Photo courtesy of Mandukhai Tsogtbal
Mandukhai Tsogtbal is a sustainable landscapes expert and sustainability entrepreneur who is working to organize Voice of the Desert, a sporting and scientific expedition across Eurasia that is leading up to the Conference of Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Mongolia. In a GEF Voices interview, she shared what she has learned from people living in harsh conditions about resilience, balance, and stewardship.
What do you do for a living?
I am the Chairwoman of Green Mongolia Hub, a UNCCD-accredited organization working on climate resilience, land restoration, and sustainable pastoralism in Mongolia and across dryland regions. I am also an entrepreneur working in green technology, renewable energy, and sustainability-focused initiatives.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, much of my focus is on preparing for UNCCD COP17, which Mongolia will host in August 2026, and coordinating a large, Mongolia-led regional initiative called Voice of the Desert that is leading up to this event.
Voice of the Desert began with a 120-day endurance expedition across about 16,000 kilometers of Eurasian drylands, led by ultra-runner B. Budjargal. Along the route, an international research team is studying land degradation, livelihoods, and climate pressures reshaping the region. The goal is for every kilometre to become a story that resonates and inspires improved long-term stewardship of dryland ecosystems.
How did you get into this line of work?
I grew up in Mongolia, where land is deeply connected to people’s lives and identity. Over the years, I witnessed how environmental degradation, water scarcity, and air pollution increasingly affected both urban and rural communities. My professional journey began in entrepreneurship and business, but gradually I realized that long-term economic development cannot be separated from environmental sustainability and social resilience. That understanding pushed me toward cooperative climate action. I also became increasingly inspired by the resilience and wisdom of pastoral communities living in harsh dryland ecosystems. Their relationship with land, water, and nature taught me that sustainability is not only technical — it is also cultural, human, and deeply emotional.
Is there a GEF-funded project or program that is close to your heart?
One initiative especially close to my heart is the Drynet Civil Society for Land Degradation Neutrality Mentorship Program, which is supported through GEF. Through this experience, I connected with mentors, civil society leaders, and restoration practitioners from dryland regions around the world. It helped me understand desertification's connection to livelihoods, migration, biodiversity, and social stability.
Photo courtesy of Mandukhai Tsogtbal
Has anyone you have met through your work made a lasting impact on you?
Many people have deeply influenced me. The strongest impacts come from local communities, herders, restoration practitioners, and ordinary people living in difficult environmental conditions. One particularly powerful experience for me was watching a documentary produced by Naminchimed Baasan about an 11-year-old herder boy living in one of the most remote regions of the Mongolian Gobi. The documentary was raw, emotional, and deeply human. It reminded me that environmental discussions are ultimately about dignity, culture, and future generations.
What life lessons has your job taught you?
One important lesson is that real change takes long-term commitment. Environmental restoration does not happen overnight. Building trust and cooperation takes years. Another lesson is that technical solutions alone are not enough. Lasting change happens when science, local knowledge, policy, and community participation work together.
I have also learned that hope is extremely important. When people lose hope, restoration becomes impossible. But when people feel connected, empowered, and involved, even small actions can create meaningful transformation.
The state of the global environment is concerning. What gives you hope?
What gives me hope is people — especially young people, local communities, restoration practitioners, and civil society organizations who continue working despite difficulties. I am also hopeful because environmental awareness is becoming more human-focused. We are beginning to understand that restoring land is not only about ecosystems, but also about protecting culture, livelihoods, and future generations. I also believe dryland regions hold wisdom for the future. People who live in harsh environments often understand resilience, balance, and stewardship in ways the modern world urgently needs to rediscover.
What advice would you give a young person today who is interested in a career like yours?
Do not be afraid to work across disciplines. The world’s environmental challenges are interconnected, so solutions also need to connect science, community, policy, and creativity. Spend time listening to people on the ground. Some of the most valuable knowledge does not come from reports or conferences, but from local communities and lived experiences. And finally, stay hopeful and keep moving forward even when progress feels slow. Environmental work can sometimes feel overwhelming, but meaningful change often begins with small actions and relationship-building.
