Published: 6 January 2026Environment
UN Declares 2026 as International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists
The United Nations declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), bringing renewed global attention to grasslands which cover approximately 40% of Earth's land surface and store 90% of their carbon underground. The declaration highlighted that climate negotiations continue to prioritize forests while neglecting grasslands' mitigation potential.
India's grasslands span about 12 million hectares, supporting pastoral communities across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The Sewan grass grasslands of western Rajasthan's Thar Desert are critical for livestock rearing. Most Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) omit grasslands despite their comparable carbon-sink value to forests. The IYRP calls on nations to integrate grassland conservation into climate action plans and recognize pastoralists' traditional ecological knowledge.
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How many saplings did Varanasi plant in one hour to set the Guinness World Record on March 1, 2026?
Explanation · Correct answer CVaranasi planted 2,51,446 saplings in one hour, breaking China's previous record of 1.53 lakh. The record was verified by Guinness adjudicator Rishi Nath.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the UN declare 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)?
The **UN** declared **2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)** to bring global attention to grasslands that cover approximately **40% of Earth's land surface** and store **90% of their carbon underground**. The declaration highlighted that climate negotiations continue to prioritize forests while neglecting grasslands' mitigation potential. Most **Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)** omit grasslands despite their comparable **carbon-sink value to forests**.
What percentage of Earth's land surface do grasslands cover and how much carbon do they store?
Grasslands cover approximately **40% of Earth's land surface** and store **90% of their carbon underground** — comparable to forests as a carbon sink. The **UN's declaration of 2026 as IYRP** highlighted that climate negotiations continue to prioritize forests while neglecting grassland conservation. Most **NDCs** omit grasslands. The IYRP calls on nations to integrate **grassland conservation into climate action plans** and recognize pastoralists' **traditional ecological knowledge**.
How much of India's land area is covered by grasslands and which states have major pastoral communities?
India's grasslands span approximately **12 million hectares (1.2 crore hectares)**, supporting pastoral communities across **Rajasthan**, **Gujarat**, **Madhya Pradesh**, and **Karnataka**. The **Sewan grass grasslands** of western Rajasthan's **Thar Desert** are particularly critical for **livestock rearing**. The **UN declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)**, emphasizing that most **NDCs** omit grasslands despite their **carbon-sink value**.
What is the significance of Sewan grass grasslands of Rajasthan in the context of the UN IYRP 2026?
The **Sewan grass grasslands** of western Rajasthan's **Thar Desert** are critical for **livestock rearing** in the region and represent one of India's important pastoral ecosystems. In the context of the **UN International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026**, they exemplify the grasslands that need protection: India's grasslands cover **12 million hectares**, supporting communities in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka, yet most **NDCs** omit grasslands.
How does the UN IYRP 2026 address the neglect of grasslands in climate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?
The **UN International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026** calls on nations to **integrate grassland conservation into climate action plans** and **recognize pastoralists' traditional ecological knowledge**. Despite grasslands covering **40% of Earth's land surface**, storing **90% of carbon underground**, and having comparable **carbon-sink value to forests**, most **Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)** omit them. India's **12 million hectares** of grasslands support communities in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.
