Recording & Resources
Thank you to all participants who joined the Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Rangelands and Pastoralism – Asia & Arab Region.
If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the discussion, the session recording is now available below.
▶ Session Recording
Duration: 01:21:47
Recording link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/C_Ln4Hy3HJ_DucF8nFEGM_6ykRwQpmZsuDoPicWcIhq8j8Ezb6zVp8mVs2vsUyW1.YCmLwnJWQiLZxISe
Passcode: 2Cu$$hXg
📘 Rangelands & Pastoralism Resource Hub
(UNCCD COP17 & International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026)
Access background materials, policy references, and key resources here:
https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/rangelands-and-pastoralism-resource-hub---unccd-cop17-and-iyrp.pdf
Access the powerpoint slides presented during the webinar here: https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/12-02-rangeland-dialogues-asia-arab-region.pdf
We thank all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions as we continue advancing sustainable rangeland management across the Asia & Arab Region on the road to UNCCD COP17.
Rangelands sustain biodiversity, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience across vast landscapes. Yet they face growing pressures from land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
The UNCCD COP16 decision (Decision 29/COP.16) calls on countries to scale up policies and investments to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage rangelands in alignment with Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and other global goals.
These regional sessions will bring together UNCCD national focal points, government representatives, Pastoralists, CSOs and key stakeholders from across to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and identify joint priorities for implementing the UNCCD COP16 decision on rangelands.
The dialogues will provide an opportunity to:
- Advance integrated rangeland management and share best practices
- Build a global Coalition on Rangelands and Pastoralists
- Support UNCCD COP16 goals on rangeland restoration and sustainable livestock systems
- Strengthen networks and align with climate, biodiversity, and land strategies
- Mobilize coordinated global action for sustainable rangelands and pastoralism
Join policymakers, pastoralist leaders, community representatives, and global experts to explore how sustainable rangelands can strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and livelihoods across Asia and the Arab region — on the road to UNCCD COP17.
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 08:00–09:15 UTC
Languages: English, Chinese, Russian, Arabic
Programme
08:00 – 08:05 | Welcome & Housekeeping
Moderator: Leonie Meier, Lead, Global Grasslands and Savannahs Initiative, WWF Germany
08:05 – 08:10 | Opening Remarks
Claudia Hiepe, Senior Policy Officer, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
08:10 – 08:17 | The Value Proposition: Why Rangelands Matter
Economic, climate, biodiversity and cultural value of rangelands
Jonathan Davies, Independent Consultant, Agricultural Economics & Ecology
08:17 – 08:27 | COP16 Decision & the Rangelands Flagship Initiative
Implications for rangelands and pastoralists, national entry points toward COP17
Sasha Alexander, Policy Officer, Global Policy Advocacy & Regional Cooperation, UNCCD
Louise Baker, Managing Director, Global Mechanism, UNCCD
08:27 – 08:33 | Regional Context of Rangelands & Pastoralism
Regional challenges and opportunities, and link to IYRP 2026
Bhavana Desai, Founding Member, Pahel Foundation – Pastoral Women Alliance
08:33 – 08:38 | Community Perspective – MENA Region
Qutnah Alhwetat, Al-Disi Women’s Cooperative
08:38 – 08:41 | Interactive Poll
08:41 – 08:51 | Country Case Study & Solutions
LDN pathways for grasslands, savannahs and rangelands and best practices in pastoral governance
Anait Khurshudyan, UNCCD National Focal Point, Uzbekistan
08:51 – 08:58 | Future Policy Pathways toward COP17
Vision and pathways for advancing rangeland priorities
Ariuntuya Dorjsuren, Director General, Policy Planning and Resource Mobilization, UNCCD COP17 National Committee of Mongolia
08:58 – 09:03 | Live Q&A
09:03 – 09:10 | Silk Road Journey to COP17
Regional cooperation and engagement toward COP17
Marcos Montoiro, External Relations Officer, UNCCD
09:10 – 09:15 | Closing & Next Steps
Key takeaways, regional COP17 priorities and follow-up opportunities