This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic impacts of the 2023–2024 winter dzud on Mongolia’s nomadic livestock farming. A comprehensive impact assessment approach is proposed, including a social assessment of the dzud impact on farms, an analysis of pasture carrying capacity, and an economic assessment of direct and indirect losses to nomadic livestock farming. The study’s results for the five most affected aimags indicate that 63.3% of surveyed households suffered livestock losses, and the total economic damage, including the reduced value of pasture ecosystem services, reached 1.5–1.9 billion USD. Based on the grazing pressure analysis and expert survey results, overgrazing was identified as a key vulnerability factor. Priority adaptation policy measures were identified, including sustainable pasture resource management, including the use of traditional nomadic practices, and increased direct financial and social support for nomads. The findings have practical implications for policy development in regions with similar climate risks.

The economic growth associated with maximizing profits from the use of natural resources and the environment has exhausted itself. The ideology of organic farming implies an optimal combination of the interests of the rural population, consumers of environmentally friendly products and a healthy environment. In recent years, the idea of using a national Baikal brand in the food market has been widely demanded and relevant. Such a pioneer product is the production of bottled Baikal water that meets international quality standards. An obstacle to the wide access to the world market for this product is the legislative restrictions in most developed countries on the consumption of drinking water from open sources. However, the upcoming world water crisis will open up prospects for a wider use of Baikal water, primarily, in densely populated Asian countries. In recent years, breeding of native breeds of farm animals adapted to the local climate, which comply with the principles of organic farming, has been revived in the Baikal region. In addition, the proximity of the external export market determines the possible production of specific “halal” products that are targeted at Southeast Asian countries with a predominantly Muslim population. In Mongolia, practical steps have been taken to produce “religious-specific” organic products, including the national quality standard for “halal” products. The high quality of meat products based on pastoralism corresponds to the rules of kosher food. Strict laws of “kashrut” may correspond to beef and lamb, as well as high-quality fish products of endemic species of the Baikal basin. These factors give a particular specificity to the concept of organic products, which combine the quality of ecological products with the uniqueness of the Baikal brand, the national specificity of Buddhism culture and traditions of oriental culinary.

To meet the growing demand in the world market, our country has high potential to increase the volume of agricultural production, including the production of organic products. The article discusses the prospects for the development of organic agriculture in the border areas of the Republic of Buryatia. Border territories are the most important resource of the country, due to the special geopolitical position of these territories, the specifics of international relations and cross-border cooperation. The article provides a classification and characteristics of the socio-economic development of each border territory. Agriculture is their main specialization. The agricultural sector has a clearly defined livestock sector; grain crops are grown for feed purposes for farm animals. An analysis of the current state is carried out, the dynamics of key indicators of agricultural sectors is presented, and investment projects being implemented in these territories are identified. The possibilities of transitioning to organic agriculture require consideration of the issues of existing restrictions in the economic activities of border areas and possible problems in the organization and operation of organic production. The conditions and factors limiting the development of organic agriculture in border areas have been identified. It is noted that the costs of producing organic products are higher than in traditional agriculture. Thus, the issue of economic efficiency of production was considered, and an estimate of additional costs was given. The authors came to the conclusion that there are prospects for the development of organic agriculture in border areas.

Historically, pastoralism has been the leading sector of the Mongolian economy. And quite often it faces natural and climate risks. Almost every year, natural disasters (such as dzud, heavy rain, fire, lightning, infectious and non-infectious diseases, wildlife predation and accidents) kill a huge number of livestock in Mongolia. A serious threat is posed by dzud, which is expressed in the mass death of livestock and occurs not only in winter, but also in spring. The main objectives of the study were to determine the causes and consequences, as well as to assess the economic damage from dzud. The rapid increase in livestock numbers in Mongolia, especially sheep and goats, as well as significant changes in the structure (ratio of sheep and goats) have a negative impact on the condition of pastures. The pasture potential assessment was carried out for five model aimags. Both the reserve and the excess of the potential of pasture lands of nomadic farms have been revealed. It is noted that overgrazing leads to a decrease in livestock productivity, soil erosion, desertification, deforestation, and land degradation. The article presents a methodological approach to the economic assessment of losses of a nomadic economy from dzud. An economic assessment of the damage was carried out as the cost of direct product losses (meat, wool, fluff), the cost of disposal of livestock carcasses and the reduction in the value of ecosystem services of pastures. To assess the natural and anthropogenic risks of the territory of Mongolia, a methodology for the natural and anthropogenic conditioning of territories to the occurrence of risks is presented. The aimags of Mongolia were differentiated according to the coefficient of natural-anthropogenic conditions for the occurrence of risks.

Ice and snow tourism (IST) is a significant global trend, offering Russia opportunities for tourism growth and seasonal diversification. This study investigates the potential of ice and snow art as a distinct subcategory of IST on Lake Baikal. Our research is based on an analysis of academic publications and official policy documents, field surveys conducted in winter 2025, and stakeholder consultations, with the “Olkhon Ice Fest” serving as a case study. The findings indicate a clear shift toward IST, with the number of winter tourists on Olkhon Island increasing by 70% between 2021 and 2024. The festival’s key features—its use of the natural ice landscape, a unique artistic technique, an explicit ecological focus, and strong entrepreneurial initiative—support the development of a conceptual model of IST on Lake Baikal grounded in ecotourism principles. Ensuring the long-term sustainable development of IST in the region requires improved governance, infrastructure, and transport systems, as well as support for green businesses and increased environmental awareness among tourists. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable winter tourism by demonstrating the interconnections among environmental sustainability, socioeconomic benefits, and cultural innovation, thereby situating local IST practices within the broader framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).