On January 31, 2025, H.E. Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mongolia, received Mr. Dominique Bourgon, Director, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Liaison Office with the United Nations in Geneva, at the Permanent Mission of Mongolia.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed joint measures to be implemented by Mongolia and the FAO in 2025-2026, within the framework of the celebration of the International Year of Pastoralists and Nomadic Pastoralists in 2026.

 

Currently, 100 million households and more than two billion people worldwide are engaged in pastoralism. This sector plays a significant role in the global economy and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, in recent years, rangelands and pastures have been increasingly affected by climate variability and soil degradation. At the same time, pastoralists face numerous challenges, including insecure land tenure rights, land use changes, and limited access to markets, education, and health services.

In 2018, the Government of Mongolia proposed the initiative to declare 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. On March 15, 2022, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution titled "International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, 2026" at Mongolia’s initiative.

 

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists will serve as a catalyst for raising global awareness on the critical importance of rangeland sustainability and the role of pastoralism. It will also provide an opportunity to reinforce support for the livelihoods and food security of millions of people engaged in pastoralism, encourage increased investment in sustainable pastoral systems, promote the restoration of degraded rangelands, and accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs.