Mandakh Nyamtseren – senior researcher, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Mongolia Ms Mandakh Nyamtseren graduated from the Irkutsk State University, Russia, in 2001 and since then, worked at the Institute of Geography and Geoecology as a research assistant to senior researcher. The major field of her research is desertification mapping and assessment, landscape ecology, land degradation and restoration, and land policy. In 2018 she defended her PhD at the National University of Mongolia, majoring in physical geography. During her research career, she published 8 books and more than 20 research papers and has participated in implementing international and bilateral projects and programs. The major outcomes include the development of the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification in Mongolia, National reports to UNCCD and UNFCCC, and various thematic maps supporting planning and implementation actions for biodiversity conservation, restoring land degradation and mitigating climate change targets. The latest accomplishment is related to developing National Target to Achieve Land Degradation Neutrality in Mongolia.