This past spring, the United Nations (UN) officially declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
I’m usually really skittish when I hear something about the UN, but this time I was relieved to finally hear some good come from the organization.
Worldwide, rangelands cover 80 million square kilometers – which is over 54 percent of Earth’s terrestrial surface and the largest land use category in the world.
Don’t forget, these lands support many communities around the world and sustain over 500 million people who rely on pastoralism for their livelihoods.
UN documents read, “Pastoralists and rangeland communities have a unique and deeply rooted relationship with these ecosystems. Rangelands provide essential goods and services, including soil and water conservation which support the livelihoods, resilience and cultural identity of millions.”
Rangelands need animals harvesting forage in a controlled manner. Movement, rest, hunting and controlling animal populations are some tools pastoralists use to manage rangelands. Not controlling numbers will result in degradation, no matter where in the world you are.
One of the issues worldwide is rangelands remain almost invisible to those who finance and govern the natural world. Maybe not so much in America, but around the world, this is an issue.
Across the world, pastoralists must never stop educating those of influence and those who use rangelands for things such as recreation. The cost of this neglect is steep.
The UN says, “Pastoralists are already the primary investors in rangelands, putting in labor, knowledge, livestock and generations of stewardship, yet they cannot capture the value they cre- ate for everyone else. Public investment is needed to reward this stewardship and unlock the private capital which should follow.”
“Rangelands are not marginal landscapes. They cover more than one-half of the world’s land and are fundamental to food security, biodiversity, water security and resilience to drought,” says UN Chief Scientist Dr. Barron Joseph Orr. “This report shows investing in rangelands is not simply about restoring degraded land – it is about recognizing the value of these eco- systems and supporting the pastoralists whose knowledge and management have sustained them for generations.”
The designation created a lot of press and recognition around the world, including in the U.S. The U.S. Senate established a resolution under the guidance of U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and 12 other senators who signed off on it, recognizing rangelands and all of those who manage them.
The resolution states, “The U.S. Senate recognizes the economic, social and ecological importance of rangelands and the ranchers, farmers, land managers, pastoralists and partners who have been caretakers of American rangelands for generations.”
The resolution also recognizes multiple use and sustainable rangeland management and the need to encourage federal agencies, universities and organizations across the country to engage in activities which promote education, research and outreach related to rangeland management.
The desire to work together instead of managing the range by judicial decisions is good. In other words, stick with the science.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon also issued a proclamation designating the month of September in recognition of rangelands and pastoralists. The governor and first lady are rangeland owners and pastoralists themselves, something we in the state are proud of.
Dennis Sun is the publisher of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, a weekly agriculture newspaper available online and in print.
