In Mongolia, the agriculture sector contributed 13 3 percent of gross domestic product ( in 2017 the second largest sector following the mining sector The contribution of the livestock sector to the agriculture GDP was 88 percent Approximately 40 percent of the work force directly depends on the livestock sector and the sector is dominated by an extensive livestock production system dependent on access to grasslands and thus inherently vulnerable to climatic and natural resource management risks and climate change It has been estimated that average annual temperature in Mongolia increased two fold between 1940 and 2013 around three times the global average Climate change has a negative impact on animal productivity, animal health, biodiversity, the quality and amount of feed supply, and the carrying capacity of pastures It has also led to the outbreak of new and re emerging livestock diseases, and a change in disease patterns The absence of policy or market based mechanisms to control livestock numbers and a lack of awareness regarding rangeland degradation has led to increasing herd sizes, producing acute limitations of forage and increasing desertification In 2020 76 9 percent of Mongolia's territory was affected by desertification Permanent pastures and meadows occupy about 110 5 million ha 71 8 percent of the total territory of Mongolia) 65 percent of this pastureland is already degraded to some extent.