HER Planet Earth Completes a Monumental 100km Expedition Across the Gobi Desert to Combat Climate Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Singapore, 25 March 2024 - In an inspiring testament to human resilience and dedication to environmental conservation, the HER Planet Earth team successfully completed a challenging 100km journey through the Winter Gobi Desert. This extraordinary expedition was not only a demonstration of endurance but also a vibrant celebration of Mongolian culture at the local Camel Festival.
Amid the eternal frost of the Gobi, the team experienced the unparalleled hospitality of nomadic families and the awe-inspiring beauty of the desert's landscapes. Their journey was enriched by collaborations with The Nature Conservancy Mongolia and meetings with influential women leaders in the Omnogovi province, highlighting the critical role of community in the face of global environmental challenges.
This expedition underscored the team's commitment to addressing the escalating climate crisis and served as a call to action for collective efforts in conservation. Through their journey, they have not only forged a deep connection with the spirit of Mongolia but also spotlighted the indispensable role of women and local communities in environmental advocacy.
In a significant stride towards sustaining their conservation efforts, the team has raised USD $50,000 for The Nature Conservancy (TNC). These funds are earmarked for empowering local communities and safeguarding Mongolia's exquisite natural heritage, proving that the journey towards environmental resilience continues well beyond the expedition.
Looking ahead, HER Planet Earth is poised to amplify their message through a documentary screening, with details to be announced. This film will showcase the breathtaking landscapes of the Gobi, the expedition's poignant moments, and the urgent need for continued support in the fight against climate change.
The Cause
Supporting TNC's extensive work across the world, the HER Planet Earth expedition's contributions are set to fortify conservation in Mongolia. The funds will bolster women's roles in the community through handicraft training and propel forward-thinking livestock management research. These initiatives promote sustainability and the wellbeing of herding families, ensuring they can continue to thrive alongside the flora and fauna of this vast region.
"Our commitment mirrors the persistence of the Gobi's sand-carved landscapes," stated Christine Amour-Levar, Founder of HER Planet Earth. "The expedition embodies the unyielding spirit of the women who dare to brave the elements, mirroring their journey with our collective stride towards sustainability, empowerment, and conservation."
Filming
The forthcoming documentary will feature the vision of award-winning filmmaker Jacqui Hocking, whose dedication to purpose-driven storytelling has captured global attention. As the Winter Gobi Desert Expedition brings Mongolia's conservation needs into focus, the film will spotlight the challenges faced by these ecosystems and the communities dependent on them. The narrative also ties into the Eternal Mongolia Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative, an innovative scheme to ensure continued protection for Mongolia's precious natural habitats.
Why the Gobi?
The Gobi Desert, spanning across Mongolia and China, was chosen for its unique combination of challenge and beauty. It is the largest, as well as the coldest desert in Asia, and the fifth largest in the world. The Gobi’s unique ecosystem is renowned for its stunning natural formations, as well as real dinosaur fossils and endemic flora and fauna. Prominent landforms include sand hills and dunes, dry mountain slopes, gravelly steppes, rocky hills, saxaul forests, dry riverbeds, and more. Situated to the north and high up around 1,500m above sea level, the Gobi is a cold desert with extreme weather conditions. Indeed, as one of the harshest deserts globally, the Gobi provided a testing ground for the HER Planet Earth all-female team, riding Bactrian camels across its vast expanse. The expedition not only aimed to showcase the resilience of women but also emphasised the importance of environmental conservation in fragile ecosystems.
This journey through the Gobi Desert underscores the significance of preserving Mongolian herding communities and their delicate balance between tradition and conservation. The stark beauty of the Gobi serves as a backdrop to the mission's core objectives: empowering local women, advancing conservation efforts, and fostering sustainable practices.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About HER Planet Earth
Founded in 2017, HER Planet Earth is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Singapore that aims to empower women to mitigate climate change. One of its core objectives is to inspire more women to become policymakers and agents of change to achieve social and economic equity and a healthy and thriving planet. HER Planet Earth organises challenging, often pioneering, self-funded expeditions around the world to increase awareness on environmental degradation and raise funds for programmes that empower and educate underprivileged women affected by climate change - ultimately helping them build climate change resilience. The organisation partners with nature lovers, environmentalists, scientists, polar explorers, adventurers, women’s rights advocates, corporates, tech entrepreneurs, feminists and charities that have programmes and structures in place dedicated to building a deeper connection between gender equality, genuinely sustainable development, and the protection of the environment.
Team Profiles
The HER Planet Earth Gobi Desert 2024 Adventure team comprises fifteen intrepid women from varied nationalities and walks of life. United by their professional successes and a shared passion for environmental stewardship and women's empowerment, their bios can be accessed here.
Support the Mission
To contribute to this essential mission, please visit the team’s fundraising page here.
For media inquiries, please reach out to connect@herplanetearth.com
