THE United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to raise awareness of the importance of rangelands, which cover over half the world’s land, and the pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on them.

The recognition by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations aims to improve advocacy around the world for increased responsible investment and adapted policies for the pastoral sector.

“It calls for policies that secure pastoralists’ access to land and natural resources, support mobility, and promote customary and inclusive governance, while encouraging adequate investments in rangeland management, ecosystem restoration, animal health services, and equitable value chains,” the FAO website said.

“The Year also aims to foster inclusive policy dialogue and collaborative engagement to improve pastoralist livelihoods and sustainable rangeland management.”

The International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists is supported and adopted by 102 countries including Australia.

Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) manages 5.5 million hectares of rangelands across 11 stations spread across Australia.

“I love working across our rangelands because I get to see firsthand how Australia’s rangelands not only provide great jobs for people but also provide high quality food for people around the world to eat,” CPC CEO Troy Setter said.

“From the black soil plains of the Barkly Tablelands to the Brigalow Belt in Queensland – CPC manages diverse landscapes but one principle holds true. Healthy soil supports economic, environmental and social sustainability.

“The key to sustainability is ground cover. We don’t want our soil to be bare for even a short period of time.”

As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) people living and working in the rangelands are encouraged to share their stories using the #IYRP2026.

Agricultural scientist David Phelps said this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a rangeland champion and call for greater investment into the people and places that are unique to the Australian outback.

“In Australia, rangelands are synonymous with the outback, covering 81 percent of our landmass, they stretch from arid deserts to tropical savannas and temperate woodlands,” Mr Phelps posted on LinkedIn.

“Our grazing businesses are mostly family‑run, often representing multi-generational investment of blood, sweat and tears. This creates a unique bond to the land, the environment and the livestock, and generates local knowledge spanning over a century.

“Aboriginal people have been employed in the livestock industry for generations, and in many instances helped found the modern industry through their intimate knowledge of the landscape.

“Nearly 50pc of Australia’s rangelands is now under one or more forms of Aboriginal title, coexistence or management. We should be properly celebrating and rewarding this contribution.”

Mr Phelps said it was important to use this year of international recognition to call for greater investment into understanding and managing Australia’s rangelands, a coordinated national rangeland strategy and more support for collaboration among all stakeholders.