Securing Land, Empowering Pastoralists: ILC Launches IYRP 2026

Hybrid event spotlights Mongolia’s MoU and global efforts to secure pastoralist land rights and sustainable rangeland governance”

The International Land Coalition (ILC) convened a packed hybrid event—both in Rome and online—to launch its roadmap for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026. The event brought together pastoralist leaders, governments, UN agencies, civil society, and ILC members, with simultaneous interpretation in English, Spanish, French, and Russian to ensure full global participation.

The launch offered an important platform to highlight pastoralists’ critical role in food systems, climate resilience, and biodiversity, and to share lessons, strategies, and commitments for securing their land and mobility rights.

Opening Remarks: A Global Call to Action

Speakers emphasized that IYRP 2026 represents a historic opportunity to close knowledge gaps, influence policy, and shift power back into the hands of pastoralist communities—who steward ecosystems covering more than half of the Earth’s land surface.

IFAD President Álvaro Lario underscored the centrality of pastoralism to global food systems. Rangelands, he noted, are home to nearly 500 million pastoralists, who are not only producers of meat and milk but also custodians of ecosystems, biodiversity, and food security resilience. Despite their essential role, pastoralist voices remain underrepresented in many global dialogues. Investment in tenure rights, mobility, rangeland restoration, and services is essential for inclusive development and sustainable livelihoods.

Mongolia’s Leadership and a Milestone MoU for Pastoralist Land Rights

In his remarks, he underscored that securing pastoralist land and resource rights is foundational for Mongolia—a country where over 70% of the territory is agricultural land, and 90% of that consists of natural pastures. With 95% of local livelihoods relying on agricultural production, the governance of rangelands is directly tied to community wellbeing, economic resilience, and cultural heritage.

Bolorchuluun highlighted that Mongolia initiated the UN resolution proclaiming 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), driven by the country’s long-standing commitment to protecting nomadic pastoralism. He expressed Mongolia’s appreciation for ILC’s sustained support in bringing global attention to pastoralists’ land rights and the urgent need for secure tenure, mobility, and sustainable rangeland governance.

He noted that the IYRP offers a critical moment to:

• Strengthen legal frameworks safeguarding pastoralist land rights and equitable access to natural resources
  
• Address land degradation through sustainable rangeland management standards
  
• Elevate traditional knowledge systems underpinning sustainable land stewardship
  
• Mobilize governments and the public around the environmental and social pressures facing pastoralists
  
• Facilitate global learning through a Global Pastoralist Gathering and international cooperation

He emphasised that Mongolia’s commitment is visible at the highest level: the official IYRP launch at FAO took place during the State Visit of the President of Mongolia to Italy, with participation from parliamentarians and ministers—reflecting the country’s political prioritisation of protecting rangelands and pastoralist communities.

Finally, Bolorchuluun underlined that the newly signed MoU between MoFALI and the International Land Coalition marks the beginning of a long-term partnership grounded in shared responsibility for pastoralist land rights. He stressed that this collaboration will strengthen institutional capacity, improve legal frameworks, and promote inclusive, rights-based governance of rangelands. As he stated: