GASL Webinar highlights - Rangeland and Pastoralism in times of protracted crisis
The Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) presents the second webinar dedicated to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.
On 10 December 2025, the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) hosted the second webinar of the series dedicated to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, this time focusing on “Rangeland and Pastoralism in Times of Protracted Crisis”.
Thanks to the collaboration of the GASL social movements cluster lead, Mr Pablo Frere, from Redes Chaco in Argentina, the event brought together a diverse panel of experts, practitioners, and community representatives from across the globe, to highlight the ongoing challenges and emerging solutions for pastoralist communities facing overlapping pressures such as climate change, land degradation, conflict, and policy limitations.
Moderated by Maryam Rezaei, from the London Think Tank ODI Global, the session opened with remarks from Camillo De Camillis, manager of GASL, who emphasised the importance of multistakeholder partnerships in advancing sustainable development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the FAO’s strategic framework.
Keynote speakers and panellists shared insights from regions including Amazonia, Eastern and Western Africa, Ethiopia, Perù, and Paraguay. Mr Rogerio Mauricio Martins and Mr. Mauroni Cangussu described their work in Brazil, showcasing natural regeneration and silvo-pastoral systems as viable methods to combat deforestation and improve livelihoods. Ms Ivana Mardesic from FAO presented key findings from a Sahel-focused study, stressing pastoralism’s significant contributions to national economies and food security, while outlining the multi-shock environment and coping strategies employed by communities.
Mr Martin Barasa from VSF Germany presented experiences from Ethiopia, underscoring mobility, livestock diversity, social networks, and indigenous knowledge as critical enablers of resilience. The Peruvian perspective was provided by Ms Cecilia Turin, who illustrated the intensified impacts of climate change and social change on traditional Andean pastoralist systems, pointing to the urgent need for context-specific adaptation and improved policy support.
Ms Tahira Mohammad (International Livestock Research Institute - ILRI), examined resilience in the Horn of Africa, advocating for a shift from controlling to caring approaches in pastoral policy and investment, promoting asset protection, extension services, and flexible land use. Mr Martín Mongelos from Paraguay’s DRaiz, offered a private sector perspective on aligning technical and economic solutions for greater impact and uptake, while Mr Pablo Manzano Baena (Basque Centre for Climate Change) concluded with recommendations for multi-disciplinary and holistic policy and project design, stressing the necessity of integrating natural, social, and economic dimensions.
The event concluded with a reminder and an invitation to the upcoming webinars in January 2026, continuing the international dialogue on sustainable livestock transformation, culminating in the GASL global multistakeholder partnership meeting in Senegal in April 2026.
The GASL webinar stands as a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and innovation of pastoralist communities worldwide, and highlights how policies and investments are key to support both people and environments in rangeland regions. As the moderator highlighted in her conclusive remarks, the talk from Mr Barasa and others underscored the importance of bringing the voice of frontline actors in policy making processes for effective and efficient action.