81-Year-Old Park Ranger and Herder Batmunkh Luvsandash Wins the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for Mongolia

(Photo credit to The Goldman Environmental Prize Organization)

Batmunkh Luvsandash, an 81-year-old park ranger and herder, has been awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize for his tireless efforts to protect Mongolia’s fragile desert ecosystems. He is the second recipient from Mongolia to receive this prestigious international award.

Born in Khuvsgul soum, located in the eastern Gobi Desert of Dornogobi Province, Batmunkh has always considered himself incredibly fortunate to have grown up in such a breathtaking part of the world. The Eastern Gobi is unlike anywhere else—characterized by high desert steppe, windswept mountains, and vast grasslands that have sustained nomadic herders for generations. This land is rich in both biodiversity and natural resources, home to numerous endangered species and valuable mineral deposits.

Batmunkh’s journey as an environmental protector began while working for a mining company. There, he witnessed firsthand how illegal mining was devastating the land, turning vibrant ecosystems into lifeless stretches of dead soil. This deeply troubled him and sparked his lifelong commitment to conservation.

Determined to save his homeland, Batmunkh spent over 15 years campaigning to establish a protected area in Dornogobi Province. His efforts paid off in April 2022 with the official creation of a 66,000-acre protected zone—an area now safeguarding vital habitats for Argali sheep, 75% of the world’s population of the endangered Asiatic wild ass, and a rich variety of endemic plant species. This new sanctuary joins tens of thousands of adjacent acres already protected by Batmunkh and his allies, forming a critical barrier against Mongolia’s rapidly expanding mining operations. (according to the Goldman Prize Organization)

In his moving and humble acceptance speech, Batmunkh shared:

“I’ve always felt a sincere desire to protect the beautiful nature of my native Dornogobi. This heartfelt passion led me to explore the desert on foot and horseback, hand-draw maps, meet hundreds of people, and study countless environmental laws over 15 years. That is how the 66,000-acre protected area came to be—and why I’m here today receiving this award.
It wasn’t just my effort. Many people helped make this possible.
What we must do now is leave behind clean air, a healthy environment, and this beautiful marble-blue Earth for future generations. We come and go from this Earth. Don’t be greedy for wealth—explore, cherish, and protect the Earth.”

Batmunkh Luvsandash’s story is a reminder that even in the face of industrial pressure and environmental degradation, one person’s unwavering dedication can make an extraordinary difference.