World Reindeer Herders (WRH) and the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR) took part in the official launch of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026, held on 2 December 2025 at FAO headquarters in Rome. The event, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), marked the beginning of a global observance aimed at highlighting the essential role of rangelands and pastoralist communities in food security, climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods.
President of Mongolia, Mr. Khürelsükh Ukhnaa, and FAO Director-General, Mr. Qu Dongyu, visited the WRH and ICR exhibition during the opening ceremony. Mongolia will host the World Reindeer Herders Congress in 2026 in the Dukha reindeer herding community of Tsagaanuur.
The WRH–ICR delegation included Indigenous representatives and reindeer herders Anders Oskal, Johan Mathis Turi, Khongorzul Mungunshagai, Alena Gerasimova and Issat Turi, who showcased reindeer herding knowledge, culture, and the importance of sustainable rangeland management.
The IYRP was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/76/253, following FAO’s recommendation. FAO serves as the lead agency for the initiative, working with Member Nations, UN organizations, civil society, and other partners to raise global awareness of rangeland ecosystems, which cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface and support millions of pastoralist livelihoods.
The observance underscores the value of pastoralists’ traditional knowledge, mobility, and adaptive practices, which contribute to carbon storage, soil health, biodiversity, and rural economies. At the same time, it draws attention to growing pressures on rangeland systems, including land conversion, climate-related disasters, and ecosystem degradation.
The IYRP aims to promote sustainable land management, strengthen governance and access rights, restore degraded ecosystems, and enhance markets and value chains—ensuring that pastoralist communities continue to thrive and contribute to global sustainability.
Photo discription: Young Dukha reindeer herder Khongorzul Mungunshagai and Sámi reindeer herder, WRH Secretary General and ICR Director Anders Oskal meet with the President of Mongolia at the opening of the IYRP in FAO (c) FAO IYRP
More photos can be found at the FAO.org, ICR Instagram and ICR Facebook
