earticle

영어

This study focuses on the socio-economic and environmental consequences that have occurred since the gold rush to acquire gold in Mongolian commons in the mid-1990s. Many civilians joined illegal mining for gold that should be kept as a common-pool resource in Mongolia. The mining of gold by Ninja miners, who illegally taking gold for its own interests, is not limited to taking gold, but has caused social, economic and environmental damages. This study aims to figure out their identity and behaviors of illegal miners and suggest alternative institutional measures to protect the land and gold, respectively commons and a common-pool resource in Mongolia. As a result of the study, it is found that Ninja miners think gold can be taken by themselves. For they think the person who occupies it first is the owner because it belongs to no one. It is very difficult for Ninja miners to quit their job because mining is a means for their livelihood and survival. Thus, either prohibiting their illegal mining with harsh punishment or leaving illegal Ninjas unattended is not the best option for protection of the commons which need to satisfy future generations’ needs. It will be better to pursue a policy to legalize mining activities under state permission and three-way cooperation contracts between local governments (mainly counties), companies (mines), and miners (including Ninja miners). Sustainable use of common-pool resources including gold is necessary for future generations as well as Mongolian as a whole. It requires communication among stakeholders within the system.