Participate in the WFF Youth Assembly's global survey and share your perspective on rangelands and pastoralists
The World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Assembly has launched a global survey to capture the perspectives, priorities and experiences of young pastoralists and youth working with pastoral and rangeland communities. The survey is being conducted in the context of the International Year of Rangeland and Pastoralists (IYRP), led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which aims to draw global attention to the vital role of pastoralism and rangeland ecosystems in food security, climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
This initiative directly supports the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties (COP16) decision on rangelands and pastoralists (Decision 29/COP.16), which calls on parties to scale up policies and investments to conserve, restore and sustainably manage rangelands in alignment with Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and other global goals.
Rangelands cover nearly half of the Earth's land and support the livelihoods, nutrition and cultural identities of millions of pastoralists. However, these ecosystems face growing pressures from droughts, floods, land degradation, animal diseases and competing land uses, which threaten mobility and ways of life. An FAO working paper on Sustainable Land Management in Rangeland and Grasslands (2022) highlights that effective governance of rangelands and pastoral systems requires the meaningful participation of all stakeholders, including youth and women, to shape sustainable solutions, as different communities and generations may have different aspirations for the future. Supporting youth and women drives innovation, strengthens communities and promotes resilient rural economies.
With this in mind, the survey aims to:
- Gather youth-generated evidence on rangeland conditions, land governance, pastoral mobility, climate and drought impacts, and livelihood opportunities;
- Identify challenges and solutions for sustainable pastoral systems, with a specific focus on young women and youth; and
- Inform youth-led policy recommendations for sustainable rangeland management and contribute to global advocacy under the UNCCD, including preparation for COP17.
The findings will feed into a youth policy brief to be presented at UNCCD COP17 and will inform FAO’s legacy reporting and knowledge products related to the IYRP, strengthening youth engagement in global decision-making on pastoralism and rangeland governance.
Pastoralist youth are key custodians of traditional knowledge, mobility practices and sustainable grazing systems. All young pastoralists, youth-led organizations and youth working with pastoral and rangeland communities are encouraged to participate and share their experiences.
Deadline to respond: 17 April 2026
Contact
For questions or more information, please contact: [email protected]
Participants are encouraged to review the following resources before contributing:
See Also
An initiative of 