Get reliable rangeland science

In the early 2000, different donor programs supported formation of over 2000 community groups in Mongolia. However, results of donors' efforts have not been consistently successful, yet little is known about the factors that influence success or lack thereof. This research examined causal relationships of variables that influenced socio-economic outcomes of community groups. We studied 142 pastoral groups in 36 soums (counties) of 12 Mongolian provinces, where 77 of them were donor supported groups. We examined how the effect of formal organization on social outcomes was mediated by four intermediate variables, namely, information diversity, leadership, knowledge exchange and agreed rules given four different ecological regions. Using a serial-multiple mediation model, we hypothesized that these four intermediate outcomes taken together will mediate the ultimate social outcomes of beneficiary groups. We found that traditional and innovative rangeland management practices, proactiveness and social networks were significantly mediated by the intermediate outcomes as anticipated, while the same mediators did not influence levels of trust, norms of reciprocity and assets. Moreover, among these four interdependent mutually-enforcing mediators, information diversity had a triggering effect on other three variables creating a causal chain of information diversity�leadership� knowledge exchange�rules. The study also revealed importance of ecological zone in achieving better social outcomes such as traditional and innovative rangeland practices, social capital and assets. However, a negative effect of rules on trust and norms of reciprocity as well as assets was a contradictory finding to the prevailing understanding in the field of the commons.