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International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026

IYRP 2026 was officially adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2022 and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was designated to lead and facilitate its implementation, collaborating with member states, pastoralist groups and civil-society partners. In 2026, IYRP will roll out via global, regional and national events, awareness campaigns, policy dialogues, working groups and other events targeting rangeland sustainability, pastoralist livelihoods and ecosystem health around the world.

Other IYRP 2026 photos and videos from Mongolia and Central Asia

GLO Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists

Interactive map of pastoralists of the world

UNEP’s Global Rangelands Atlas

Rangelands are areas of grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, shrubs and sometimes trees that are grazed or have the potential to be grazed by livestock and wildlife. They also are home to millions of people, from pastoralists to hunter-gatherers to ranchers to conservationists. Rangelands feed millions of people worldwide. Rangelands have significant cultural and aesthetic value too, and for many, are places of inspiration and beauty.

 

Digital Nomad

The platform is being designed to host three main types of content: video series, handbooks or chapter-based books, and curated document clusters on specific themes. As a first demo, the team is integrating the Handbook of Animal Health into the system, with the author’s permission. This resource, originally produced for community animal health workers and pastoralists, is being adapted into smaller, navigable segments for use on both web and mobile interfaces. To further enhance accessibility for users who may have limited experience with written technical materials, the project also aims to complement the handbook with short summary elements, such as teaser videos or audio-visual syntheses of key chapters. All supplementary content will be reviewed to ensure accuracy and suitability.

The technical development of this project is led by an experienced IT specialist, drawing on long-standing expertise in digital tools for low-resource contexts. Feedback and collaboration with practitioners in animal health, pastoralist development, and related fields are welcomed as the project moves forward.

Kyrgyz Nomad Trail

The Kyrgyz Nomad Trail (KNT) is a pioneering long-distance route that traverses the high mountains, remote valleys, and traditional pastures of Kyrgyzstan. Stretching more than 2,000 km through the heart of the Tian Shan, and now expanding by an additional 2,000 km into the country’s southwest and north, the trail is the longest continuous hiking route in Central Asia.

From glacier-fed lakes and alpine meadows to red-rock gorges and sweeping high-altitude plains, the KNT showcases some of the region’s most striking landscapes. It offers vast, pristine mountain wilderness for hikers seeking solitude, cultural immersion, and genuine adventure. The new southwestern segments further open access to dramatic canyons, high ridges, and seldom-visited communities, expanding the KNT to the Pamir mountain range. The northern segments traverse much of Kyrgyzstan’s social and historical heartland, with dramatic landscapes. Both additions extend and expand not only the trail’s geographic reach, but also its social and economic benefits.

The KNT is designed not only as a trekking route but as a living cultural corridor. TTravellers encounter yurt camps, summer pastures, and mountain families whose livelihoods reflect centuries of nomadic tradition, as well as traditional villages and sedentary settlements. The trail helps sustain this heritage by generating income for local guides, herders, homestays, and community-run guesthouses. Additionally, the development of the KNT is rooted in community-based tourism networks. Local residents help mark and maintain the route, host trekkers, provide guiding and horse-packing services, and preserve cultural knowledge and stories along the way. This approach helps ensure that the benefits of tourism remain with the communities who care for these landscapes.

Responsible and Sustainable Travel

The Kyrgyz Nomad Trail was created with sustainability at its core. It:

  • encourages low-impact trekking and Leave-No-Trace practices
  • diversifies tourism beyond a few high-traffic destinations
  • supports conservation awareness in fragile mountain ecosystems
  • strengthens local economies without overdevelopment

By trekking the KNT, visitors directly support nature-friendly and community-centred tourism.

Planning Your Trek

  • Best season: June to September
  • Trail difficulty: Moderate to challenging; altitude and weather require good preparation
  • Accommodation: Large sections of the trail require carrying and sleeping in a tent, elsewhere there are many homestays, community-run camps, and yurt stays along the way
  • Visa: Citizens of many countries (including EU, UK, US, Canada) can enter visa-free for up to 60 days- longer stays do require a visa which can be applied for onlines
  • Safety: Geopolitics – most regions are stable, but some border areas in the southwest may be sensitive; always consult current travel advice. Environment – as remote and isolated mountains present some challenges and dangers, it is recommended to carry a satellite device for emergencies, share your travel plans, and travel with a partner or a group.
To explore the full trail, access maps and GPS tracks, or connect with local partners, visit the official Kyrgyz Nomad Trail website:
https://kyrgyznomadtrail.com/.
               
See the entire route in less than 2 minutes in a video provided by Sviatoslav Lykhin on Instagram (best viewed on a phone).
Organisations and individuals interested in supporting mountain communities along the route—through sustainable tourism, conservation, or other development initiatives—are encouraged to contact the primary trail developer, Yuval Yellin, to discuss such opportunities (contact via the website).
Plateau Perspectives contributed to the development of the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail by helping shape its community-based approach and supporting local partners in planning and capacity development. It continues to this day to collaborate with the leading developer and other partners to promote the trail as a model for sustainable, community-led mountain tourism. 

Choosing Ecotourism

In the mountains of Central Asia, ecotourism also creates vital opportunities for remote communities that rely on pastoralism and seasonal livelihoods. By highlighting traditional knowledge, showcasing high-altitude landscapes, and supporting conservation efforts for wildlife and rangelands, it offers a practical pathway for sustainable local economies. Well-managed ecotourism can help protect unique mountain cultures while contributing to the stewardship of some of the region’s most ecologically significant areas.

Foggin, J. M. 2020. Choosing Ecotourism in Kyrgyzstan – purpose driven tourism, for people and nature. Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic: Plateau Perspectives. https://stories.plateauperspectives.org/choose-ecotourism/