On February 26-28, 2026 ICR and WRH team visited Tsagaannuur, Mongolia. Issát Turi, Johan Mathis Turi, Khongorzul Mungunshagai, and Svetlana Avelova took part in Tsagaannuur events.
The trip’s agenda included participation in the Inaugural meeting of the establishment of the Dukha reindeer herders organization “Nogoon Taiga” (“Green Taiga”), attending the Snow and Reindeer Festival, and conducting interviews among reindeer herders in the framework of the Reindeer Herding and Resilience project (RHR).
On February 26, the inaugural meeting to establish the Dukha reindeer herders’ organization “Nogoon Taiga” (“Green Taiga”) was held, along with a public meeting on climate change and adaptation. The new organization of Dukha reindeer herders “Nogoon Taiga” represents both East and West Taiga in accordance with the organization’s statutes. The main purpose of “Nogoon Taiga” is to promote professional, commercial, and cultural contacts between reindeer herders in Mongolia and between different reindeer herding peoples in the world, and to disseminate information about reindeer husbandry in the best possible way. The newly established organization’s board elected Dalaijargal Gombo as Chair of the board and secretary to the board, Khongorzul Mungunshagai.
Elected board (on the photo from left to right):
Khoserdene Bayandalay – West Taiga
Gambat Punsal – East Taiga
Otgonjargal Monkhoo – East Taiga
Tuul Erdenekhuyag – Vice Chair of the Board – West Taiga
Dalaijargal Gombo – Chair of the Board – East Taiga
Shangyrool Batzaya – West Taiga
After the Inaugural meeting, a public meeting connected with the Reindeer Herding and Resilience project was held on climate change and adaptation.
During the Snow and Reindeer Festival, which was held on 27-28 February, ICR and WRH team conducted interviews with the reindeer herders from East and West Taiga. The discussion covered several topics related to reindeer herding communities. Interviewers described animal health problems, discussed treatments, and possible links to hot summers. They also talked about community organization among families in the taiga and recent climate patterns, noting generally warmer years lately. In addition, traditional food practices were mentioned, such as preserving dried reindeer milk.
