INTERNATIONAL MEETING - MADRID : CELEBRATING THE IYRP 2026
The Celebration of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists – International Meeting in Madrid will be a key forum bringing together researchers, livestock farmers, shepherds, technicians, environmental organizations, public administrations, and community leaders committed to the sustainable management of livestock and rangelands.
The meeting will address the main challenges and opportunities related to pastoral activities, highlighting the role of grazing and transhumance as key practices for the conservation of land, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and the sustainable development of rural communities.
With special attention to new technologies and youth involvement, the event will promote a shared reflection on the transition toward more sustainable, resilient, and socially viable extensive livestock systems, recognizing the strategic role of pastoralism in a balanced global transition.
The year 2026 has been designated by the FAO to place the importance of rangelands and grazing on the international agenda. It will also be the year in which transhumance will be formally declared a Cultural Heritage Asset in the Community of Madrid, a milestone of particular relevance for the preservation of this living heritage. For this reason, the region has sought to become the first stop of the many initiatives that will take place throughout the year, with pastoralism as the central theme.