To celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), we invite you to join an online webinar organised by Association Biom in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Date: 13 July 2026, 10:00 CET
Platform: Zoom (link to follow)
Language: English
The webinar will be presented by Engin Yılmaz, founder and Executive Director of the Yolda Initiative and coordinator of the Alliance for Mediterranean Nature and Culture. He is one of the leading experts on the conservation of Mediterranean landscapes through traditional pastoralism and serves on the leadership team of the Global Alliance for Rangelands and Pastoralists, the international network that played a key role in the designation of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026.
For centuries, transhumance and other forms of traditional extensive livestock farming have shaped Mediterranean landscapes while supporting valuable habitats and biodiversity. However, the number of people practising these forms of pastoralism continues to decline, and herders face numerous administrative, economic, and social challenges.
During the webinar, we will discuss the current state of transhumance across Mediterranean countries, examples of good practice and successful policy measures supporting pastoralists, the role of subsidies, legislation, and modernisation in sustaining pastoral practices, and the relationship between traditional livestock farming and nature conservation. We will also explore what is lost as pastoralism declines, particularly the ecosystem services provided by herders, and consider how these functions might be maintained in the future.
This webinar is primarily intended for professionals working in nature conservation and agriculture, protected area managers, and representatives of public institutions. However, it is open to anyone interested in nature conservation, traditional pastoralism, and the sustainable future of Mediterranean landscapes. Participation is free of charge, and a recording of the webinar will be published on the Association Biom YouTube channel for later viewing.
The webinar is being held as part of the “Mosaic of LIFE” and “Heart of the Dinaric Karst” projects.
Join us to discover how experiences from across the Mediterranean can help shape the future of transhumance and the conservation of the landscapes it has created.
