Guardians of the Gobi: Tradition, Climate & Conservation in Mongolia

n this powerful installment of our Mongolia series, host Mike McMahon and co-host Diana Kruzman sit down with Dr. Tungalag Ulambayar (Tunga), Director of ZSL Mongolia and one of the country’s leading conservation voices.

Raised by her grandparents in the Gobi Desert, Tunga’s childhood as a herder shaped her lifelong commitment to protecting Mongolia’s fragile ecosystems. From drawing clocks in the snow while tending livestock to leading national conservation initiatives, her story bridges tradition, resilience, and modern environmental science.

The conversation explores Mongolia’s dramatic transition from socialism to a market economy, the privatization of livestock, devastating dzud climate disasters, biodiversity policy reform, and the evolving role of community-based conservation.

Tunga offers deep insight into how traditional Mongolian environmental customs—rooted in the Yasa laws of Chinggis Khan—intersect with modern global conservation frameworks.

This episode is a rare and inspiring look at how culture, climate, and policy collide on the frontlines of environmental change.

Why You Should Listen
-Learn how Mongolia transitioned from state-managed cooperatives to privatized herding — and the ecological consequences.
-Understand the devastating impact of dzud (extreme winter climate events) on herders and wildlife.
-Discover conservation efforts protecting snow leopards, wild camels, and steppe ecosystems.
-Explore how traditional Mongolian customs inform modern sustainability.
-Hear insider insights on environmental law reform and biodiversity policy gaps.
-Gain perspective on how systemic transformation happens after political and economic upheaval.

This episode blends lived experience, climate science, policy, and cultural wisdom into one deeply human story.