2026 International Year

of Rangelands and Pastoralists

About 2026 IYRP

In recognition of the vital importance of rangelands and the communities who steward them, the United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

Rangelands, which cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface, sustain a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life and provide essential ecosystem services, from carbon storage and soil health to water regulation. These vast landscapes are also home to millions of pastoralists whose lives and livelihoods are closely intertwined with the health and productivity of these environments.

Pastoralists raise livestock in ways that are deeply adapted to local conditions, contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, and rural economies. Beyond food production, pastoralist communities safeguard rich cultural traditions, languages, and systems of local and Indigenous knowledge. Their time-tested practices support biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management, helping to maintain resilient ecosystems in some of the world’s most fragile and climate-vulnerable regions.

IYRP 2026 offers a global opportunity to elevate the visibility of these landscapes and communities, promote sustainable management practices, and strengthen policies and partnerships that secure their future for generations to come.

Rangelands in focus.

The Coalition of Action for Soil Health and its members offer a range of tools and resources to support sustainable rangeland management.

From practical guidance and data platforms to research insights and community-driven approaches, these resources are designed to strengthen soil health, support pastoralist livelihoods, and promote resilient rangeland ecosystems.

The Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), is a comprehensive method first developed and implemented by World Agroforestry (ICRAF) scientists in Mali in 2005.

It provides a science-based field protocol for measuring land and soil characteristics, as well as vegetation composition and land degradation status over time.

This field manual describes the LDSF field survey methods and is designed to be used in training and as a reference in field during survey campaigns.

Download the LDSF Field Manual

Visit the LDSF website

Our 2026 Rangelands Heroes

Dr. Leigh Winowiecki

Global Research Leader: Soil and Land Health at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Co-lead Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH)

“Rangelands are often overlooked, yet they sit at the intersection of soil health, climate resilience, and livelihoods. Healthy rangeland soils store carbon, support biodiversity, and sustain the pastoralist communities who depend on them every day. Investing in rangelands is therefore an investment in people, ecosystems, and long-term resilience.”

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Igshaan Samuels

Co-chair Global Alliance for Rangelands and Pastoralists for IYRP
"Rangelands and the pastoralists who manage them, do not only bring benefits to local communities, but to the global society in general. Hence, a global effort such as the IYRP is needed to create awareness on these benefits and work collectively to ensure resilient rangelands and sustainable pastoral systems for humanity to survive."

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Leonie Meier

WWF Deutschland Global Lead Ecosystem Restoration and Grasslands & Savannahs
“Covering up to 40% of the Earth’s land, grasslands and savannahs are the planet’s largest terrestrial biome and a vital reservoir of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Sustaining pastoralist communities is therefore central to conserving these increasingly transformed landscapes—protecting wildlife, ecological processes, and the cultures that have kept rangelands alive for centuries.”

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Zvikomborero Tangawamira

Herding for Health Senior Programme Manager
"Pastoralists are nature's stewards. Their practice mimics natural systems, building healthy soils that drive better water retention, carbon storage, and regeneration of degraded lands. This year, we recognise this practice for what it delivers - coexistence that enables both nature and people to thrive, moving us from simple traditions to strategic interventions that strengthen global systems, from food and health to resilient economic opportunities."

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