On February 20, 2025, H.E. Mrs. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mongolia, met with H.E. Mr. Abdulmohsen Majed Bin Khothaila, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, Ambassador Gerelmaa proposed organizing an event in Geneva in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the commemoration of the "International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists" in 2026. Ambassador Bin Khothaila welcomed the proposal and expressed his readiness to collaborate and participate in this important initiative.

 

Rangelands are a vital global ecosystem, covering 54 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, spanning 80 million square kilometers. Approximately 200 million households rely directly on rangeland-based and pastoral livestock production. Pastoralists in over 100 countries manage 1 billion livestock, contributing about 10 percent of the world’s total meat supply. Additionally, rangelands play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of 2 billion people and ensuring food security for over 1.2 billion people worldwide.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, in its “Global Land Outlook: Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists,” released on May 21, 2024, acknowledged that previous estimates had significantly underestimated the extent of rangeland degradation. While earlier assessments suggested that 25 percent of global rangelands were degraded, the updated report warns that the actual figure could be as high as 50 percent due to previously overlooked losses in rangeland health and productivity.

Recognizing the importance of sustainable rangeland and pastoralist systems, the Government of Mongolia proposed in 2018 an 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.