I would like to thank Marcy Vigoda from the International Land Coalition for organizing this important discussion during New York Climate Week. 

On behalf of UNDP, we are delighted to welcome you to this side event on the critical role of pastoralist livelihoods and rangelands ecosystems in addressing the climate crisis, conserving biodiversity, and supporting over 200 million pastoralists worldwide.

Our discussion today on the interconnected solutions on land tenure, climate action, and biodiversity for a sustainable future is both timely and strategic.

Since 2024, UNDP has been prioritizing the ‘Tri-COP agenda’ for synergies between our work on nature under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I personally took part in all three of the COP meetings last year, which only reinforced my personal conviction of how important the need for integration is - including UNDP’s critical role in supporting countries on this integrated strategic planning.

The UNCCD decision at COP16 in Riyadh last year underscores rangelands and pastoralist contributions to sustainable development. The newly mandated UNCCD ‘Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs)’ caucus is expected to ensure systematic participation for Indigenous and pastoralist voices in UNCCD processes.

The new UNCCD caucus will build on other similar mechanisms, such as the new CBD Subsidiary Body on Article 8j, and UNFCCC Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.

Following the COP30 in Brazil on climate, which is expected to elevate the voice of Indigenous peoples’ in the formal negotiations, there may be scope to explore additional synergies across the Rio Conventions on the engagement of IPs and LCs.

Mongolia's presidency of UNCCD COP17 in Aug 2026 represents an important opportunity for rangelands and grasslands. As a country where pastoralism is practiced on over 70% of the national territory, Mongolia brings a depth of understanding to the topic.

I would like to warmly recognize the leadership by Mongolia in this domain. The COP17 Presidency by Mongolia is an opportunity to champion rangeland ecosystems and pastoralist knowledge in global policy discussions, including with respect to proposing 2026 to be known as the ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism’ (IYRP).

As UNDP, in line with our new Strategic Plan and its objective for a Healthy Planet, we are committed to advanced integrated solutions that ensure synergies across the Rio Conventions while delivering many SDG dividends.

UNDP is committed to supporting tenure-led approaches and indicators which are relevant to the global targets on land, nature, and climate.

Through our work with the GEF and Adaptation Fund, UNDP is prioritizing direct financial support to pastoralist organizations and Indigenous Peoples. In Mongolia alone, the SGP/Local Action portfolio has supported 500 projects since its inception in 2001 – including the strategic aggregation of multiple small grants for pasture regeneration with support from the Govt of Japan under our COMDEKS partnership targeting socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS).

At the global level, the SGP has supported hundreds of pastoralist organisations across all major regions including inter alia Argentina, Cameroon, China, Kyrgystan, Nepal, Peru, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Yemen.

In 2026, UNDP and partners will launch an ambitious multi-country programme under the Adaptation Fund on locally-led adaptation in Africa, with a focus on pastoralism and traditional knowledge – which we expect to commence implementation in mid-2026 as a contribution to the IYRP. 

COP17 in Mongolia in August 2026 represents a pivotal moment to translate recognition into action and financing -- including a possible “grasslands pledge”. 

UNDP stands ready to support the design, financing, and implementation of national initiatives designed by Mongolia for Mongolia as follow-up.

We hope that this will build on the renewal of what is known as the COP26 ‘Glasgow Pledge’ on forest ecosystems for finance IPs and LCs to be announced at UNFFCC COP30 in Belem in November 2025.