ILC in Mongolia: laying the groundwork for IYRP 2026

PRESS RELEASE

Ulaanbaatar, 20 August 2025

“Pastoralists are on the frontline of climate change. They face harsh winters, shifting rainfall, and shrinking herds. But they are also adapting and innovating and they hold the answers to sustainable rangeland management. Women and youth, in particular, are leading this transformation,”

said Marcy Vigoda, Director of the International Land Coalition (ILC), reflecting on a week-long mission to Mongolia.

“Pastoralists are one of the key constituencies within the International Land Coalition. Our peoples organisations include Indigenous Peoples, women and youth groups, and farmers’ organisations, alongside more than 20 pastoralists groups representing nearly four million people. In Mongolia, the National Land Coalition and its five members play an especially important role, representing pastoralists, advancing research, and influencing progressive herder laws and land-use policies.”

The mission laid the groundwork for Mongolia’s pivotal role in 2026 as host of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) and COP17 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

NLC Mongolia’s Vision

The National Land Coalition (NLC) Mongolia sees ILC’s role as connecting local voices to global platforms. Among the ideas explored is a Pastoralist Caravan, a journey across rangeland regions to raise visibility, ensure local ownership, and link IYRP with COP17.

“Pastoralism is not just a livelihood, it is resilience, culture, and stewardship of the land,”

added Anu Verma, Regional Coordinator of ILC Asia.

“Through this journey, we want the world to see pastoralists not as vulnerable, but as vital custodians of climate and biodiversity.”

Partnerships and Engagement

Government leaders, including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, and the General Agency for Land Administration and Management, welcomed ILC’s initiative, aligning priorities on herders’ rights and land governance.

Conversations with donors in Ulaanbaatar, along with international agencies such as FAO, UNDP, IFAD, ADB, EU, WWF, and GIZ, showed strong appetite for collaboration and co-hosted initiatives.

Next Steps

The mission concluded with a commitment to align stakeholders on realistic expectations and explore cost-sharing and in-kind contributions from local partners.

Mongolia’s progressive herder laws, its global leadership on rangelands, and the strength of its pastoralist communities confirm it as the right place to host these historic global events in 2026.

For media enquires:

Nina Sangma

Asia Communications Coordinator

International Land Coalition

n.sangma@landcoalition.org