Bayarjargal Agvaantseren (49) from Mongolia first made local herders stop killing a rare species – then persuaded her government to create a huge nature reserve in the South Gobi and to cancel 37 mining licenses in the area, – all to protect the Mongolian snow leopard and its environment.
Her tireless campaigning turned the region into the 1.8 million-acre Tost Tosonbumba Nature Reserve, created specifically for snow leopard conservation.
First the former language teacher won over the local herder families, who were killing snow leopards to protect their livestock. She came up with the idea of a livestock insurance: Now when the big cats killed an animal, the herders got reimbursed.
Now the jury of Goldman Environmental Prize – presented for more than 30 years for grassroots environmental activities – has recognized her with one of their prestigious 2019 awards.
