The grass beneath our feet: Why rangelands matter
In northern Kenya, a herder scans the sky for rain that hasn't come. The grass his animals need is thinning by the day. He's not alone, from Africa's grasslands to the salt-crusted plains of Central Asia, this same story is playing out for millions of people who depend on land many people may never think about: Rangelands. Rangelands, which are found on every continent apart from Antarctica, are
Source: United Nations News · August 16, 2026 at 6:28 PM · AI-assisted report
KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST 2026 —
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Rangelands Crisis Threatens Livelihoods from Kenya to Central Asia, UN Warns
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NAIROBI/MALAYSIA — Across vast grasslands from northern Kenya to Central Asia’s salt-crusted plains, millions face a growing crisis as rangelands—critical but often overlooked ecosystems—deteriorate under climate change and human pressure.
Rangelands, covering every continent except Antarctica, include grasslands, shrublands, and drylands that support livestock grazing and wildlife. Unlike croplands, they are not intensively farmed but underpin global food systems. When rangelands fail, the impact is immediate: livestock starve, markets shrink, and food security collapses.
A recent nationwide ecosystem assessment in one southern African nation—details not yet available—revealed sobering trends: grasslands are shrinking as invasive species spread and droughts intensify, leaving insufficient recovery time. However, areas with strong community-led governance fared better, highlighting the value of traditional knowledge in land stewardship.
The crisis is starkly illustrated by the Aral Sea in Central Asia, once the world’s fourth-largest lake. Now largely vanished, it has left behind a 5.4-million-hectare salt desert. In Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, over 80% of pastures are degraded, with toxic salt storms spreading pollutants across thousands of kilometres, poisoning land and livelihoods far beyond the disaster zone.
In Kenya’s Marsabit County, satellite data since 1990 shows grasslands steadily turning to barren ground. The Chalbi Desert is projected to double in size within decades if trends continue, threatening pastures central to pastoralist communities for generations.
Across these regions, solutions are emerging by combining scientific data with indigenous knowledge. Restoration efforts succeed when local communities see their expertise reflected in policies, underscoring that trust and ownership—not just data—drive lasting change.
The challenges facing rangelands will be a key topic at the UN Desertification Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17. The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), a flagship UN Development Programme initiative, will focus on strengthening protection and restoration efforts under the Nature Pledge.
For pastoralists like the herder in northern Kenya, the stakes are clear: survival depends on blending hard data with time-tested wisdom. Without it, the grass beneath their feet—and the livelihoods it sustains—may vanish.
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