The United Nations adopted on 15 March 2022 the resolution proclaiming 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. The text highlights the connections between pastoralism and diverse ecosystems, cultures, and traditional knowledge of coexistence with nature. It also recognizes the importance of maintaining well managed grasslands to ensure the sustainable management of pastoralism and the economic growth connected with these practices.

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) in 2026 should contribute to raising awareness on the benefits of pastoralism but also on the challenges faced by the extensive livestock sector. In particular, the resolution calls on the United Nations Member States to further support practices linked with sustainable land management, ecosystem restauration and market access.

In order to raise awareness on pastoralism, all stakeholders are invited to observe the International Year in 2026, including public authorities, civil society organisations, private bodies and academia. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will facilitate the implementation of the IYRP.

In June 2021, Euromontana called for the adoption of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists during the conference “Pastoralism: a crucial way to tackle sustainability challenges in EU and beyond“ organised by the European Committee of the Regions, with the support of Euromontana, the Yolda Initiative and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) Regional Support Group for Europe.

Euromontana therefore welcomes the adoption of the resolution at the United Nations and invites all stakeholders to mobilise in 2026 to give strong visibility to pastoralism. In a context where existing policy frameworks are not sufficiently supportive of pastoral practices, as several recent reports have shown, Euromontana also urges European decision makers to adopt an Action Plan for Pastoralism with concrete measures to support the continuation of the sustainable and extensive practices which are intrinsic to pastoralism.