Global Cooperation to protect and promote Rangeland Resilience

The XII International Rangeland Congress (IRC) was held in Australia from June 2-6, 2025, at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This significant event brought together over 750 delegates from more than 45 countries, including a diverse range of global experts, academics, pastoralists, indigenous representatives, and other stakeholders to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in global rangeland management.

The Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs were proud to be involved in the congress through delivering workshops, running tours, poster presentations, chairing panels and presenting on a wide range of topics on drought resilience and climate adaptation in rangeland systems.

Tropical North Queensland Drought Hub (TNQDH) Director and President of the International Rangeland Congress Professor David Phelps said he was thrilled with turn out and diversity of attendees and how the congress facilitated high-quality, impactful conversations.
“As both a committee member and drought hub representative, the congress exceeded our expectations for bringing people together and providing an opportunity to exchange ideas."

“The calibre of presentations from experts from across the world has ensured we are walking away with a plan to contribute to addressing the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the vital rangelands ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.”

Highlights of the congress include:

• Emphasis on Indigenous Knowledge and codesign through the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into rangeland management. Insights from the Traditional Indigenous Knowledge Forum, held prior to the main event, were incorporated into the congress discussions, emphasising codesign and partnerships for enduring rangeland outcomes.
Day one's Keynote Address was “First Nations & Mainstream Economies Co-Existing on Rangelands” presented by Joe Morrison, Group CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and set the tone of inclusivity throughout the congress.

• Panel discussions with Mongolian herders and Hungarian shepherds to explore herd management and highlight the diverse challenges and practices in rangeland stewardship across different cultures and regions.

• Exploring multi-functional land use in rangelands, moving beyond traditional pastoral activities. This included discussions on integrating conservation, tourism, and other land uses to diversify income sources and promote sustainable development in rangeland areas.

• Highlighting and integrating the crucial perspectives and roles of women in rangeland management through keynote speakers and themes that addressed gender and social justice and understanding the diverse roles and challenges faced by women within rangeland communities. This included women herders from Mongolia, India, Kenya, Tanzania as well as Spain and Hungary.

• A variety of tours were offered, both before and during the Congress, providing delegates with firsthand experiences of diverse rangeland ecosystems (from semi-arid grazing lands to iconic natural landscapes like the Flinders Ranges), land management practices, community engagements as well as visits to research facilities.

• The United Nations led global initiative ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026’ was heavily integrated into the congress to raise awareness about the critical importance of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism for the planet, people, and economies worldwide.

Prof Phelps said, “The impact that drought can have on rangelands includes erosion, increased fire risk and weed infestations, so it was important to hear about other international drought experiences, policies and management strategies and the new research, technologies, and innovative practices such as soil health management that Australia could adopt.”
The congress emphasised the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach required to address the complex challenges and opportunities facing rangelands worldwide.

“Key resolutions from the congress include the need for improved national awareness of the importance of our rangelands, the need for greater advocacy for investment in knowledge and understanding of management needs in the world’s rangelands, and the need for greater integration of traditional knowledge with our scientific knowledge of rangelands management.”
For more detailed information, including session recordings and presentation materials, please visit the official Congress website.

Image: Representatives from the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovations Hubs across Australia. Credit: E Harrington.

JUNE 2025