In December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development (IYSMD). The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic proposed the resolution, which was sponsored by 94 governments. It invites UN Member States, organisations of the UN system, other international organisations and stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia, to observe the Year to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable mountain development and the conservation and sustainable use of mountain ecosystems. The year marks the 20th anniversary of the International Year of Mountains in 2002. UNGA asked the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership) to faciitate observance of the IYSMD.
As mountain pastures form part of the broader rangeland ecosystem, collaboration between the IYRP initiative and the IYSMD/Mountain Partnership is being sought.
The International Mountain Conference (11-15 Sept) in Innsbruck, Austria, includes papers on traditional livestock farming (pastoralism) systems in mountainous areas.