Negotiating the coexistence of mining and pastoralism in Mongolia

ABSTRACT Introduction The relationship between mining developments and local communities has been highly contested. The role of the local population in Mongolia, which is largely comprised of herder households and communities, has not been adequately recognized in government mining policy and regulations. Since 2006, mining project proponents are required to establish local level agreements (LLAs) with local host governments in Mongolia. Objective This paper examines how agreement mechanisms have been implemented and whether they have helped local communities protect their interests while coexisting with mining. Methods The paper draws on a multi-year study on LLAs in Mongolia carried out by the author between 2013 - 2018. Results As the Mongolian case demonstrates, legal prescription by itself will not deliver the desired outcomes of greater benefits for local communities or improved relations between these communities and developers. The negotiation of coexistence of mining and pastoralism requires iterative, multilayered processes involving the communities affected by the project. Unless the rights and claims of project-affected pastoral communities are recognized in the LLA regulations, their meaningful participation in agreement-making will remain limited.