Traditional Ecological Knowledge Informing Resource Management: Saxoul Conservation in Inner Mongolia, China

We examine Mongolian herders’ traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of saxoul (Haloxylon ammodendron), a keystone tree species in the Gobi desert. Government conservation planning, focused on closed reserves and aerial seeding, has alienated Mongolians and further degraded saxoul populations. We collected information from all Mongolian families (n = 85 individuals from 33 families) in the community of Hatuhuduge Gacha using semi-structured interviews, trend analysis, resource mapping, and participant observation. Mongolian knowledge of saxoul's natural history and traditional management could have provided alternative conservation strategies. However, historical policies that limit indigenous power over resources, centralize planning, and contribute to TEK loss place large barriers on TEK's integration into conservation.