United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at its 76th Session, has proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) through Resolution A/RES/76/253.
The initiative aims to highlight the critical contribution of rangelands and pastoralist communities to food security, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable agrifood systems. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is the lead agency for coordinating global celebrations and actions.
Other UN International Years for 2026
International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026)
→ Focus on gender equality in agrifood systems.
International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026)
→ Recognises volunteers’ role in achieving SDGs.
Objectives of IYRP 2026
- Raise global awareness about the ecological, economic, and cultural value of rangelands.
- Recognise pastoralists as custodians of fragile ecosystems.
- Promote responsible investments and pastoral-friendly policies.
- Support secure access to land, mobility, and customary governance systems.
- Encourage sustainable rangeland management, ecosystem restoration, and animal health services.
- Contribute directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Why IYRP 2026 Matters
1. Ecological Importance
- Rangelands cover over one-third of Earth’s land surface.
- Act as major carbon sinks, often storing more carbon below ground than forests.
- Support water regulation, soil conservation, and ecosystem resilience.
2. Livelihood & Food Security
- Sustain millions of pastoralists worldwide.
- Support grazing of nearly 1 billion livestock animals (sheep, goats, cattle, camels, yaks, reindeer, horses).
3. Climate Resilience
- Pastoral mobility helps communities adapt to climate variability.
- Indigenous knowledge supports low-emission, nature-based livelihoods.
Who are Pastoralists?
Pastoralists are communities whose livelihoods depend primarily on livestock grazing on natural rangelands, often in climate-vulnerable regions.
| Community | Region | Major Livestock |
| Maasai | East Africa (Savanna) | Cattle, goats, sheep |
| Mongolian Nomads | Central Asia (Steppes) | Horses, sheep, goats, camels, yaks |
| Bedouin | Middle East & North Africa (Deserts) | Camels, goats, sheep |
| Sami | Northern Europe & Russia (Tundra) | Reindeer |
| Raikas / Rebaris | Rajasthan & Gujarat (Banni Grasslands) | Camels, sheep, goats |
Rangelands: Key Facts
- Ecosystems include grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts, wetlands, and mountain areas.
- Examples:
- African Savanna
- Central Asian Steppes
- Great Plains (USA)
- Andes (South America)
- ~30% of global soil organic carbon is stored in rangelands.
- Nearly 50% of rangelands are degraded due to climate stress, land-use change, and overexploitation.
FAO’s Role in IYRP 2026
- IYRP was approved by UNGA in 2022, spearheaded by Mongolia and supported by 60 Member States.
- FAO will mobilise political, technical, and financial commitments to:
- Secure land and governance rights for pastoralists.
- Scale up sustainable rangeland management.
- Strengthen livestock value chains.
- Restore degraded rangeland ecosystems.
Key FAO Initiatives
- Pastoralist Knowledge Hub – Global platform for knowledge exchange.
- Voluntary Guidelines for Responsible Governance of Tenure.
- GEF-7 Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program.
- DAD-IS (Domestic Animal Diversity Information System) – Conservation of indigenous livestock breeds.
- Disease control initiatives like Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) eradication.
India & Rangelands
- India’s grasslands are governed by nearly 18 Ministries, leading to fragmented governance.
- Policy contradiction:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change promotes afforestation.
- Wasteland Atlas of India often categorises grasslands for diversion.
- Way Forward:
- Integrated inter-ministerial approach aligned with UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD.
- Recognising grasslands as carbon sinks can help India expand its NDC carbon-sink targets beyond forests.
- Supports climate mitigation and ecosystem-based adaptation by 2030.