Tehran – The United Nations General Assembly has officially proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, aiming to raise global awareness about the critical role of grasslands and pastoral communities in sustaining ecosystems and supporting rural livelihoods, according to Tarahom Behzad, Director-General of Education, Extension, and Public Participation at Iran’s Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization.

 

Behzad said the global initiative underscores the ecological and socio-economic importance of rangelands, which are increasingly threatened by climate change, land degradation, and desertification.

 

“Rangelands - including tropical plains, steppes, and grass-covered mountains - span more than half of the Earth’s land surface,” he noted. “They provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water regulation, and sustainable food production. Traditional nomadic and pastoral management practices have long been key to maintaining the health of these ecosystems.”

 

He pointed out that rangelands in Iran make up more than half of the country’s total land area and, after deserts, constitute its largest natural resource. “These lands are the backbone of livelihoods for millions of pastoralists - nearly five percent of Iran’s population - and are vital for national food security,” Behzad said. “However, they are facing growing threats from overgrazing, mismanagement, and worsening droughts.”

 

The official emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture should take the lead in coordinating and overseeing national programs, while the Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization will play a central role in monitoring, protection, and the implementation of scientific rangeland management projects.

 

He added that national efforts should focus on strengthening technical capacity by integrating modern monitoring technologies and climate adaptation strategies, developing a National Rangeland Sustainability Plan led by expert institutions, and launching international pilot projects to attract foreign green investment for rangeland restoration and pastoral infrastructure development.