The Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue session will focus on the February IYRP Theme “Mobility, Land and Water Security”.
25 February, 15:00-16:30 CET (English) - register here: Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue | Besprechung – Teilnehmen | Microsoft Team
Some broad summary points that emerged from the discussion:
- Transhumance is a widespread but under‑recognized socio‑ecological system, often mislabelled as “backward” despite its global importance.
- Pastoral commons are essential for maintaining landscapes, biodiversity, and community livelihoods—and transhumance and commons are mutually dependent.
- Major challenges include loss of mobility routes, agricultural expansion, and declining interest due to industrialized food systems.
- Heritage frameworks (UNESCO, etc.) rarely acknowledge transhumance (<3%), but efforts are underway to shift this narrative.
- Upcoming ICOMOS report (April) aims to promote an integrated policy vision viewing transhumance holistically across cultural, ecological, and economic dimensions.
- Field research shows limited potential for increasing soil carbon through grazing in some semi‑arid rangelands (e.g. Arizona), and tree planting in natural grasslands can disrupt existing carbon pools.
- Links shared:
- Grazed and Confused? How much can grazing livestock help to mitigate climate change? [video]
- Recording and summary available: Regional Dialogues on Sustainable Rangelands and Pastoralism [website]