A landmark international policy dialogue opened on June 9 in Ulaanbaatar as Mongolia accelerates global efforts for stronger rangeland governance. Government officials, civil society groups, and herders from 13 countries across Central Asia, South Asia, East and West Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa gathered for the event. They collectively aim to shape inclusive and sustainable management strategies for the world’s largest terrestrial ecosystem. The dialogue directly feeds into the upcoming COP17 conference and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Mongolia is seizing a unique leadership moment, and the discussions reflect rising urgency. An estimated 500 million pastoralists depend on livestock herding across lands covering over 40 percent of the planet’s surface. Consequently, rangeland degradation now threatens climate resilience, biodiversity, and food security on an enormous scale. Organizers therefore designed the meeting to produce concrete policy recommendations for the global community.
Javkhlan Bayarsaikhan, Advisor to the President of Mongolia on Civil Society Policy, underscored the country’s proactive stance. He stated that Mongolia will host COP17 at the government’s initiative later this year. Moreover, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists following Mongolia’s advocacy. A National Green Platform now collects, selects, and supports projects that improve rangeland governance through expert technical assistance. The National Green Platform selected 15 of the 135 submitted projects for presentation to international investors during COP17. This mechanism not only boosts domestic policy but also attracts foreign investment and strengthens Mongolia’s global influence.
Altantuya Ts., President of the National Association of Agricultural Cooperatives, emphasized that collaborative rangeland governance works. She noted that herders increasingly keep livestock numbers within pasture carrying capacity without sacrificing livelihoods. Projects now focus on improving the quality and productivity of livestock products and developing value-added supply chains.
Meanwhile, Munkhnasan Ts., an expert at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, highlighted legal reforms to institutionalize better rangeland governance. He revealed that 73 percent of Mongolia’s territory is pastureland, and research shows roughly 70 percent has experienced degradation. For this reason, the ministry plans to introduce economic, trade, and market instruments that boost herders’ incomes and bring all livestock-derived raw materials into the economic cycle. He added that three declarations—from herders, young herders, and women herders—will be presented at COP17, and the current dialogue gathers feedback on initial drafts.
Maamankhuu S., a veteran herder from Khanbogd soum, shared a ground-level perspective. He observed that young herders do exist but their voices remain largely invisible. For example, some university graduates milk up to 100 camels a day, earning significant daily incomes, yet their achievements go unnoticed. He called for greater recognition and promotion of educated youth in pastoral communities.
The dialogue is jointly organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, the International Land Coalition, the National Land Coalition of Mongolia, and the FAO. Sessions run at the Millennium Plaza Hotel until June 11, followed by nomadic heritage showcases in Bornuur soum from June 11 to 13. Ultimately, this gathering will deliver action-oriented proposals directly into COP17 negotiations, cementing rangeland governance as a global priority.
