International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

CoCo Welcomes International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

The CoCo project proudly announces its support for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026, a United Nations initiative that officially launches in 2026. As a designated Friend of IYRP, CoCo joins a worldwide coalition of organisations committed to raising awareness about the essential contributions of pastoralists and rangelands to food security, biodiversity and sustainable land management.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the lead agency. This landmark year aims to highlight the often-overlooked role of over 500 million pastoralists worldwide who manage nearly half of the Earth's land surface.

CoCo in the Field

IYRP 2026 Video Series

Our IYRP 2026 video series captures real pastoral practices, challenges, and innovations from all 12 of our European partner countries. Follow along as we bring you more voices, landscapes and stories throughout 2026.

Watch

Throughout 2026, CoCo will participate in IYRP events and activities, sharing research outcomes and best practices for supporting pastoral communities in their coexistence with wildlife. The project will also contribute to policy dialogues aimed at ensuring pastoralists' voices are heard in decisions affecting their livelihoods and landscapes.

We are delighted to count the CoCo project among our Friends of IYRP. Their research on human-wildlife coexistence directly addresses one of the key challenges faced by pastoral communities globally, and their evidence-based approach will contribute valuable insights to our collective efforts.”

Pablo Manzano

member of the Steering Committee of the Latin American network of IYRP

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.