Three winners were selected out of 35 shortlisted photographs from around the world. These captivating images of rangelands and their communities are on exhibit online and at GLF Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya (28 April 2026) – Today, the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) announces the three winners of its GLF Photography Awards 2026, celebrating rangelands from across the world and the pastoralists who steward them.
The finalists and the other 32 shortlisted entries are now on exhibit online and will be showcased at GLF Africa 2026, highlighting their aesthetic beauty and the stories behind them.
Rangelands are ecosystems that are grazed by livestock or wildlife and can take the form of grasslands, savannas, woodlands, shrublands, deserts or even tundra. They cover 54% of the Earth’s land surface and support some 2 billion livelihoods worldwide.
These images, selected from nearly 600 submissions, are testimony to everyday moments in these ecosystems and their communities across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
“It was very difficult to score with such good images shortlisted in the competition.” – Mayuresh Hendre, filmmaker, photographer and judge at the GLF Photography Awards 2026.
THE WINNERS
Chosen based on their creativity, photographic quality, composition and execution of the Awards theme, the three winners will receive a cash prize, and their entries will be showcased at several GLF and partner events throughout the year.
1st Prize: “Gold rush,” taken by Vivek Goyal in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. “I hope this image encourages people to look beyond the postcard scenery and recognize the gaucho – and the millions of pastoralists like her around the world – as essential stewards of some of our most precious ecosystems.”
2nd Prize: “The golden moment of the plains,” taken by Myo Minn Aung in Bagan, Myanmar. “I took this photograph to document the authenticity of rural life and the deep connection between people, grazing lands and the natural environment.”
Popular Vote: “The herders of thousands of Merak village cows,” taken by Ahmad Wahyudi in Merak, located in Baluran National Park, Situbondo Regency, Indonesia. “This moment was photographed spontaneously and candidly in the morning when the shepherd and his cows were walking towards the Baluran forest. It occurred in a very remote area, rarely seen by outsiders.”
THE JUDGES
- Carlos Espinosa, Documentary Filmmaker and Conservation Photographer (Ecuador)
- Edliadi Mokhammad, Senior Digital Producer at the Global Landscapes Forum (Indonesia)
- Mayuresh Hendre, Wildlife Filmmaker, Photographer and Naturalist (India)
- Victoria Wanjohi, Wildlife Conservation Scientist, Natural World Filmmaker and Storyteller (Kenya)
“Being a judge for the GLF Photography Awards 2026 was an insight on how rangelands and pastoralism are global and very diverse. Photographers came in with creativity, and you could see the passion and determination in the photos, all seeking to tell a story of not just why we need to protect rangelands but how it is a livelihood that many communities across the world depend on.” – Victoria Wanjohi, filmmaker, storyteller and judge at the GLF Photography Awards 2026.
Discover more about the winners of the GLF Photography Awards 2026 in an upcoming feature article on ThinkLandscape this Friday, 1 May, 2026, and learn more about rangelands and how to catch the Awards photo exhibition at GLF Africa 2026.
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NOTE TO EDITORS
- For more information, please contact Kelly Quintero (k.quintero@cifor-icraf.org)
- Press passes for GLF Africa 2026 are available for journalists and news content creators with a strong track record of relevant publications. Please contact Kelly (see above)
- Learn more about rangelands in the GLF Africa 2026 concept note
- Explore more GLF updates in our media room
ABOUT THE GLF
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable and resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.
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