WE ARE NON-PROFIT NGO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE DO
ecoDevshilt NGO generate all activities for the preservation of pristine Nature of Hovsgol Lake National Park and unique lifestyle of nomads.
Our mission is to fund educational and awareness programs and to develop a practical, sustainable, and inclusive waste management system in Hovsgol Lake National Park, which will serve as a pilot model for implementation across Mongolia. We also aim to strengthen local economic structures and practices across key sectors—tourism, waste management, and agriculture—through community-driven development. Our approach aligns with the principles of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, promoting a sustainable balance between economic growth and environmental conservation.
ecoDevshilt NGO promotes and supports all the activities for the natural development of the environment preserving the future of Nature. We do this via ultra-marathon Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset fundraising and collaboration with different organizations, individuals and NGOs.
Everything we do focuses on education, innovation, progress and action.
OUR GOALS
To ensure waste management remains at the heart of environmental wellbeing, ecoDevshilt carries out the following key projects:
- Organize the annual ultra-marathon Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset in Hovsgol Lake National Park as a fundraiser and awareness-building event
- Operate garbage collection and garbage transportation in Hosvgol Lake National Park
- Conduct awareness campaign and professional trainings to educate local residents, government organizations and officials, kindergarten and schools, business organizations, tourist and ger camps operating in Hovsgol Lake National Park and Hatgal village
- Develop and implement a waste management and recycling system for Hosvgol Lake National Park as a pilot system throughout Mongolia
Our ongoing project aims to integrate community-driven approaches that align with the principles of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The following key focus areas guide our work:
Economic Diversification
- 145 nomadic individuals will gain income from hospitality, greenhouse vegetable production, and yak milk processing.
- A greenhouse cooperative will be established, with expanded production and market access for 45 yak milk suppliers.
Hospitality Skills Development
- 90 local people (including at least 45 women) will be trained and employed in ger camps as hospitality staff, enhancing employment inclusivity and seasonal income.
Waste Management Expansion
- A further 3,000 residents will gain access to proper waste management systems, including composting and recycling.
- A new waste collection and sorting center will be established in Mankhan with permanent staff.
Green Star Certification Growth
- More ger camps will meet sustainable tourism standards and receive Green Star certification, helping to position the region as an eco-friendly destination.
- Environmental Awareness
- 850 schoolchildren and adults will be educated on sustainable waste practices.
- ED’s hotline, online platforms, and outreach materials will ensure 6,000 people are informed and engaged in environmental stewardship.
MONGOLIA SUNRISE TO SUNSET ULTRA-MARATHON
The fundraising ultra-marathon Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset has been organized and promoted since 1999. If you would like to read and learn more about the marathon please visit our website www.ms2s.org
THE GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND
GLOBAL NATURE FUND
From September 2020 the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Global Nature Fund has granted ecoDevshilt NGO a partial funding to expand activities of waste management. This project includes a major national awareness and media campaign over the next 3 years to educate Mongolian citizens to preserve natural resources through waste reduction, separation and recycling.
Global Nature Fund (“GNF”) is a non-profit, private, independent international foundation founded in spring in 1998 in Berlin with the objective to foster the protection of nature and environment as well as animals.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Mongolia began their development cooperation since 1991/1992, after the country underwent a political and economic transition. Germany is currently the third biggest bilateral donor, after Japan and South Korea, and the most important European partner for Mongolia. Germany is currently supporting eleven Mongolian nature reserves, which are located in the north, east and centre of the country. Priority areas of cooperation are (i) improving the management of protected areas, (ii) developing management and business plans, and (iii) financing infrastructure projects. Creating income opportunities for the people living in close proximity to the protected areas, for example through tourism, is a way to help reduce poverty in rural areas.
ECODEVSHILT NGO BOARD
Nicolas Musy
Chairman of the Board
Nicolas is a Physics Engineer from Switzerland who has been based in China since the
1990s where he runs an own industrial project management company and a precision
mechanical production operation. Nicolas discovered a passion for nature, hiking and trail
running when living in the urban jungles of Shanghai. He has run the Everest Marathon in
Nepal and the Hong Kong Trailwalker and finished the first Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset 100
km. He has run in each of the Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset since. Nicolas first visited Hovsgol
in 1996 and he has returned for business and horse or hiking treks every year since 1997.
Steen Holck
Board Member
Steen is an international nomad with Danish background and gens. A traveller from early
child following his United Nations expatiate parents. Having grown up, lived and worked
everywhere from Australia to Zambia. Steen is now an hotelier by trade and currently based in Denmark.
Steen first joined the MS2S in 2001 as an alternative to smoking and
once there Hovsgol and Mongolia became part of him. Steen initially help raise funds for the
environmental and cultural activities of MS2S and in 2009 Steen helped establish ecoLeap
foundation registered in Geneva, Switzerland which is now the umbrella for the activities of
MS2S and its philanthropic activities.
Tyler Pike
Board Member
Tyler developed an interest in ultrarunning and in Mongolia during his 7 years of living in
urban/industrial cities in China. His friendships with Nicolas and the other like minded people
led to the development of the MS2S. Tyler has since then become a regular participant in the
event, and serves as one of the race organizers. He now lives in Sydney Australia and
competes in triathlons there, and has developed a passion for yoga, and has been teaching
yoga for over ten years (sometimes running classes for the runners of the MS2S!). Tyler is a
Sinologist and teaches Chinese language and literature at the University of Sydney
Bernhard Hagen
BOARD MEMBER
Bernhard is Austrian and lives both in Shanghai and Austria. After studying in Innsbruck and
New Orleans and working in PR firms for a couple of years, Bernhard started a PR company
specializing in international B2B press releases. In 2011, he began to support the Mongolia
Sunrise to Sunset with press releases and realized many articles in international running and
outdoor magazines. For Bernhard, the first trip to Lake Hovsgol (and the first marathon) was
not less than life-changing. He stayed involved, helped the communication efforts of MS2S to
further promote the race and the environmental projects and joined the organizing team in
2013.
S. Shurengerel
Board Member
For 22 years, EcoDevshilt NGO has been contributing its effort to protect the environment and voluntarily collecting, transporting and disposing abandoned waste on the west shore of Lake Hovsgol. From 2020, we have expanded our activities in cooperation with German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Global Nature Fund to implement project “Protecting the ecosystem of the Lake Hovsgol National Park through waste management” involving local households and organizations on waste management, waste reduction and sorting waste at source.
Sh.Purevdorj
Project Operations Executive
1984- 1986 Inspector at Labor and social security department of Hovsgol province
administration
– 1986-1990 Organized at Hovsgol Province administrative department
– 1990- 1991Head of Department of State Development of Hovsgol Province
Administration
– 1991- current Director of Hovsgol travel LLC
B. Uugankhuu
Board Member
Certificate of training conducted by the Corporate governance development center of Mongolia for the “Directors of Board and Secretary of the Board of Directors”
License to work in investment sector, granted by Mongolian association of Securities Dealers and Financial regulatory commission.
Certificate of “Procurement workshop for effective project implementation conducted by ADB: Strengthening of Public Procurement for Improved Project Implementation”
Certificate of “Fundamentals of Result-focused Project Design and Monitoring”.
Certificate A3 of the Law of Mongolia on Procurement of Goods, Works, and Services with State and Local Funds