IYRP 2026: Global Photo & Reel Call and Youth Convening in Ladakh
As a contribution to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), in collaboration with Katradi Trust, Government Degree College Kargil, Government Higher Secondary School Tangtse, Achi Association India, and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), has organised two interconnected initiatives.
The first, a global Call for Photos and Reels (1–14 October 2026), invited visual stories exploring pastoral and agropastoral lives, relationships with land and animals, cultural identities, changing livelihoods and belonging. Contributions came from across India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Two online exchanges enabled contributors to share experiences and reflect on common challenges and diverse perspectives on the future of pastoralism. These photographs and reels will be exhibited during the subsequent event (see below) as well as via ATREE’s social media.
The second, Landscapes of Possibilities: Youth Convening for Sustainable and Resilient Futures (25 October–3 November 2026), brings together young people aged 18–35 from pastoral, agropastoral, rural, urban and peri-urban backgrounds across India, primarily Ladakh. Two participatory workshops will be held in Changthang (25–27 October) and Kargil (31 October–2 November), followed by public events on 28 October and 3 November, respectively.
Through dialogue, storytelling, movement, theatre and collaborative art, participants will exchange experiences and explore shared challenges and opportunities. The intended outcomes include youth-led creative expressions, cross-pollination of ideas, and new peer connections and networks. Participants will also identify shared interests and possibilities for continued collaboration and locally grounded initiatives beyond the event.
This event is supported by Rural India Supporting Trust and IRD, France.
Contact for further details: queries.iyrp@atree.org or saloni.bhatia@atree.org