This discussion paper draws on key messages from GLF Africa 2026, and challenges the dominant narrative that frames pastoralism as outdated and rangelands as degraded and unproductive “wastelands”. It presents pastoral societies as indispensable stewards of rangeland biodiversity, mobility as a sophisticated climate adaptation strategy, and communal tenure as essential ecological infrastructure rather than obstacles to be corrected.
The paper calls for rangeland-specific monitoring, inclusive governance, and a shift from crisis-response finance to long-term stewardship investment, offering policymakers and practitioners a roadmap for supporting rangelands and pastoralist communities on their own terms.
