Severe weather can create difficulties in evaluating aspects such as mortality rates and control of animal numbers. In Mongolia, the year of the baseline data collection (Phase 1-late 2010 and Phase 2-early 2012) followed a dzud (2009-2010). This left lower animal numbers and stocking rates on the land than there would have otherwise been and higher than normal mortality rates when measuring animal deaths over the few years prior to the baseline. Although control herders faced the same severe weather issues, it still was difficult to interpret some of the data findings and related causes. For example, animal numbers increased in all areas for both treatment and control herders between baseline and endline, but animal stocking rates of program herder groups remained largely within the carrying capacity of the land that was determined by the PURP implementers in 2009 during parcel mapping activities.
Lesson Learned