Conservation & Community
How Mongolian wildlife conservation safeguards societies鈥攏ot just species
Mongolia is a land of vast horizons, where falcons soar and nomadic herders continue centuries-old traditions. At the heart of this rugged country lies the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve鈥攁 sanctuary for both wildlife and people. But rising economic pressures, overgrazing, and poaching are putting this fragile balance at risk.
Conservation here isn鈥檛 just about saving endangered species鈥攊t鈥檚 about protecting a way of life in one of Earth鈥檚 last truly wild landscapes.
WHERE HERDERS AND WILDLIFE SHARE THE LAND
Despite having the world鈥檚 lowest population density, Mongolia is rich in culture. Nearly 40% of the nation鈥檚 workforce remains nomadic, including about 150 families living within Ikh Nart. Their livelihoods depend on a delicate rhythm鈥攎oving herds frequently, taking only what鈥檚 needed, and allowing the land to recover.
Ikh Nart spans nearly 670 square kilometers and is home to remarkable wildlife, including the endangered saker falcon and the argali sheep鈥攖he world鈥檚 largest wild sheep. But larger, commercialized herds, combined with climate change and illegal poaching, are straining this ecosystem. Overgrazing depletes pastures, leaving both wildlife and herders vulnerable.
.
A CONSERVATIONIST SHAPED BY TRADITION
Few people understand this balance more deeply than ecologist Gana Wingard. Raised near nomadic communities, Gana was guided by her grandfather, a Buddhist monk turned herder, who taught her: 鈥淭ake only what you need. Don鈥檛 harm plants or animals.鈥
That lesson inspired her career in ecology. Today, she leads conservation strategies that integrate science with local traditions, ensuring that solutions work for both communities and wildlife.
.
EARTHWATCH ON THE MONGOLIAN STEPPE
For nearly two decades, 美姬社区 has partnered with Gana and local communities through the Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe project. Together, we鈥檙e advancing research, improving conservation policies, and helping sustain nomadic traditions that depend on healthy ecosystems.
美姬社区 is good because it鈥檚 a long-term project. Many grants only fund two or three years and then move on. But conservation takes time. Thanks to 美姬社区, we鈥檝e done amazing work that would have been impossible without their support.
Gana Wingard
VOLUNTEERS POWERING GLOBAL IMPACT
美姬社区 expeditions thrive because of people. Volunteers from around the world join Gana鈥檚 team to track argali sheep with satellite collars, hike the steppe in search of marmots, and monitor vulture nests. These efforts produce critical data for conservation while building cultural connections that last a lifetime.
One volunteer from Japan described his journey as transformative. After surviving a serious illness, his first wish was to see Mongolia鈥檚 open land. On the steppe, he asked Gana if he could shout, 鈥淚鈥檓 happy!鈥 She smiled and encouraged him鈥攁nd the whole group echoed his joy into the vast sky. Moments like these remind us that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife.
.
FROM RESEARCH TO REAL-WORLD CHANGE
What began as a study of argali sheep has grown into a comprehensive effort to understand how wildlife, livestock, and people interact on the steppe. Findings now guide policies, inform sustainable herding practices, and support the next generation of conservation leaders.
To date, the project has produced more than 150 scientific papers, trained over 100 students, and inspired schoolchildren through workshops that connect them to the land and species around them. During the pandemic, Gana and her team even compiled 100 of these studies into a book鈥攖he largest collection of Mongolian-authored conservation research to date.
.
SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE鈥擣OR PEOPLE AND NATURE
Conservation in Mongolia is not just about protecting endangered species. It is about ensuring that nomadic traditions, wildlife, and ecosystems continue to thrive together. With support from 美姬社区 volunteers and researchers, communities in Ikh Nart are shaping a future where culture and nature are preserved side by side.
Because here, protecting wildlife means protecting a way of life.
You can be part of this story.
Join Wildlife of the Mongolian Steppe to support conservation firsthand鈥攖racking argali sheep, monitoring raptors, and working alongside local communities. Or, if Mongolia isn鈥檛 your destination, browse our full range of expeditions around the world and find the project that inspires you.
Sign up for the 美姬社区 Newsletter
Be the first to know about new expeditions, stories from the field, and exciting 美姬社区 news.
.
.
.