Nairobi, Kenya — Three photographers from Chile, Myanmar and Indonesia have been named winners of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Photography Awards 2026, in a competition designed to highlight the landscapes and communities sustaining some of the world’s most vital ecosystems.
The awards, announced on Monday in Nairobi, celebrate rangelands — vast grazing ecosystems that include grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts and tundra. According to organisers, these areas cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface and support the livelihoods of around two billion people worldwide.
The winning images were selected from nearly 600 submissions, with 35 photographs shortlisted from entries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. All finalists are now being exhibited online and will also feature at GLF Africa 2026 in Nairobi.
Organisers said the competition aimed to bring global attention to landscapes often overlooked in environmental debates, despite their central role in biodiversity, food systems and rural economies.
“It was very difficult to score with such good images shortlisted in the competition,” said judge Mayuresh Hendre, a filmmaker and photographer.
First prize: Patagonia’s hidden stewards
The top award went to Indian photographer Vivek Goyal for Gold Rush, captured in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.
The image focuses not only on the dramatic scenery of southern Chile, but also on the human presence within it — a gaucho tending livestock in one of the world’s most iconic open landscapes.
Goyal said he hoped the photograph would encourage viewers to look beyond “postcard scenery” and recognise pastoral workers as custodians of fragile ecosystems.
Second prize: Rural rhythms in Myanmar
Second place was awarded to The Golden Moment of the Plains, photographed by Myo Minn Aung in Bagan, Myanmar.
The image captures daily life unfolding across grazing lands bathed in warm light, reflecting the close relationship between people, livestock and the environment.
Aung said he wanted to document “the authenticity of rural life and the deep connection between people, grazing lands and the natural environment”.
Popular vote: Indonesia’s morning procession
The public vote winner was The Herders of Thousands of Merak Village Cows, taken by Ahmad Wahyudi in Merak, within Baluran National Park in Indonesia’s Situbondo Regency.
The photograph shows herders moving cattle through a remote landscape at dawn.
Wahyudi described the scene as spontaneous and rarely witnessed by outsiders, saying it was captured in an isolated area where traditional pastoral routines continue largely unseen.
Why rangelands matter
Though frequently associated with livestock production, rangelands are increasingly recognised for their importance in climate resilience, wildlife conservation and indigenous livelihoods.
Many of these areas are managed by pastoralist and mobile communities whose knowledge systems have evolved over generations. Conservation groups argue that stronger recognition of those communities is essential to sustainable land stewardship.
Judge Victoria Wanjohi said the entries revealed how diverse rangelands are across continents, while underscoring how many communities depend on them.
“The photos were 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,” she said.
Nairobi exhibition
The shortlisted photographs will be showcased during GLF Africa 2026 in Nairobi, where policymakers, researchers, conservationists and local communities are expected to discuss the future of African landscapes and rural livelihoods.
A longer feature on the winners is due to be published by ThinkLandscape on 1 May.
About the Author
