Structure
Structure
The Buffer Zone Project is a community development project. Effective buffer zone management requires active participation of four specific groups of stakeholders: (1) herders and three village communities, (2) municipal councils, (3) the Hustai National Park (HNP) administrative body and (4) the Buffer Zone Council. All of these groups, which comprise the Buffer Zone Team, are involved in developing and implementing the HNP buffer zone management strategy.
The Buffer Zone Project strives towards the integration of buffer zone and park management, with the sustainable preservation of the HNP’s unique biodiversity as the binding factor. The basis of the project is the promotion of self-help among herders and villagers. Control over grasslands, water, other natural resources and small-scale enterprises is an essential element of the project. The first step is engaging the smallest possible groups of herders and villagers to support the Buffer Zone Project. Guided by experts, these groups learn to identify, understand and develop their capacity to estimate, plan, organize and properly manage the use of buffer zones, natural resources and initiated enterprises. It is through this understanding and mutual cooperation that sustainable management of grasslands and water resources, improvement of livestock quality and product distribution and successful resolution of other significant issues may be accomplished. The most important groups of stakeholders include herders, park staff, Buffer Zone Councils, Buffer Zone Committees, municipal councils and representatives from relevant ministries. Each Buffer Zone Council and Committee is comprised of the following members:
Buffer Zone Council in Soums:
- Chairman of Citizen representative Khural (1 person)
- Governor (1 person)
- Herders (5 to 7 people)
- HNP administrator (2 people)
Buffer Zone Committee:
- Chairman of Citizen representative Khural (3 people)
- Governor (3 people)
- Herders (15 people)
- HNP administrator (4 people)
