Illegal wildlife trade is emerging as a serious issue in the East Asian Region. Ensuring sustainable exploitation of the Mongolia’s considerable natural resource was one of the key aspects of the Environmental Sector in 2006. It was important to understand the driving forces of wildlife trade, its scale and operation, and to identify successful solutions to address the illegal trade. In this regard Silent Steppe – ‘The Illegal Wildlife Trade Crisis in Mongolia’ (IWTCM) project (2006) was undertaken in Mongolia by the Zoological Society of London. The Silent Steppe II project (2016) was the continuation of the Silent Steppe - ‘The Illegal Wildlife Trade Crisis in Mongolia’ 10 years later. The IWTCM delivered alarming facts, and suggestions, about Mongolia’s wildlife conservation system. To measure the project’s outcome, a household survey and market surveys were conducted nationwide in 2006 and 2016. The project contributed significantly to addressing the wildlife trade in, and from, Mongolia; seeking solutions to conserve Mongolia’s unique and wonderful wildlife community. The project also engaged in ensuring that rural livelihoods were sustainable for people in the long term. 

Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment:  

The general objectives were to measure changes in the quantity and scale of wildlife use, take and trade in the market and the state of public awareness (and attitudes) toward wildlife’s use and trade in Mongolia. Particular objectives included the following:  

• Measure changes in the quantity and scale of wildlife’s use and take between 2016 and 2017’. 

• Measure public trust and attitudes to the legal environment of environmental protection. 

• Measure public support of wildlife protection. 

• Collect evidence and data necessary to implement the next phase of the project. 

• Determine potential correlation of household survey and market survey.