Decisions 15.204 to 15.206 - Pastoralism
Crosscutting Conservation Issues
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Decision directed to: Parties
Parties are encouraged to:
a) observe, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/253, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (YRP) in 2026, and raise awareness of the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of rangelands for the conservation of CMS-listed species through communication, outreach, events and activities, collaboration, educational materials and programmes;
b) support the implementation of the actions related to the conservation of CMS-listed species within the IYRP Global Action Plan endorsed by the IYRP Steering Committee;
c) support the Scientific Council in implementing Decision 15.205 by providing information, data and resources.
Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council is requested to extend the mandate of the Working Group on Pastoralism and CMS-listed Species until such time as the Sessional Committee decides that its work is complete or an alternative arrangement is made. The Working group is asked to, in cooperation with the UNCCD Secretariat, where relevant:
a) under the lead of a dedicated specialist and through at least one in-person meeting, subject to the availability of resources:
i. overlay, to the extent possible, maps of pastoral rangelands and key habitats of selected CMS-listed species to identify overlaps and showcase positive and negative interactions and the actions needed to support the coexistence of wildlife and domestic animals;
ii. define information/data needed by decision makers in the agricultural and forestry sectors to ensure migratory species are taken into account in the planning and management of pastoral land use;
iii. develop guidelines on sustainable pastoralism in migratory species’ habitats for decision makers based on (i) and (ii), taking into account the recommendations contained in document UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.28.6, existing CMS mandates, the rights of pastoralists, cultural considerations, the negative impacts of unsustainable practices and positive impacts of sustainable pastoralism on migratory species, including wildlife health and One Health aspects;
iv. develop recommendations on how to mainstream the guidelines into land-use and conservation policies at the national and international levels to achieve benefits for both conservation of migratory species and pastoralists;
b) building on the above, prepare a draft Resolution on Pastoralism and Migratory Species for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 16th meeting.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall, subject to the availability of resources:
a) consolidate information from various CMS mandates related to interactions between pastoralism and CMS-listed species, and develop tailored communication products to convey this information to relevant sectors and organizations, with the aim of promoting implementation of CMS mandates;
b) liaise with the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Global Rewilding Alliance’s Rangelands Working Group and the Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue Platform, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Global Alliance and other partners to explore possibilities for cooperation, including through joint activities highlighting pastoralism and its relevance to the conservation of CMS-listed species, with the support of the Working Group established by the Scientific Council under Decision 15.205;
c) support the Scientific Council with the implementation of Decision 15.205.
Decision directed to: Parties
Parties are encouraged to:
a) observe, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/253, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (YRP) in 2026, and raise awareness of the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of rangelands for the conservation of CMS-listed species through communication, outreach, events and activities, collaboration, educational materials and programmes;
b) support the implementation of the actions related to the conservation of CMS-listed species within the IYRP Global Action Plan endorsed by the IYRP Steering Committee;
c) support the Scientific Council in implementing Decision 15.205 by providing information, data and resources.
Decision directed to: Scientific Council
The Scientific Council is requested to extend the mandate of the Working Group on Pastoralism and CMS-listed Species until such time as the Sessional Committee decides that its work is complete or an alternative arrangement is made. The Working group is asked to, in cooperation with the UNCCD Secretariat, where relevant:
a) under the lead of a dedicated specialist and through at least one in-person meeting, subject to the availability of resources:
i. overlay, to the extent possible, maps of pastoral rangelands and key habitats of selected CMS-listed species to identify overlaps and showcase positive and negative interactions and the actions needed to support the coexistence of wildlife and domestic animals;
ii. define information/data needed by decision makers in the agricultural and forestry sectors to ensure migratory species are taken into account in the planning and management of pastoral land use;
iii. develop guidelines on sustainable pastoralism in migratory species’ habitats for decision makers based on (i) and (ii), taking into account the recommendations contained in document UNEP/CMS/COP15/Doc.28.6, existing CMS mandates, the rights of pastoralists, cultural considerations, the negative impacts of unsustainable practices and positive impacts of sustainable pastoralism on migratory species, including wildlife health and One Health aspects;
iv. develop recommendations on how to mainstream the guidelines into land-use and conservation policies at the national and international levels to achieve benefits for both conservation of migratory species and pastoralists;
b) building on the above, prepare a draft Resolution on Pastoralism and Migratory Species for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 16th meeting.
Decision directed to: Secretariat
The Secretariat shall, subject to the availability of resources:
a) consolidate information from various CMS mandates related to interactions between pastoralism and CMS-listed species, and develop tailored communication products to convey this information to relevant sectors and organizations, with the aim of promoting implementation of CMS mandates;
b) liaise with the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Global Rewilding Alliance’s Rangelands Working Group and the Global Grasslands and Savannahs Dialogue Platform, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists Global Alliance and other partners to explore possibilities for cooperation, including through joint activities highlighting pastoralism and its relevance to the conservation of CMS-listed species, with the support of the Working Group established by the Scientific Council under Decision 15.205;
c) support the Scientific Council with the implementation of Decision 15.205.