Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, the Rangelands Flagship Initiative was launched at UNCCD COP13 in Mongolia.
Rangelands Initiative
- A multi-partner global initiative led by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
- Launched at – UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia during the International Year on Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026).
- Goal – To reduce poverty and increase food security, targeting synergy between combatting desertification, conserving biodiversity and mitigating and adapting to climate change.
- Supported by – Several Resolutions of Parties to the Convention, including COP16/L.15 on Rangelands and Pastoralists.
- Objectives – To mobilise greater public and private investment for conserving, sustainably managing and restoring rangelands.
- It focuses on achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in rangeland ecosystems.
- It seeks to create synergy between desertification control, biodiversity conservation and climate action.
- 3 components
- Knowledge – Develop supporting knowledge products, including
- “LDN Principles for Sustainable Rangeland”,
- Sustainable Rangelands Standard,
- Guidance on assessment of rangeland health and cost-benefit analysis of rangeland restoration.
- Investment – Increase public and private investment in rangelands.
- Develop a portfolio of rangeland restoration investment projects addressing
- Land degradation,
- Drought resilience,
- Biodiversity loss,
- Carbon sequestration,
- Climate adaptation,
- Cultural heritage,
- Food security and livestock value chains.
- Institutions – Strengthen institutions to promote rangeland policy and investment and establish a global coalition to advocate for rangeland policy and investment.
- Significance
- It supports measures to increase conservation of biodiversity, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework.
- It will advance sustainable land management to improve resilience to climate change impacts.
- It integrates rangelands and sustainable grazing into Nationally Determined Contributions in line with recommendations from UNFCCC COP27.
Reference
UNCCD | Rangelands Flagship Initiative
