Flagship initiative

The Rangelands Flagship Initiative is a multi-partner, global initiative led by Mongolia and the UNCCD to significantly increase investments to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by conserving, sustainably managing and restoring rangelands.

The Initiative will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in rangelands, which include most of the world’s drylands. The initiative consists of three components addressing knowledge, investment and institutions, which will advocate, increase public and private investment, and develop supporting knowledge products.

The Initiative will be launched at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia during the International Year on Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026).

The goal of the Rangelands Flagship Initiative is to reduce poverty and increase food security, targeting synergy between combatting desertification, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The Initiative will support measures to increase the percentage of rangelands included in protected areas, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework and will advance sustainable land management to improve resilience to climate change impacts and to integrate rangelands and sustainable grazing into Nationally Determined Contributions in line with recommendations from UNFCCC COP27. The Rangelands Flagship Initiative is supported by several Resolutions of Parties to the Convention, including COP16/L.15 on Rangelands and Pastoralists.

The initiative consists of the following three components:

Component 1: Develop supporting knowledge products. Develop knowledge products, including “LDN Principles for Sustainable Rangeland”, Sustainable Rangelands Standard, guidance on assessment of rangeland health, and cost-benefit analysis of rangeland restoration.

Component 2: Increase public & 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, & livestock value chains.

Component 3: Strengthen institutions to promote rangeland policy and investment. Establish a global coalition to advocate for rangeland policy and investment coordinated by a Eurasian center dedicated to sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of drylands.

Increasing investment in rangeland restoration

Under Component 2 of the Rangeland Flagship Initiative, the UNCCD, Global Mechanism and partner countries will develop a portfolio of projects in all regions. Projects will make an explicit contribution to achieving national LDN targets and will be guided by the LDN Principles (Orr et al., 2017) and knowledge products developed under the Rangeland Flagship Initiative.

The thematic focus of projects will be determined by local context and the priorities of government and funding partners, but are likely to include:

1. Land degradation & landscape restoration
2. Drought resilience
3. Livestock value chains & pastoral livelihoods
4. Food security
5. Biodiversity conservation and sustainable management
6. Carbon sequestration
7. Climate change adaptation
8. Cultural heritage
9. Digital rangeland analytical system