Director-General's remarks at the High-Level event “Rangelands and Pastoralists at the Crossroads of International Geneva: Advancing Rights, Health, Trade, Nutrition, Environment, Resilience and Sustainability”

High-Level event “Rangelands and Pastoralists at the Crossroads of International Geneva: Advancing Rights, Health, Trade, Nutrition, Environment, Resilience and Sustainability”

Monday, 29 June 2026, at 10.30 a.m.
Room VII, Building A, Palais des Nations

Ambassador Davaasuren Gerelmaa [Permanent Representative of Mongolia]
Ambassador Fancy Too [Permanent Representative of Kenya]
Ms. Peña Moreno [Director of the Centre for Policy and Law International Union for Conservation of Nature]
Mr. Burgeon [Director, FAO Office],
Excellencies, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations for this high-level event marking the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026.

I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Mongolia and Kenya, as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Union for Conservation of Nature for convening today’s event. I wish to commend Mongolia for its leadership in championing the General Assembly resolution 76/253, adopted on 15 March 2022, which proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. I also thank FAO for guiding its implementation and bringing global attention to this important issue.

We are delighted to host this event at the Palais des Nations and to join the international community in celebrating the International Year here in Geneva.

The proclamation of the International Year reflects an important recognition: pastoralism is far more than a means of livelihood. It is a dynamic way of life, deeply rooted in diverse ecosystems, cultures, identities and traditional knowledge that has enabled communities to live sustainably with nature over generations.

Today, pastoralism is practised in many different forms across the world. Hundreds of millions of people depend — directly or indirectly — on healthy rangelands for their livelihoods, food security and well-being. These landscapes are of global significance. Covering more than half of the Earth’s land surface, rangelands support biodiversity, store carbon, sustain livestock production and strengthen resilience to climate change. Yet they are also increasingly threatened by desertification, land degradation, biodiversity loss and growing pressure on natural resources.

Healthy rangelands are therefore essential not only for pastoralist communities but also for resilient livelihoods, sustainable food systems, economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

This is why today’s discussion is so important - and why it belongs in Geneva.

International Geneva is uniquely placed to bring together the many dimensions of this issue. Here, governments, international organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector work side by side to advance cooperation on health, trade, migration, human rights, humanitarian affairs, environmental protection, intellectual property and sustainable development. These issues may appear distinct, yet they are intrinsically connected to the future of rangelands and pastoralist communities.

Pastoralism also illustrates the importance of the One Health approach. The health of people, animals and ecosystems is inseparable: healthy rangelands sustain biodiversity; healthy ecosystems support healthy livestock; and healthy livestock contribute to nutrition, livelihoods and resilient communities. This interconnected reality demonstrates why effective multilateral cooperation must bridge sectors, disciplines and institutions.

As Member States advance implementation of the Pact for the Future, today’s event reminds us that sustainable development requires integrated solutions and renewed international cooperation. The sustainable management of rangelands exemplifies this vision by bringing together environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, food security, resilience and social inclusion.

The International Year provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable rangeland management, strengthen policy dialogue, mobilize partnerships and encourage investment in resilient pastoral systems. It also invites all of us - Member States, United Nations entities, international organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector - to work together in supporting pastoralist communities and recognizing their invaluable contribution to our shared future.

Through art, music and storytelling, the cultural programme associated to this event will remind us that sustainable development is also about preserving heritage, strengthening our connection with nature and safeguarding these relationships for future generations.

I wish you a productive and inspiring event.

Thank you.