[IYRP General List] IYRP Update November 2021

[Maryam Niamir-Fuller]

Dear friends and supporters of IYRP,
Thank you for your continued support to the efforts to designate the IYRP
2026. Full text follows summaries in English, French and Spanish (and is
also attached).

*Summary in English*

*The UN process in New York has kicked off to a great start with a speech
from the Mongolian Ambassador to the UN. A total of 59 countries and 300
organizations now formally support the IYRP 2026.  The IYRP was a major
feature at the IRC/IGC 2021 and several pertinent resolutions were adopted.
Pastoralists and other supporters of rangelands engaged with the UNFCCC COP
to a degree never seen before, focusing for example on methane,
afforestation in rangelands and indigenous knowledge. But many myths and
misunderstandings still persist.  Please double your efforts to convince
more governments to support the IYRP 2026 at UNGA. Let’s pass beyond 100
governments by the end of the year. *

*Résumé en francais*

Le processus des Nations Unies à New York a démarré sur les chapeaux de
roue avec un discours de l'ambassadeur de Mongolie auprès des Nations
Unies. Un total de 59 pays et 300 organisations soutiennent désormais
officiellement l'AIPR 2026.  L'AIPR a été un élément majeur de la
conférence IRC/IGC 2021 et plusieurs résolutions pertinentes ont été
adoptées. Les pasteurs et autres défenseurs des terres de parcours se sont
engagés auprès de la COP de la CCNUCC à un niveau jamais atteint
auparavant, en se concentrant par exemple sur le méthane, le boisement des
terres de parcours et les connaissances autochtones. Mais de nombreux
mythes et incompréhensions persistent.  Nous vous invitons à redoubler
d'efforts pour convaincre davantage de gouvernements de soutenir l'AIPR
2026 à l'UNGA. Dépassons les 100 gouvernements d'ici la fin de l'année.

*Resumen en español*

El proceso de la ONU en Nueva York ha tenido un gran comienzo con un
discurso del embajador de Mongolia ante la ONU. Un total de 59 países y 300
organizaciones apoyan ahora formalmente el AIPR 2026.  El AIPR fue uno de
los temas principales del IRC/IGC 2021 y se adoptaron varias resoluciones
pertinentes. Los pastores y otros defensores de los pastizales participaron
en la UNFCCC COP  en un grado nunca visto antes, centrándose, por ejemplo,
en el metano, la forestación de los pastizales y los conocimientos
indígenas. Pero aún persisten muchos mitos y malentendidos.  Por favor,
redoblen sus esfuerzos para convencer a más gobiernos de que apoyen el AIPR
2026 en la AGNU. Pasemos de los 100 gobiernos a finales de año.



*United Nations process for designation of IYRP*

On 6 October 2021, the Mongolian Ambassador to the UN, Mr Enkhbold
Vorshilov, made a statement <https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1s/k1s1f8uwjm>
to the UN Second Committee where he gave extensive information on the IYRP
and appealed to Member States to support it when discussed in the UN
General Assembly (UNGA).

The Government of Mongolia and FAO are working to introduce the IYRP
resolution to the UNGA. The draft Resolution will be further amended by
Mongolia with co-sponsors, for a submission to the UNGA hopefully by the
first semester of 2022. So far *59 countries* have formally supported
Mongolia. Please double your efforts so that we can reach 100 by the end of
this year.  In particular, it would be good to have more countries from
West and Central Africa, Latin America and Arab States represented. The IYRP
website <http://www.iyrp.info> has many promotional materials in French,
Arabic and Spanish that can be downloaded easily for your use.

We also now have *300 partners* from civil society, pastoralist
associations, businesses, and regional and international organizations, who
have sent letters of support to the Government of Mongolia. Thank you all!



*Joint International Grassland and International Rangeland Congress 2021*

The IYRP was featured in several important sessions at the IRC/IGC 2021. At
least 10 peer-reviewed scientific papers were specifically focused on
priority actions for IYRP 2026. These and the Executive Summary of the IYRP
Concurrent Sessions are available here
<https://www.iyrp.info/joint-international-grassland-rangeland-congress-igcirc>.
We developed a special Exhibition Booth
<https://iyrp.info/sites/iyrp.org/files/IYRP%20Exhibit%20at%20Congress%20final%20version.pdf>
that provides excellent material for raising awareness.

Over 60% of all the scientific papers about rangelands submitted to the
Congress focused on policy challenges for improved grazing land management,
common-property oversight or socioeconomic welfare among pastoralists (summary
by Layne Coppock
<https://www.iyrp.info/sites/iyrp.org/files/2021%20IGC-IRC%20Coppock%20summary%20pastoralism.pdf>).
This is a significant increase compared to past Congresses and indicates
that the world scientific community is already taking up the challenge of
filling knowledge gaps on pastoralism. *The IYRP can build on this momentum*
.

The Congress voted to approve several *Resolutions*
<https://www.iyrp.info/sites/iyrp.org/files/2021%20IRC%20Resolutions%20Kenya%20Congress.pdf>
directly pertinent to the IYRP, including establishment of an *IYRP
Sub-Committee of the IRC** Continuing Committee *that will focus on
supporting the designation and implementation of priority actions for the
IYRP, and the establishment of a* Kenya National IYRP Committee*. We hope
other supporting countries will now join Mongolia and Kenya in establishing
national IYRP committees.



*IYRP-related events at UNFCCC COP 26*

Pastoralists and their supporters came out in full force at UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) 26.
Here are a few notable examples:


   - Delegates from the *WAMIP* (World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous
   Peoples) attended the COP supported by IFAD, the Rangelands Initiative and
   the PASTRES (Pastoralism Uncertainty & Resilience) project. Delegates were
   pastoralists from Norway, Jordan, Mali, Chad, Mongolia, Uganda and Europe.
   Scottish shepherds paraded their sheep through the streets of Glasgow. WAMIP
   delegates also spoke at the Rally at the Glasgow Green and participated in
   several workshops and the side event organized by IFAD.
   - The *Rangelands Initiative* was featured at the *IFAD* booth and held
   a side event on "Mobile pastoralism for climate change mitigation,
   ecosystem restoration and resilient food systems
   <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktq-EBo7WOg>" on 6 November.
   - A photo exhibition <../../../../../Downloads/seeingpastoralism.org> was
   organized by *PASTRES* and a discussion event was held at the Nourish
   Scotland’s Food and Climate Hub on “What is the role of animal livestock
   in the future of food systems?
   <https://wamipglobal.com/2021/11/12/what-is-the-role-of-animal-livestock-in-future-food-systems/>”
   about living with cows in a net zero future.
   - Badi Besbes, head of FAO’s Animal Production and Genetics Unit of the
   Animal Production and Health Division, presented *FAO's*
publication *Pastoralism,
   making variability*
   <https://www.fao.org/policy-support/tools-and-publications/resources-details/en/c/1418863/>*
   work* and the Organization's commitment to pastoralism at the EU Side
   Event: "Achieving NDC commitments for climate action through
   transforming agri-food systems" on 8 November. The film "Pastoralism is
   the future <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeqITzac9Ac>" was also aired
   during the event to promote the IYRP.
   - *WWF Brazil* and partners held a panel discussion on grasslands and
   savannahs
   <https://foodtank.com/news/2021/11/the-runaway-train-rush-to-plant-trees-ignores-a-critical-global-ecosystem/>
   on 9 November that highlighted the damage to rangelands from indiscriminate
   afforestation projects.

Despite all these great efforts, several opinion pieces or blogs written by
IYRP partners attending the COP highlight that we are still far from
correcting myths and abolishing misperceptions, and therefore how important
it is for IYRP 2026 to be approved:

§  Ian Scoones  (PASTRES) points out in “Cows and cars should not be
conflated in climate change debates
<https://theconversation.com/cows-and-cars-should-not-be-conflated-in-climate-change-debates-171024?fbclid=IwAR21LnZy0aAKZ5z1QimAlWCZSN2zGLqEzcuy6PRKuZTTMZe0Qh_t0VO71ww>”
that a simplistic 'all livestock are bad' narrative is promoted by
campaigners, celebrities, philanthropists and policymakers alike. A much
more sophisticated debate is needed and this did NOT happen at COP 26, as
he explains in “Two worlds talked past each other or never even met
<https://theconversation.com/cop26-two-worlds-talked-past-each-other-or-never-even-met-171410>”.
He also notes that the huge afforestation efforts being proposed at COP 26
potentially cause real problems for pastoralists. This is because large
areas of open rangelands might be earmarked for tree planting and
biodiversity protection through exclusion of grazing. Destruction of
rangeland/grassland ecosystems will only lead to harm to both climate and
biodiversity.
Similarly, the huge reductions in emissions proposed under the Global
Methane Pledge have major implications for livestock production. The only
technical solutions discussed at the COP were feed additives,
methane-reducing inhibitors and vaccines, seaweed supplements, even
facemasks for cows.

§  Polly Ericksen and Laura Cramer of ILRI point out in “Climate change is
already hitting Africa’s livestock
<https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-already-hitting-africas-livestock-heres-how-cop26-can-help-170726>”
how wrong it is to throw all livestock systems into one bag. They draw on
FAO’s Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) to show that
emissions from livestock come primarily from regions with heavy reliance on
confined production. They also analyse the adaptation needs of pastoralists.

§  Fernando Garcia-Dory and others from WAMIP also point out in “Why
mainstream narratives on climate and livestock create multiple injustices
<https://pastres.org/2021/11/12/why-mainstream-narratives-on-climate-and-livestock-create-multiple-injustices/>”
that discussions on climate justice did not get far. Anders Oscal who is
also Chair of the Arctic IYRP reminded delegates that sustainable sustainable
pastoralism <http://www.reindeerherding.org/news/280-wrh-at-cop-26>
generates wealth at the cost of none and to the benefit of all. Recognizing
the value of livestock mobility is essential to maintain healthy
rangelands, and resilience of both livelihoods and ecosystems in the face
of climate change and disasters.

The prospects of planting trees in rangelands generated a good discussion
on the IYRP Support Group network. This highlights one of the many reasons
why we need the IYRP to be designated so that more work can be done to fill
knowledge gaps and raise awareness about rangelands and pastoralism. The
Government of Mongolia’s leadership has been instrumental in achieving
great progress in bringing the IYRP proposal through the FAO approval
process and now to the UN General Assembly.



*Call for films for the second edition of the Pastoralism Film Festival*

*Films are being sought that:*

- are made by individuals or groups who identify themselves as pastoralist,
and/or

- bring pastoralists’ (women’s, men’s and/or youth’s) perspectives and/or

- sensitively portray issues faced by pastoralists and/or

- address issues faced in regions where pastoralism is practised and/or

- reflect the role of mobility in pastoralism.

See more information here:
https://filmfreeway.com/PerspectivesonPastoralismFilmFestival



*New publications of note*

·      PASTRES released its major scientific report on climate & livestock
in advance of COP 26 (
https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/20.500.12413/16839/Climate-livestock_full_report_%28EN%29_web.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y
)

·      FAO “Seven reasons why pastoralism supports a better future
<https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1453839/>”

·      Ilse Koehler-Rollefson: “Livestock for a small planet
<http://www.ilse-koehler-rollefson.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/livestock-for-a-small-planet_web.pdf>
”; the recording of the book launch can be watched on YouTube:
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbafiEquctc
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbafiEquctc>*



*Upcoming event*

L’UMR Selmet du CIRAD co-organise avec les UMRs Innovation et Agir le
webinaire suivant dans le cadre du séminaire permanent INRAE-CIRAD « Quels
avenirs pour les activités d’élevage » Thème : Pastoralisme ou rewilding :
Quelle place pour les animaux d’élevage dans les espaces naturels «
ré-ensauvagés »
<https://www.agropolis-fondation.fr/Webinaire-Pastoralisme-ou-rewilding-Quelle-place-pour-les-animaux-d-elevage>
?

Date : 30 novembre 2021 : 14 h 00 – 17 h 00

Lieu : Montpellier/Agropolis International (et en visio)

-- 
Dr. Maryam Niamir-Fuller
Vice Chair of International Support Group for the IYRP

*Support the call for an International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists!
https://www.iyrp.info <https://www.iyrp.info>*



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