UN Declares 2026 as International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists’, highlighting the ecological, economic and cultural importance of rangelands and the communities that depend on them.

FAO to Lead Global Observance
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will serve as the lead agency for the International Year, working in collaboration with other UN bodies, governments, civil society organisations and pastoralist groups worldwide.

What are Rangelands?
Rangelands cover around half of the Earth’s land surface and include diverse ecosystems such as:

• Grasslands and savannas
• Shrublands and deserts
• Wetlands and mountain regions

Prominent examples include the Central Asian steppes, African savannas, the Alps and Pyrenees in Europe, the Andes in South America, and the Great Plains of the United States.

Brazil’s Cerrado Under Stress
Brazil hosts one of the world’s most biodiverse savannahs, the Cerrado, which is home to eight of Brazil’s 12 major water systems, including the São Francisco and Tocantins river basins.
However, the Cerrado is under severe threat, facing twice the rate of rangeland loss compared to the Amazon rainforest, driven by human activities and climate change.

Role of Pastoralists
Pastoralists are recognised as key custodians of rangeland ecosystems. Globally, they manage around one billion animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, camelids, yaks, horses, reindeer and buffaloes.
Their practices contribute to:

• Food and livelihood security
• Conservation of ecosystems
• Preservation of cultural heritage
• Protection of local and Indigenous knowledge systems