Rangeland Restoration Awards & Champions : Best Practices in Community Rangeland Management and Pastoralism (UNCCD COP 17 Side Event)

As part of the IYRP, the Rangeland Restoration Awards  was launched to recognize individuals, communities, and groups, organisations  whose work - on the ground,  field level  activity,   through policy, or advocacy - has advanced rangeland restoration and management anywhere in the world.  Nominations opened on 1 April 2026 and closed 31 May 2026, drawing entries submitted by applicants themselves or by nominating institutions and agencies. A seven members steering committee, drawing on representatives from FAO, ILRI, and IYRP Regional Support Group experts, reviewed submissions against criteria including measurable impact on extend  of land restored, livestock and livestock keepers benefitted, biodiversity outcomes, and the strength of the underlying practice, policy, or community action. Twenty awardees were selected globally, each receiving a certificate today. Their profiles and best practices   are being showcased here today, to give their work the visibility it deserves and to inspire wider adoption of these practices across rangeland communities worldwide.