“The calibre of presentations from experts from across the world has ensured we are walking away with a plan to contribute to addressing the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the vital rangelands ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.”

Highlights of the congress include:

• Emphasis on Indigenous Knowledge and codesign through the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into rangeland management. Insights from the Traditional Indigenous Knowledge Forum, held prior to the main event, were incorporated into the congress discussions, emphasising codesign and partnerships for enduring rangeland outcomes. Day 1’s Keynote Address was “First Nations & Mainstream Economies Co-Existing on Rangelands” presented by Joe Morrison, Group CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and set the tone of inclusivity throughout the congress.
• Panel discussions with Mongolian herders and Hungarian shepherds to explore herd management and highlight the diverse challenges and practices in rangeland stewardship across different cultures and regions.
• Exploring multi-functional land use in rangelands, moving beyond traditional pastoral activities. This included discussions on integrating conservation, tourism, and other land uses to diversify income sources and promote sustainable development in rangeland areas.
• Highlighting and integrating the crucial perspectives and roles of women in rangeland management through keynote speakers and themes that addressed gender and social justice and understanding the diverse roles and challenges faced by women within rangeland communities. This included women herders from Mongolia, India, Kenya, Tanzania as well as Spain and Hungary.
• A variety of tours were offered, both before and during the Congress, providing delegates with firsthand experiences of diverse rangeland ecosystems (from semi-arid grazing lands to iconic natural landscapes like the Flinders Ranges), land management practices, community engagements as well as visits to research facilities.
• The United Nations led global initiative ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026’ was heavily integrated into the congress to raise awareness about the critical importance of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism for the planet, people, and economies worldwide.