Kathmandu, November 26, 2025
The vast rangelands of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), long managed primarily for livestock grazing and pastoral livelihoods, are facing growing pressure from climate change, shifting socio-economic trends, and demographic transformation. Competing demands from tourism development, conservation initiatives, and extractive activities such as mining are intensifying land-use conflicts in one of the world’s most fragile mountain ecosystems.
Responding to these emerging challenges, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has advanced a comprehensive policy initiative aimed at promoting sustainable and multi-benefit rangeland management across HKH countries. The initiative recognizes that rangelands are not only critical for livestock production but also vital for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, cultural heritage, and rural economies.
Beginning in 2023, ICIMOD convened a regional, multi-stakeholder workshop bringing together policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, and community representatives to assess existing national rangeland policies. This was followed by a focused national consultation in Pakistan, aimed at examining policy coherence, identifying gaps, and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in rangeland governance.
A key feature of the draft rangelands policy is its strong emphasis on gender inclusion. ICIMOD’s review highlights that women play critical but often under-recognized roles in rangeland management, pastoral systems, and household food security. By integrating gender considerations, the policy seeks to ensure more equitable access to resources, decision-making, and benefits from rangeland use.
The draft policy, now formally submitted, is currently awaiting Cabinet approval. Once endorsed, it is expected to serve as a guiding framework for balancing competing land-use interests while safeguarding the ecological integrity of HKH rangelands and sustaining pastoralist livelihoods.
As the region prepares for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026, ICIMOD’s policy work underscores the urgency of coordinated regional action. In a rapidly changing climate and development landscape, sustainable rangeland governance is emerging as a cornerstone for resilient mountain communities and healthy Himalayan ecosystems.
