[RangelandsPartnership] International Year Designation and UNEA-2 Update

[Hutchinson, Barbara S - (bhutchin)]

Greetings Partners:

Below is an update on the results of the UNEA-2 meetings in Nairobi and the discussions to date for an International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.  The good news is that our open flyer requesting an IY designation (see attached) was distributed widely at the meeting and our letter requesting support from the President of UNEA-2 was positively received and acted upon.  While the wording for an International Year designation was changed to "raising global awareness of sustainable pastoralism and rangelands" in the final UNEA-2 resolution, there is still considerable support from many countries for the designation and work continues on diverse fronts to gain the necessary approvals.  If you will be attending the IRC in Saskatoon next month, there will be a special meeting to discuss next steps.  Lovina will officially represent the Partnership, but all are invited to participate.  More information on this will be provided in the July issue of the RP Newsletter.

Best regards,
Barb

Excerpt from UNEP Team Message:  The UNEA2 resolution L.24 Combating desertification, land degradation and drought and promoting sustainable pastoralism and rangelands has been finalized and formally shared with the countries by the UNEA Secretariat, and it is now posted on the UNEP website: http://www.unep.org/about/sgb/cpr_portal/Portals/50152/UNEA%202/24.pdf.

Key partners on the successful resolution included: IUCN, FAO, ILRI, ILC, CIRAD, ICRAF, UNCCD, AU-INBAR, IRC, GRID Arendal and WRH.  The former UNEA President, Ms Oyun, supported this enthusiastically from the outset.  The 'preparatory' side event on sustainable pastoralism was one of the best and most successful side events at UNEA this year.  Media coverage was extensive before, during and after the event: see examples below.

The rapid development and approval of an entirely new resolution on sustainable pastoralism during the week of UNEA 2 was in itself an outstanding achievement (most other resolutions were prepared and debated for months prior to UNEA). The technical and political challenge of receiving and rapidly merging the two proposals for resolutions (the one on desertification by Namibia and Sudan & the one on pastoralism and rangelands by Ethiopia) was met thanks to the hard work, professional skills and dedication of many people.

The result is a good document, recognizing pastoralism as a dynamic and transformative system based on indigenous and local knowledge, and calling for further collaborative efforts on combating desertification and promoting sustainable pastoralism and rangelands management.

Now a quick look at the future:

1) Plans are being formed for the undertaking of a comprehensive gap analysis of ongoing assessments on pastoralism and rangelands.  Initial steps may include i.e. setting-up a virtual partnership and a broader advisory team for the assessment, defining the scope and Terms of Reference for such a study, and identifying potential sources of financing.  It is hoped the assessment will be well underway by the time of the next UNEA3 (Dec 2017).

2) Although the call for an International Year on Rangelands and Pastoralism was not included in the final resolution, important strides were made in promoting the idea, also among member states whose standing policies normally do not support the inclusion of such statements in UN resolutions. Hence we look forward to continue working with all of you to help raising awareness on the importance of having this IY in 2021. The UNEP team stands ready to support efforts by member countries who may wish to bring this to the attention of UN General Assembly (UNGA) in NY, and/or of partner UN agencies such as FAO who are may wish to promote the idea through their Governing Bodies. As far as we are aware, efforts by many of you are already under way to carry this forward i.e. at the international rangeland congress, at the CBD COP and at the IUCN World Congress, just to mention some examples. We'll do our best to help keep this good momentum going forward, with the ultimate objective of having the IY approved by the UNGA.

Media Coverage:

1- Press release on Side Event  that went out during the UNEA
http://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/416207/

2- Press release on the side event and resolution
http://www.unep.org/stories/Ecosystems/Putting-sustainable-pastoralism-on-the-global-agenda.asp

3- Press release on the International day of desertification and L24 resolution
http://www.unep.org/stories/WorldDaytoCombatDesertification/Land-restoration-key-to-human-well-being.asp

4- The pastoralism stories published on the UNEP - UNEA site
http://www.grida.no/unea2/
http://www.unep.org/stories/Ecosystems/Towards-Sustainable-Pastoralism.asp
http://www.unep.org/stories/climate/Rangeland-Management-in-Jordan.asp

5- Resolution  L24 on Combating desertification, land degradation and drought and promoting sustainable pastoralism and rangelands http://www.unep.org/about/sgb/cpr_portal/Portals/50152/UNEA%202/24.pdf

6- Photos of the side events taken by ILRI
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilri/albums/72157668046965210




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