2020: a call for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

7 February 2017 - A growing worldwide network acknowledges that the condition and productivity of the world’s rangelands and native grasslands are critical to a sustainable futurefor people everywhere, be they directly dependent on these lands, or benefiting from them for tourism, agricultural products, conservation, mining and other uses. To increase knowledge and understanding about these unique ecosystems and the people who rely on them, a number of organisations are calling for a United Nations resolution to designate 2020 as an International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

An International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) can provide the impetus and momentum necessary for affecting this ambitious change agenda. It will increase a worldwide understanding of the importance of these lands to global food security and environmental services, and call attention to the need for sustainable management and enlightened policies in both developed and developing countries. It can enhance the perceived natural and cultural values of rangelands and pastoral systems of production, enhance pastoralists’ rights and pride (especially by the youth) in their own cultural systems and traditions, and fosterinnovations towards sustainability. It can boost efforts for investment in restoration and rehabilitation of degraded rangelands and native grasslands.It can increase capacities of local and national scientists and researchers to monitor and predict future trends in rangeland areas.

Furthermore, an IYRP can enhance governments’ awareness and capacities for delivering on the SDGs and other global development and environmental goals in rangeland areas. It can allow low-forest-cover countries to demonstrate their commitments to the climate change accords and to more accurately quantify their nationally determined contributions, all of which can enhance their ability to access multilateral funding such as through the Global Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, etc.  It can encourage those countries with a large land area under grasslands and rangelands to exchange experiences, share best practices, and perhaps form a network or caucus to continue to enhance awareness on rangelands and pastoralists well beyond 2020.

The IYRP Initiative builds on a growing recognition and vocal demand by pastoralists and civil society for the need to ensure development actions that benefit pastoralists equitably and sustainably.  Since 2010 at least 10 such declarations and statements have emanated from gatherings of pastoralists around the world. The World Alliance for Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) and other pastoral associations and networks stand to benefit from a more visible profile and platform to press for their rights to development, exchange best practices, and revive/reinforce cultural traditions and diversity.

Here you can read the Statement by CELEP on the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

 

Source: CELEP