The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), drawing global attention to one of the world's most extensive ecosystems and the communities that sustain them.

Rangelands cover around half of the Earth's land surface, including grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts and mountain areas. They host unique biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon storage and water regulation. These landscapes are closely shaped by pastoralists, whose livelihoods depend on raising livestock and whose knowledge and practices have preserved rangeland ecosystems for generations.

Pastoralists manage around one billion animals worldwide and contribute to food security, cultural heritage and climate resilience. Yet rangelands face increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation and competing land uses.

In FAO AGRIS, research on rangelands and pastoralism is indexed using AGROVOC concepts, making this knowledge easier to discover, connect and reuse across disciplines and regions.

Explore the concepts: Visit the AGROVOC platform to browse definitions and related terms for rangelands, pastoralism and more and see how they connect research worldwide.