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UN Declares 2026 as International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists
United Nations declares 2026 as the ‘International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists’. The declaration highlights rangelands and pastoralists and their roles in ecosystem services, biodiversity preservation, and food security.
International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Declaring authority | United Nations |
| Rangelands | Rangelands cover around half of Earth’s land surface. |
| Types | Grasslands, savannas and shrublands, deserts, wetlands, or mountain areas. |
| Examples | The steppes of Central Asia; African savanna; Alps and the Pyrenees in Europe; Andes in South America; Great Plains of the United States. |
| Significance | Preserving unique fauna and flora and provide essential services including carbon storage and water regulation. |
| Pastoralists | Pastoralists raise animals. |
| Contributions | Pastoralists contribute to food security and comprise diverse cultural heritage and local and indigenous knowledge. |