IWTO Supports the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists – 2026

Rangelands cover more than half of Earth’s land surface and are home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. In recognition of their vital role in global food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate action, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

IWTO is proud to be a Friend of the IYRP, supporting this important initiative that highlights the essential connection between healthy rangelands, pastoral communities, and sustainable natural fibre production.

What are Rangelands and Who are Pastoralists?

Rangelands are areas of grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, shrubs, and sometimes trees that are grazed or have the potential to be grazed by livestock. These landscapes encompass diverse biomes including deserts and xeric shrublands, tropical and subtropical grasslands, temperate grasslands, tundra, and montane grasslands. Together, they cover approximately 54% of the global terrestrial surface.

Pastoralists are people who raise livestock as their primary source of living on plants that grow naturally on rangelands. Through traditional knowledge and sustainable management practices, pastoralists play a crucial role in shaping and conserving these landscapes, including their unique biodiversity and habitats. Livestock mobility, whether through rotational grazing, transhumance, or herding through long-distance corridors, is a key feature of pastoralism and is critical for sustainable rangeland management.

Why Rangelands and Pastoralists Matter

The significance of rangelands and pastoral systems extends far beyond their geographical footprint. These systems support the livelihoods of 500 million people directly, with another 2 billion people benefiting along the value chain. Pastoralist livestock products provide high-value protein and are rich in essential nutrients, contributing significantly to global food security.

Rangelands also serve as global biodiversity hotspots, providing habitats for numerous endangered species and offering valuable grazing land for both livestock and wildlife. Their role in climate action is equally important—carbon sequestration in rangeland and pastoral systems can be significant, with rangelands holding 30% of terrestrial soil organic carbon.

The Goals of IYRP 2026

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists aims to do more than celebrate. It also seeks to raise awareness, increase action, and bring greater attention to the challenges faced by pastoralists. The initiative was prompted by UNEP’s 2019 “Benign Neglect” report, which identified critical gaps in our understanding of these systems and called for greater policy and investment focus.

Key objectives of the IYRP include:

• Revealing the important contributions of rangelands and pastoralists for food security, the economy, and the environment
• Breaking myths and misunderstandings about rangelands and pastoralists while amplifying pastoral voices
• Filling knowledge gaps through more participatory research
• Promoting informed, science-based policies and legislation worldwide
• Increasing sustainable and ethical funding and investment in rangelands and for pastoralists

IWTO’s Connection to Rangelands

As the global authority on wool, IWTO recognizes that healthy rangelands and thriving pastoral communities are fundamental to sustainable wool production. Wool-producing regions around the world rely on rangeland ecosystems, and wool producers are themselves pastoralists who practice sustainable land stewardship.

By supporting the IYRP as a Friend of the initiative, IWTO reinforces its commitment to sustainability across the entire wool value chain—from the rangelands where sheep graze to the finished products that showcase wool’s environmental credentials.