The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (IYRP2026) provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of rangelands and pastoralists, advocating for increased responsible investment and adapted policies for the pastoral sector. This includes sustainable land management practices, improved or restored ecosystems, and equitable access to markets, livestock health and breeding.
It calls for policies that secure pastoralists’ access to land and natural resources, support mobility, and promote customary and inclusive governance, while encouraging adequate investments in rangeland management, ecosystem restoration, animal health services, and equitable value chains.
The Year also aims to foster inclusive policy dialogue and collaborative engagement to improve pastoralist livelihoods and sustainable rangeland management. Rangelands and pastoralists have great potential to contribute and deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rangelands are lands dominated by grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, shrubs, and sometimes trees that are grazed or have the potential to be grazed by livestock and wildlife. They cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface and sustain millions of pastoralists, support biodiversity, and help protect our planet.
Pastoralists are people whose livelihoods mainly rely on domesticated and semi-domesticated animals that graze predominantly on rangelands. They support food security, safeguard biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and preserve cultural heritage.