As Mongolia Hosts COP17, Pastoralists Demand Space to Move, Survive and Restore

As Mongolia Hosts COP17, Pastoralists Demand Space to Move, Survive and Restore On August 17, 2026, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held its 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The event brought together governments, scientists, financial institutions, businesses and civil society to address pressing challenges related to land degradation, drought and rangeland restoration. At the same time, a symbolic yet powerful presence was made by pastoralists from across Eurasia, represented by the Silk Road Caravan, a group of riders who had traveled over 6,000 kilometers from Türkiye through Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China. Their journey underscored the growing crisis facing pastoral communities and highlighted the need for inclusive solutions that recognize the expertise of local populations. The caravan's arrival in Ulaanbaatar coincided with the opening ceremony, where participants in traditional dress gathered to celebrate the cultural diversity of communities whose livelihoods depend on rangelands. These communities face increasing threats from drought, desertification and loss of grazing areas. For many, the situation is dire: land degradation costs the global economy nearly $900 billion annually, affecting 40 percent of the world’s land and three billion people. Droughts have risen by almost one-third since 2000, generating at least $300 billion in annual economic losses, according to UN data. Among those speaking out was Neema Seki, an Indigenous woman and youth advocate affiliated with the Pastoralist Women’s Council. She addressed delegates at the conference, emphasizing the urgent need for land security for pastoral communities. “The most rapidly changing aspect is access to land,” she explained. “This by implication affects everything else in pastoral livelihoods. Without land tenure security, livestock health is impacted, mobility is affected, and family food security is affected.” Her remarks reflected broader concerns raised by pastoralists and Indigenous groups, who argue that current policies often fail to account for the complex realities of their lives. Seki also highlighted the critical role played by women within pastoral societies. “In a pastoralist setting, women play a significant role that is oftentimes not stated,” she noted. “If livestock health deteriorates, women are mostly responsible for feeding them, bringing water from far distances to water the ailing or weak livestock.” She further pointed out that restrictions on pastoral livelihoods can create a gendered burden, which national climate and conservation policies frequently overlook. “When the pastoral livelihoods are dismantled by restrictions on access to resources, women oftentimes remain in the land to suffer while men are able to go into cities to look for work while women remain with children at home.” The presence of the Silk Road Caravan at COP17 served as both a historical echo and a contemporary call to action. For centuries, caravans along the Silk Road facilitated trade, cultural exchange and the movement of people across vast distances. This particular caravan, however, carried stories of resilience and adaptation in the face of environmental change. Its riders had witnessed firsthand how pastoralists are adjusting to harsher climates and worsening conditions in their ancestral lands. Their experiences underscored the importance of integrating traditional knowledge into modern approaches to land restoration and sustainability. As the conference progressed, discussions centered on translating global commitments into tangible actions on the ground. Delegates debated strategies for restoring degraded rangelands, improving water management and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Yet, the voices of pastoralists and Indigenous peoples remained a focal point, reminding all participants that effective solutions must include the perspectives and practices of those most directly affected by these issues. With the conference underway, the focus will shift toward developing actionable plans that balance ecological recovery with human needs. The success of these efforts will depend on whether global leaders can move beyond rhetoric and implement policies that respect the rights and knowledge of local communities. The Silk Road Caravan’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that the fight against land degradation is not just an environmental issue, it is a struggle for survival, dignity and continuity.