Developing a road map for an Asian Highland Pastoralist Network and for a working group on rangelands

Organisers: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Lanzhou University

About the event

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), under the aegis of the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) and Rangeland Management Intervention, is working with Lanzhou University and the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), to organise a series of activities in the rangeland and pastoral areas of China as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) in 2026. Among them is the workshop on ‘Developing a road map to establish an Asian Highland Pastoralist Network for resilient pastoralism and sustainable rangeland management’ to be held in Sichuan from 1–7 September 2024. It will bring together academia, decision-makers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs related to pastoral development in Bhutan, Nepal, India, China, and Pakistan. This will also feature learnings from the recent technological innovations in China’s yak industry.

Objectives

• To establish a HUC thematic working group on rangelands.
• To develop a road map for an Asian Highland Pastoralist Network to be launched in IYRP 2026.
• To promote regional exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices related to rangelands and pastoralism (involving pastoral cultures, rangeland management, yak herding, yak value chain development, etc.).

Expected outcomes

• Formation of a HUC thematic working group by outlining its functional modality and work plan for the period of 2024-2026.
• Drawing up of a road map for an Asian Highland Pastoralist Network by IYRP 2026.
• Facilitation of capacity building and exposure of policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs from Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Pakistan on yak value chain development in China for advocacy and uptake in their respective countries.

Background

The rangelands make up 60 per cent of the 4.3 million square kilometres of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). They play a vital role in the livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists; but unfortunately, many of them live in absolute poverty. Yak herding is one of the primary production systems that makes the best use of these rangelands. However, over the past decade, there has been a drastic decline in yak population across the HKH. This has been due to difficult and fragile terrains, impacts of climate change, and socio-economic drivers – all limiting the competitiveness of the yak systems. Besides, yak herders are a marginalised and neglected section with no concrete policy reaching out to them; nor are they targets of investment. And there is no dedicated institution to develop yak keeping as an industry. Moreover, these problems are not well-voiced at local, national, regional, and international forums.

Groupings such as federations, associations, cooperatives, and networks are known to provide platforms for collective actions and negotiations. So, learning from some of the successful global forums such as the World Reindeer Herders, ICIMOD set up yak herders’ networks in Nepal and Bhutan, and discussions are under way to initiate the same in India and Pakistan. The aims of the networks are to: preserve, protect, and promote yak farming and yak genetic resources in the HKH; exchange knowledge and experience on yak value chains and relevant technologies across the HKH; address the common issues and challenges faced by the herding communities and represent them at the national, regional, and global platforms; provide voice and platform for yak farming communities for policy support, investments, and engagement with multiple stakeholders; and promote mutual understanding and friendship, as well as celebrate the rich pastoral culture and tradition among yak herding communities across the region.

Moving forward, as we approach the year 2026, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, we intend to incorporate additional dimensions into the yak networks, including forging a community of practitioners dedicated to advancing the cause of rangeland- and pastoralism-based enterprises in the Himalaya. We also expect the proposed an umbrella organisation of the Asian Highland Pastoralist Network to be formed from the HKH yak networks, HKH rangeland societies, and HKH pastoralist entrepreneurs’ networks. This larger network will be a platform to exchange ideas, knowledge, and technologies, and will also help in product development, standard setting, branding, and aggregation of resources and products.

At the same time, Lanzhou University, an active member of HUC, along with ICIMOD, is planning for a thematic working group meeting on the rangelands in China. The spotlight of the meeting will be on the pastoral regions of Hongyuan country in north-west Sichuan province. The region has developed robust pastoral/rangeland economy that has successfully integrated into the globalised world. These areas have extensive experience in managing and restoring rangelands by leveraging a blend of traditional knowledge and modern technology.