DZForum topics

This is a preliminary, indicative list of topics and questions we might want to discuss in the Dasan Zoxicoxui Forum.

One of our key objectives is to establish a balance of topics that are interesting both to herders and to others (policymakers, factory managers, development project managers, etc.). As there is a risk that herders might find an overly theoretical discussion non-useful, we need to engage with a substantial number of very practical issues. Perhaps half of the content should be of the "how to" variety, with a moderator--or at least someone to keep the discussion going--for each topic. For each of these topics, we would like to create a "question and answer" space where the "expert" is able to respond, but others with relevant experience are also welcome to offer suggestions.

As a general target, we may envisage something like 80 topics--40 "policy discussion" topics, and 40 "how to" question-and-answer topics.

How To

(Begin with reports on experience; possibly 2 people for each topic)

• write a successful project proposal
• find out what project funding is available
• start a dairy farm
• start a hog operation
• plant saxaul/elm/etc.

• establish an NGO

• make a root cellar
• make felt handicrafts
• make candies out of whey
• raise Yeroo sheep
• participate in cultural tourism activities
• ...

Policy discussion

Each of these topics should begin with an overview of the problem, and a list of questions to discuss--related to individuals' experiences and opinions. To get things going, we would like to include some "reports" or preliminary thoughts from people in Inner Mongolia, Canada, or elsewhere, that can serve as a kind of background; ask at least one person to prepare an intervention in advance for the thread.

• Rangeland management and land tenure. What is the current state of land tenure? What would change under the proposed Rangelands Law? What changes are necessary?
• Desertification. How do we measure desertification and pasture degradation? What is it?
• Adaptive capacity. What is it? What are the factors enabling or hindering adaptation?
• Cooperatives. What are the advantages and challenges?
• Open Source licensing as a model for the production of physical goods. If we want to try something like this for Mongolian pastoral products, what sorts of information should we include?
• Enclosure / territorial demarcation of grazing areas. What are the impacts on mobility, adaptability, etc.? Do Mongolian herders generally support this type of policy? What is the experience of herders in neighbouring countries? What is the experience in Canada?
• Culture as wellbeing. What are the cultural "wellbeing" aspects of pastoralism?
• Mobility and adaptation.
• Livestock health.
• Intensification. How do we measure the positive and negative aspects? What are the barriers and opportunities to entry?
• The proposed Rangelands Law. What would this mean for herders? How does it compare to legislation in other countries? (On this point, see if we can get some inputs from Bo'oloo's colleagues and international experts.)
• Commons theory. What are the implications of Ostrom's seven principles in Mongolia?
• Ecological knowledge.
• Permaculture. What is it, and what are the implications for Mongolia?
• Organic production.
• Food security.
• Standardization. Food safety, etc. And the problems with international standards.

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