Chika Nakayama Hypothesis

My interests are the nomadic people in Mongolia and raw material, cashmere, which help them to thrive. Nomadic culture is a precious group that is still remaining in this age of globalization. For three thousand of years, these people traveled grassland to raise their animals, preserving their way of life. The extreme climate and geographical condition influence their living. Year by year, because of climate change and globalization, human impact has been affecting their culture and health of the land. It became cycle of overgrazing which leads to soil erosion, causing desertification. The new way of use of land, oil drilling and mining, has caused pollution. The degradation of grassland is extending, and it threats the Mongolian cashmere economy.

-Hypothesis
Cashmere is valuable to the Mongolian culture and I would like to sustain this resource.



-Stakeholder
Mongolian Nomads are struggling to sustain their culture and land because of desertification and the market for cashmere.

Mongolian government wants to sustain their land, cashmere economy, and their nomadic culture.

Cashmere manufactures in Mongolia are having a difficult time staying open for production because of market system with other countries.

Foreign traders take advantage of the Mongolia cashmere industry by outbidding the Mongolian manufactures and illegally smuggle the raw cashmere out of the country, putting more pressure on nomads.

Consumers are buying cashmere, unaware of where it is coming from.

Retailer are increasing their fashion cycle and style changes to increase sales and demand for cashmere without necessarily knowing where the material is coming from and extension of desertification.

-Plan
The information I need to solve problem is a deep understanding of Mongolian geography and where they travel, getting a sense of their culture. The Mongolian manufacturing companies are important group to study to understand because of production and economy of cashmere. The foreign traders influence on the business of nomads and manufacture is another area to focus on understanding cashmere economy. The effect of desertification of the land is another topic that I need to understand too. I think it may be helpful to know about the indigenous plants that might grow on the land.
I started to gather the information by contacting the Mongolian Eco Forum organization In Japan. They gave me information about the nomad’s way of life, how they trade their cashmere and which place has been expanding desertification. They gave me information who I can contact in NY. I plan to contact cashmere traders and retailers to find out where they buy their material. I want to conduct a survey with consumer to know awareness of cashmere, for example, where it is from.