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Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.

Rangelands are among the world’s most extensive yet most overlooked ecosystems. Covering more than half of the Earth’s land surface, they play a vital role in food security, water cycles, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. They support the lives of around two billion people worldwide, including many pastoralists and Indigenous Peoples whose knowledge and stewardship have sustained these landscapes for generations.

In 2026, Desertification and Drought Day put rangelands at the centre of global attention. Held under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, this year’s observance calls for greater recognition of the economic, ecological and cultural value of rangelands, respect for their traditional stewards and stronger investment in restoring degraded rangelands.

This year’s event aligns with the , helping to underscore the need to raise awareness, encourage responsible investment and strengthen policies that safeguard rangelands and pastoralist livelihoods.

Up to half of the world’s rangelands are degraded or at risk, with serious consequences for food and water security, biodiversity, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. Yet viable pathways for action already exist. Investing in sustainable land and water management, improved drought preparedness and community-led restoration can help secure these landscapes and the people who depend on them.

Now is the time to recognize the value of rangelands, respect their traditional stewards and restore these landscapes for future generations.

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Did you know?

  • Rangelands cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface and support the lives of around two billion people worldwide.
  • Rangelands provide almost 70 per cent of livestock feed globally, making them critical to food systems.
  • Up to half of the world’s rangelands are degraded or at risk.

UN event: "Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore." June 17, 2026

A pastoralist holding a stick with a flock of animals in the background.

This year,hosts the global observance. The country is placing a spotlight on both the realities facing dryland communities and the solutions already taking shape on the ground. Rangelands cover around 80% of the country and sustain millions of people, largely through pastoralism and livestock. This is the first time in nearly a decade that the African continent hosts the global observance.

This crucial global forum - COP17 to combat desertification - will drive solutions for land restoration, sustainable land management and resilience-building across the world. The conference, titled “” (17-28 August, Ulaanbaatar) will build on efforts to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands.

The UN declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists due to their strategic importance. But what exactly are these lands, and who lives in them? How are nature, animals, and the people who care for them connected? Find out on the FAO’s official website dedicated to this special year.

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International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.