This Call to Action was developed by participants of the Inter-Regional School of Young Pastoralists 2026, organised under the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 by the International Land Coalition (ILC), the National Land Coalition of Kyrgyzstan and FAO Kyrgyzstan together with regional pastoralist platforms — the Central Asia Pastoralist Alliance (CAPA), the South Asia Pastoralist Alliance (SAPA), the Africa Rangelands Initiative, and the ILC Ecosystem Restoration Platform of Asia. It was held in Kyrgyzstan from 12-17 July 2026.
ILC Young Pastoralists' Call to Action
Over the past two years, young pastoralists have come together through regional and global platforms (SAPA, Kobebe, Madrid, and the IYRP Youth Group) to develop declarations and policy recommendations for the future of pastoralism. Building on these collective efforts, participants of the Inter-Regional School of Young Pastoralists 2026 – which brought together in Kyrgyzstan more than 65 young pastoralists from Africa, Asia, EMENA region from 12-17 July–, have consolidated experiences and priorities from pastoralist communities across the world to present a shared call to action to be reflected in the Global Pastoralist Gathering Youth Declaration and at UNCCD COP17.
As young pastoralists, we are at the forefront of stewarding rangelands and contributing to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and rural development. Yet we continue to face insecure land rights, limited mobility, unequal access to education and finance, limited representation, and exclusion from decision-making. We call on governments, development partners, and global leaders to recognize and support young pastoralists as key actors in building resilient rangelands and sustainable pastoral systems.
Legally recognize and protect communal and customary pastoral land tenure and mobility rights.
Without legal recognition, communal pastoral lands become vulnerable to land grabbing, fragmentation, and competing land uses, undermining pastoral mobility, ecosystem health, and sustainable livelihoods. We call on Parties to explicitly reflect pastoral land tenure and mobility rights of women and youth in their National Action Programmes and Land Degradation Neutrality targets under the UNCCD.
Combine traditional and Indigenous knowledge with scientific innovation to strengthen climate resilience and address pastoral needs.
The synergy between diverse knowledge systems is essential to restore rangelands, adapt to climate change, and respond to current and future challenges.
Recognize women and young pastoralists as equal knowledge holders, leaders, and decision-makers at all levels.
Women and youth play essential roles in pastoralism yet remain underrepresented in leadership and governance. Their meaningful participation is fundamental to resilient and inclusive pastoral communities.
Ensure meaningful representation and participation of pastoralist communities in decision-making processes at all levels.
Pastoralists must have a voice in the policies and investments that directly affect their lands, livelihoods, and future.
Strengthen networking, learning, and collaboration among young pastoralists globally, while ensuring equitable access to education, finance, climate finance, payment for ecosystem services, and other green economy opportunities.
These investments will strengthen youth leadership, foster knowledge exchange, and enable young pastoralists to contribute to sustainable rangeland management.
Invest in young pastoralists as key leaders and partners for sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, and land restoration.
Supporting pastoralist youth means investing in the future of healthy rangelands, food security, biodiversity conservation, and resilient rural communities. This includes dedicated, accessible funding and technical opportunities for young pastoralists within climate finance mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund.
Appeal
We urge UNCCD COP17 Parties, governments, development partners, and other stakeholders to champion the land rights, knowledge, mobility, and leadership of young pastoralists by adopting bold, inclusive, and accountable actions that safeguardpastoral ecosystems, secure sustainable livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and fully recognize young pastoralists as essential partners in achieving the objectives of the UNCCD.
