IUCN seeks greater political will to safeguard pastoralists and rangelands

IUCN Deputy Director General Stewart Maginnis addressed an audience of parliamentarians, diplomats and multilateral partners gathered on 25 February to mark the UK launch of preparations for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17, which Mongolia will host in August 2026.

Speaking alongside the hostess Rt. Hon. Baroness Lindsay Northover, Ambassador of Mongolia to the United Kingdom, H.E. Enkhsukh Battumur, and representatives from the UNCCD Global Mechanism, the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), and the Rangeland Stewardship Council (RSC), Maginnis highlighted the critical role of rangelands in global efforts to address land degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss and food security. Rangelands cover 40% of the world's land surface and support more than 500 million pastoralists worldwide.

"Pastoralists are custodians of some of the world's most ecologically vital landscapes,” said Maginnis. “The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists is a critical opportunity to secure the political will and investment these ecosystems urgently need. IUCN is proud to stand alongside Mongolia and our global partners as we build momentum towards COP17." 

IUCN underscored its commitment to working with governments and communities—including in Mongolia leading up to and beyond COP17—to restore degraded lands, strengthen sustainable grazing practices, and build resilient pastoral economies. 

"Rangelands are among the most undervalued ecosystems on earth, yet they deliver enormous benefits for climate, biodiversity and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. We have a real chance this year to ensure science, community knowledge and policy action come together to make that happen," said Chetan Kumar, Global Head of Forest and Grasslands, IUCN.

IUCN works with governments, pastoral communities and international partners to restore degraded rangelands, strengthen sustainable grazing practices and support resilient pastoral economies. This includes initiatives supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), implemented with partners such as FAO and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), to advance rangeland restoration, sustainable livestock value chains and improved land stewardship.

In collaboration with the UNCCD and partners, such as the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), IUCN also promotes responsible grazing systems that support pastoral livelihoods while improving ecosystem health. These efforts contribute to building momentum toward UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia and the IYRP 2026, while advancing IUCN’s broader commitment to support pastoralist communities and the landscapes they depend on.