The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026 NENA Regional Conference will bring together regional partners, government representatives, technical experts, researchers, and pastoralist organizations to strengthen collaboration and advance sustainable rangeland management across the Near East and North Africa (NENA).
The event is co-organized by the NENA IYRP Consortium, namely, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); the International Land Coalition (ILC); the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) and for Mediterranean Cooperation (Med); the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS); the League of Arab States (LAS); the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE); and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). The conference will kick off the IYRP in the NENA region and mark the launch of the NENA IYRP Consortium and its Joint Action Agenda for 2026.
Over three days, participants will examine rangeland governance, climate and biodiversity challenges, pastoralist rights, and opportunities for innovation and research. The conference will include high-level dialogues, technical sessions, peer learning, and a field visit to local rangeland sites in Tunisia.
The meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the implementation of the IYRP 2026 and conclude with the IYRP-2026 NENA Communique, outlining shared regional priorities for resilient rangeland systems and thriving pastoral communities.