Launch of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) and together with FAO we launched the year with global momentum. Spotlighting pastoralists' vital role in sustaining ecosystems, food security, and climate resilience for nearly 500 million people, mobility is key for healthy rangelands.

In order to celebrate, we hosted one events and the #MobilityMatters2026 campaign, emphasizing secure land rights and sustainable governance. Key activities in early December set the stage for ongoing advocacy, including a pivotal regional event in Tunisia.

ILC kicked off the #MobilityMatters2026 campaign on December 2nd to give a global push to defend pastoralists' right to move freely, linking mobility to survival, sustainability, and peace amid threats like land grabs and degradation. The campaign provides 10 practical advocacy tips for stakeholders to amplify messaging during IYRP 2026, urging policy shifts for tenure security and rangeland restoration. As part of the campaign, pastoralist voices from EMENA will positioning mobility as essential for regenerating landscapes and thriving communities.

Also on December 2nd, FAO hosted the official IYRP 2026 launch, where ILC's booth featured material related to pastoralism shared by ILC EMENA members. ILC EMENA also participated in the booth by FAO and the NENA IYRP Consortium bringing to live the conference in Tunisia launching IYRP in the Arab region, namely 'Building a Shared Vision for Sustainable Rangelands and Pastoral Communities in the Near East and North Africa Conference'.

On the same day, in IFAD's Oval Room, ILC unveiled knowledge products, data tools, and policy actions with pastoralist leaders, also screening the trailer of the not yet released documentary 'To Hold a Mountain'.

On December 3rd, ILC hosted a hybrid launch of its IYRP 2026 Global Roadmap in Rome, uniting pastoralists, governments, UN agencies, and ILC members. IFAD President Álvaro Lario opened by noting rangelands' span over half Earth's land and pastoralists' underrepresentation, calling for investments in rights and restoration. Said Fagouris from Pasto-Arabic in Morocco was there to share about the work ILC EMENA members are doing on pastoralism and rangelands in the EMENA region.

The IYRP 2026 MENA Regional Conference in Tunisia will build on these launches, fostering cooperation across the MIddles East and North Africa to prioritize resilient rangelands and pastoral communities. The regional conference in the Arab region 'Building a Shared Vision for Sustainable Rangelands and Pastoral Communities in the Near East and North Africa' will take place in Tunisia January 26th - 28th and is co-organised with the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa, a key member of the NENA IYRP Consortium.

The conference will unite regional partners, governments, experts, researchers, and pastoralist organisations to advance land rights, secure pastoralist livelihoods, and promote community-managed rangelands across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).