The United Nations has declared the year 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), across the world, people and organisations are coming together throughout the year to recognise and support the people, animals and landscapes that make pastoralism possible.

Shepherds and their flocks play a vital role in maintaining our landscapes. Through extensive grazing, they contribute to biodiversity, help reduce the risk of wildfires and maintain landscapes that can store and sequester carbon. Pastoralism is also part of our intangible cultural heritage, carrying knowledge, practices and traditions that have shaped our relationship with the land for generations. Yet shepherding is often overlooked and undervalued. Across the world, shepherds face growing challenges in sustaining their livelihoods. At the same time, the wool produced by their flocks is frequently treated as a waste material, despite its potential as a valuable and renewable resource. In this International Year, we are coming together to celebrate shepherds, sheep and wool, to share knowledge and experiences, and to open up a conversation about the future of pastoralism. We are calling for greater recognition, support and meaningful change. On 13 October 2026, the Wool March Brussels 2026 comes to a celebratory ending in the Ter Kamerenbos in Brussels. Together with shepherds, sheep and wool workers from across Europe, we will bring their voices to the European Parliament and demonstrate the importance of this living system.

Links:
Wool March