Annotations - rangeland degradation

Bulgamaa Densambuu is a researcher for the Swiss-funded Green Gold project. It focuses on preventing overgrazing of Mongolian grasslands, what Densambuu calls rangelands. She recently completed a survey that found 65 percent of Mongolia's grasslands have been degraded due to overgrazing of cashmere goats and to climate change. But Densambuu hasn't lost hope.

Consequently, an estimated Consequently, an estimated 70 percent 70 percent of Mongolia’s grazing lands are presently considered of Mongolia’s grazing lands are presently considered degraded. Herders are forced onto progressively smaller patches of land, further hastening soil degraded. Herders are forced onto progressively smaller patches of land, further hastening soil erosion.

The mass production of cashmere, once solely a luxury good, is fueling ecological de­ struction that has fashion la­ bels searching for new sources of the fiber—or giving it up al­ together. Herds of cashmere goats, whose hair is used to produce the soft fabric, have grown sharply since the turn of the century in China and Mongo­ lia, which supply 90% of the world’s cashmere. The once-scarce fiber has become cheap enough for mass-market labels, resulting in billions of dollars in sales, but with ecological consequences. Millions of goats are chewing through the vast grasslands, known as steppe, that straddle the Mongolian-Chinese border. Nearly 60% of Mongolian pas­ ture land is degraded, the Mon­ golian government says, includ­ ing large swaths that have turned into desert.

Presentation of the problem, as one facing fashion labels.

onsumer awareness of overgrazing, pasture degradation and welfare concerns are growing, and some are now questioning whether they should be buying cashmere products.

In the current climate, cashmere pullovers are retailing at a significantly reduced price and are no longer considered to be a luxury item. Cashmere has become less exclusive and is now a more affordable commodity. Subsequently, the grasslands of Mongolia are paying the price. The social impact created by underpaid farmers and an opaque supply chain is also a source of concern. With alarm bells ringing worldwide, particularly in the fashion industry; we need to respond urgently

The boom in popularity of this once ultra-luxurious wool, and the subsequent proliferation of cut-price cashmere sweaters on the high street, has apparently forced the cashmere industry to its crisis.

This article asserts that consumer demand and market pricing are the main causes of "ecological catastrophe" or "crisis". The narrative continues, "Reports suggest that with an increase in demand for wool, more goats have been raised on the pastures than the grasslands can handle."

Grazing lands are rapidly degrading, threatening the viability of the entire industry