5% of the population each year are leaving the land and heading for the cities particularly the capital Ulaan Baatar. This demographic shift is fundamentally changing Mongolia. Formerly part of Soviet Bloc, Mongolia’s been moving toward a free market economy since 1990. Central Ulaan Baatar is beginning to look like a modern metropolis. But for the rural migrants searching for a better life, home here is most often a Gher in the growing, chaotic shanty-towns of the city. Although no one knows for sure, it’s estimated that 60% of the capital’s population live in the unplanned Gher Areas. So many people bringing their nomadic customs to the city is having a major impact on the environment. To try to regulate where the former nomads live the Government has enacted a new land privatization law and is trying to provide basic services to everyone. Tsagaan Scar is the Mongolian Lunar New Year. Shatar, following the custom of the season, is ceremonially taking the first steps in the New Year for good luck. Like many other Mongolians, Shatar and his family moved from the countryside to one of the expanding Gher Areas that have sprung up all around Ulaan Baatar. D. Shatar: Living conditions in the countryside are difficult. There is no infrastructure or services and lately we experienced Dzud and many animals died the main reason to move to the cities are to find jobs and educate the children. Sh. Altangerel: Today half of the Mongolian population lives in Ulaan Baatar City. Officially there are 800,000 people, unofficially more than one million. 60% of the population lived in the Gher areas. That means 600,000 people 85,000 to 90,000 households living in the Gher areas with no access to basic services. This is 90,000 stove pipes, 90,000 open toilets.