Update On The International Year Of Rangelands And Pastoralists

August 12, 2026

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There is lots happening around Australia and the world for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

IYRP August Theme

This month, the IYRP theme is Indigenous and local knowledge, culture and innovation with aims to: 

•  Recognise, value and equally respect indigenous and local knowledge of rangeland management.
• Help preserve knowledge and pass it down through generations.
• Celebrate cultural diversity and conserve cultural heritage of pastoralists.

The theme is discussed in further detail in the video found on the IYRP home page or via this direct link.

Major International Gatherings

Some major meetings related to the IYRP are being held this month including:

Global Pastoralist Gathering & Conference in Mongolia

In 2026, many pastoralists’ meetings and conferences have been held across regions worldwide. There is now a strong need to synthesize the outcomes and recommendations from these events and produce a unified global position and document.  A Global Pastoralist Gathering and Conference will be held in Mongolia from 10-15 August to consolidate and validate regional outcomes and elevate them to the global policy level. 

Objectives of the Gathering and Conference

• Consolidate and synthesize the outcomes of pastoralists’ gatherings and dialogues held across world regions.
• Develop a joint declaration and recommendations that reflect the priorities of pastoralists, including women and youth 
• Identify policy directions and cooperation mechanisms to support the sustainability of rangelands and pastoralism by governments and CSOs
• Present the consolidated document at the UNCCD COP 17 and globally within the framework of the celebration of IYRP 2026. 

Approximately 300 delegates from 102 countries that have supported the designation of the IYRP will be attending the gathering including Australians Dana Kelly (IYRP Australasian IYRP Chair and ARS member) along with Debbie and Ashley Dowden from Western Australia.

UNCCD-COP17 Conference

The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. The theme is “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”

COP17 will bring together representatives from 197 countries, as well as governments, businesses, community groups, scientists, young people, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists and small-scale farmers.

They will work together to find practical solutions to desertification, damaged land and drought. These challenges affect food and water supplies, livelihoods and communities around the world. Restoring healthy land can help communities cope with drought, reduce the risk of people being forced to leave their homes, and build safer and more resilient communities.

COP17 is also taking place during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists; this is an opportunity to highlight the importance of rangelands and to strengthen efforts to protect and restore them.  It is also a chance to recognise the pastoralist communities who depend on these lands for their livelihoods and whose knowledge and experience can help shape better ways to manage and restore them.

Australia

To help us spread the word about International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, there are a range of supporters, friends, and groups of pastoralists across Australia. These “Friends of IYRP” are enthusiastic about the potential of IYRP to advance Rangelands and Pastoralists across the country. 

IYRP Australia has appointed a few Champions who are promoting the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists through their networks including:

• Professor Ben Lyons – Executive Director of the Institute for Agriculture, Climate and Environment at the University of Southern Queensland
• Dr Anika Molesworth – widely recognized for her work in promoting sustainable farming, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture and one of the founders of Farmers for Climate Action
• Luke Chaplian – founder of SkyKelpie and pioneer in the use of drones for livestock mustering

Contact Dana Kelly (iyrp.australianchair@gmail.com) if you would like to be involved in any of the IYRP activities