The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of the Parties (COP) begins this week under the theme, “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.” As rangelands face increasing pressure, the Inter-Regional Summer School of Young Pastoralists convened pastoral leaders to explore innovative approaches to rangeland governance, climate adaptation and community-based natural resource management. 

In Kyrgyzstan, rangelands are under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation and growing livestock production. Yet healthy pastures are essential not only for feeding livestock and supporting rural livelihoods, but also for protecting biodiversity, conserving water resources and storing carbon. Their sustainable management is therefore vital for both people and the environment.

As part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the Inter-Regional Summer School of Young Pastoralists took place in Kyrgyzstan. It brought together young pastoral leaders from across Asia and Africa to exchange knowledge, strengthen leadership skills and promote sustainable pasture management.

The week-long programme ran from 12 to 18 July in Bishkek, Suusamyr, Son-Kol and Issyk-Kul. It was organized with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as the coordinator of the International Year, together with the International Land Coalition (ILC), National Land Coalition of Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyz Association of Forest and Land Users (KAFLU).

Young Pastoralists From all Over the World

More than 50 young pastoralists from India, Indonesia, Kenya, Somalia, Sri Lanka and other countries participated, alongside young representatives from Kyrgyzstan.

A highlight of this year’s summer school was the participation of eight young members of Community Landscape Management Groups from Ak-Talaa, Suzak, Toguz-Toro and Uzgen – four pilot districts of the FAO project ‘Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investments in Forests and Pastures in the Kyrgyz Republic,’ supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Selected through a competitive process, these young women and men represented local communities actively engaged in sustainable pasture management, monitoring and landscape restoration. Throughout the week, they strengthened their knowledge and leadership skills while exchanging practical experience with participants from different countries. They also explored innovative approaches to rangeland governance, climate adaptation and community-based natural resource management.

“Healthy rangelands are essential for biodiversity conservation, food security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “Strengthening the capacity of young pastoralists is therefore a key investment in the future of sustainable land management.”

Combining Traditional Knowledge with Digital Tools

The summer school combined classroom learning with extensive field-based activities. As part of the field component organized by FAO, participants visited pastoral communities around Son-Kol – the largest high-mountain freshwater lake in Kyrgyzstan. Located in the Inner Tien-Shan range at an elevation of 3,016 metres above sea level, the lake is framed by vast alpine rangelands that support rich biodiversity and provide essential grazing resources for local herders.

Beyond its ecological significance, Son-Kol and its surrounding pastures lie at the heart of Kyrgyzstan’s traditional nomadic culture. Each summer, pastoralists erect their traditional felt yurts along the lakeshore, maintaining centuries-old practices of transhumant livestock husbandry that have shaped life in the region for generations.

Through direct interaction with local pastoralists, participants explored traditional pasture management practices, gained greater insight into the socio-economic realities of pastoral livelihoods and learned how sustainable pasture management approaches are being promoted at community level.

“Climate change is already reshaping rangelands and the lives of people who depend on them. What gives me hope is seeing young pastoralists, scientists and communities from different regions learn from one another and turn shared knowledge into practical solutions,” said Melau Makko, a 26-year-old climate scientist from Tanzania.

As part of the field programme, members of the Community Landscape Management Groups facilitated a practical workshop on traditional pasture monitoring methods.

Participants learned how local communities assess pasture conditions using simple but effective monitoring tools, including measuring tapes, grass-cutting scissors for biomass sampling and scales to measure vegetation weight in both fresh and dry conditions. They also practised recording field data and documenting the current state of pastures using tablets, including geo-referenced information and photographs.

This hands-on session provided participants with a practical understanding of community-based monitoring approaches and demonstrated how local knowledge and field observations can complement digital monitoring technologies to support sustainable pasture management and informed decision-making.

The field programme also showcased innovative approaches and digital solutions introduced through the project, including FAO’s Open Foris technologies, GPS-based pasture monitoring, drone applications and a mobile pasture monitoring laboratory equipped for use by specialists of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Field activities at Son-Kol also provided an important opportunity to engage directly with local pasture users and communities. Through practical demonstrations and discussions, participants raised awareness of pasture degradation, sustainable grazing practices, climate change adaptation and improved pasture governance, while showcasing the work being implemented under the FAO-GCF project.

“In Nepal, our highland pastures are degrading just like here. We lose grass cover every year, and herders have to move farther to find feed. It was eye-opening to see that Kyrgyz communities deal with the same issues and that we can learn from each other’s traditional practices,” said Sonam Choden from Nepal, emphasising the striking similarities between the pastoral challenges in her homeland and those faced by Kyrgyz herders.

Beyond Pastures: Understanding Communities, Livelihoods and Traditions

Pastures are not only important from an environmental perspective but also play a vital social and economic role for rural communities. Addressing the challenges facing pastures and livestock requires an understanding of the people whose lives and livelihoods are directly connected to these landscapes.

To this end, beyond the technical programme, participants visited Son-Kol and Suusamyr, where they met local herders and their families, learned about traditional livestock production systems and gained first-hand insight into the everyday lives of Kyrgyz pastoralists.

By learning from local pastoralists, participants better understood the realities, needs and opportunities of pastoral communities, helping them develop more balanced and sustainable solutions that support both ecosystem health and the well-being of people who depend on these resources.

Participants also observed and experienced activities such as milking livestock and horseback riding, while discovering locally produced dairy, meat and wool products that support rural livelihoods and traditional value chains. These experiences provided them with a deeper understanding of how pastoral systems function and how traditional knowledge, cultural practices and natural resource management are interconnected.

The programme also included traditional nomadic games designed to strengthen leadership, teamwork and strategic thinking, while fostering intercultural exchange and mutual understanding among young pastoralists from different countries. Through these cultural and practical experiences, participants forged connections with local communities and gained a more comprehensive perspective on sustainable pastoral development.

By connecting young leaders from different regions and empowering local communities, the summer school contributed to the objectives of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, promoting knowledge exchange, innovation and international cooperation for the sustainable management of rangelands worldwide.

This story was originally published by FAO. Please visit the UN team’s website to learn more about the UN’s work in Kyrgyzstan.

https://unsdg.un.org/latest/stories/young-pastoralists-unite-kyrgyzstan-shape-future-sustainable-rangelands