Exploring synergies: Pastoral practices, rangeland biodiversity, and ecosystem services

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About the event

This webinar will be a virtual gathering of experts, practitioners, policymakers, and representatives from Indigenous groups from across the Hindu Kush Himalya (HKH) region and beyond. It will feature keynote presentations and thematic presentations focused on the importance of rangelands and pastoralism for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

Objectives

• Increase awareness about the importance of rangelands and pastoralism for biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services
• Discuss the threats to rangelands and pastoral systems, including habitat degradation, land tenure issues, climate change, invasive species, and conflicting land use

Expected outcomes

• Enhanced understanding on the critical role that rangelands and pastoralism play in conserving biodiversity and providing ecosystem services
• Knowledge exchange on best practices and innovative approaches for sustainable rangeland management
• Advocacy for sustainable management of rangelands and pastoral systems in the HKH region and beyond

Expected participants

This webinar will bring together research institutions, NGOs, government agencies, and indigenous institutions.

Background

Rangelands are integral to biodiversity conservation in the HKH, providing habitats for numerous plant and animal species and contributing to biodiversity preservation on a global scale. Rangelands and pastoral areas play a significant role in carbon sequestration, water regulation, and soil fertility maintenance, thereby supporting the overall health and resilience of ecosystems. They hold great cultural significance for Indigenous communities who have shaped these landscapes through their management and whose beliefs and traditional practices are deeply intertwined with their natural environment.

Despite their significance, rangelands face various threats to biodiversity their and ecosystem services, including land degradation, overgrazing, invasive species, and climate change. The sustainable restoration and conservation of rangelands necessitates the continuation of pastoralism which has co-evolved with rangeland biodiversity over centuries.

Rangelands account for about 60% of the land area in the HKH and provide the basis for economic and livelihood opportunities for some 25–30 million Indigenous and culturally diverse peoples who inhabit and depend directly on their extensive use for pastoralism. As we approach the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism (IYRP) 2026, it is critical that we deepen our understanding of the role that these ecosystems play in biodiversity conservation as well as the role that indigenous management practices play in sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Speakers profile