International Mountain Day 2026 celebrates the role of mountain pastoralists who, through their knowledge, mobility and care, raise animals, contribute to food security and steward fragile mountain rangelands.
From the high pastures of the Pamirs, the Andes and the Hindu Kush Himalaya to Mongolia’s vast steppe rangelands, these working landscapes provide natural forage, support rural livelihoods and host uniquely adapted animals such as yaks, llamas, alpacas, sheep and goats and diverse plant communities.
Mountain pastoralists draw on Indigenous and local knowledge developed over millennia. Through strategic herd mobility and adaptive grazing, they help regenerate vegetation, maintain healthy soils, water cycles and wildlife habitats, and respond to climate variability. By producing meat, milk, fibre, and other animal-source foods, they support rural mountain economies while preserving the ecosystems on which they depend.
In high-altitude regions where steep terrain and harsh climates limit other forms of agriculture, pastoralism is both a livelihood and a way of life. Practices such as transhumance reflect a long heritage of adaptation and resilience. Vertical mobility across elevations allows pastoralists to match grazing with seasonal forage availability, reduce pressure on pastures and keep herds healthy. These movements also link highland and lowland communities through networks of trade and knowledge exchange.
Women and youth are central to this living heritage. Mountain pastoralist women and girls are key to managing rangelands and producing food and fibre, yet their work often goes unrecognized. Many lack secure land rights and face disproportionate climate impacts and exclusion from policy decisions that affect them. Youth bring new skills and innovation, but outmigration and limited opportunities threaten the transmission of knowledge across generations.
Mountain rangelands and the communities who care for them are under pressure. Climate change, land degradation and competing land uses are reducing grazing corridors and access to water and markets. In some regions, depopulation and underuse contribute to shrub encroachment and increased wildfire risk. Weak tenure systems, limited services and declining recognition of customary governance further undermine resilience.
Yet mountain pastoralists offer solutions. Their practices, supported by innovation and sound policies, can help restore degraded lands, improve animal health and preserve biodiversity.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to promote responsible investment and policies that secure pastoralists’ access to land and natural resources, support mobility and strengthen inclusive governance, with FAO mandated as the lead agency.
International Mountain Day 2026 contributes to this global observance by highlighting the environmental, social and economic importance of mountain rangelands and the pastoralists who steward them. It draws attention to mountain-specific challenges and solutions, calling for greater recognition of mountain pastoralists as custodians of rangelands that sustain life from the highlands to the lowlands.
