The project’s origins trace back to a capacity-building workshop held for community rangers in January 2023. As they discussed challenges in their daily work, B. Ganbold, a ranger from a community in the western Khovd province, proposed a simple yet powerful idea: create mobile ‘knowledge’ boxes filled with informative conservation materials that could travel between households.
These “nomadic trunks” now serve as portable libraries, filled with carefully curated collections of books, games and educational guides suitable for all ages. But they’re more than just educational resources—they’re catalysts for community connection.
In Mongolia’s remote landscapes, where neighbouring households are often many kilometers apart, community rangers serve as vital links between families. As they patrol their territories to gather crucial information about wildlife sightings and potential conservation concerns, they now haul these nomadic trunks to each household they visit.
The practice weaves seamlessly into Mongolia’s cherished tradition of hospitality. As families welcome rangers with the customary salt milk tea, these visits become opportunities for meaningful exchange about local wildlife and conservation efforts. The contents of the trunks and the new visitor spark conversations, inspire learning and strengthen the bonds between rangers and their communities.
The project has already placed trunks with two communities and seen promising early results. We’re working together with 33 communities across Mongolia, with each typically composed of 15 households. The Nomadic Trunk Project exemplifies how Mongolia’s traditional pastoral cultural heritage can enhance modern conservation efforts.
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Photo credits: SLCF-Mongolia
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank IKI (Small grants) The International Climate Initiative by the German government for funding.