Afghan Social Organization for Women

🌿 Environment & Community Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore. — World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026 📅 June 17, 2026 ✍️ Afghan Social Organization for Women (ASOW) ⏱ 5 min read Rangelands coverage >50% of Earth’s land surface Rangelands at risk ~50% degraded or threatened globally Global host 2026 Kenya in partnership with UNCCD Established by UN 1994 observed every June 17 🌍 What are rangelands and why do they matter? Rangelands — grasslands, shrublands, savannas, and steppes — cover more than half of the world’s land surface. They sustain pastoralist communities, support biodiversity, regulate water cycles, store carbon, and are the foundation of food security for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Yet today, up to half of all rangelands are degraded or at risk, threatened by climate change, unsustainable land use, and decades of neglect in global policy. “Investing in rangelands is investing in food, water, climate resilience — and the communities who have protected these lands for generations.” — UNCCD 2026 📍 Afghanistan: on the frontlines of land degradation Afghanistan is among the countries most severely affected by desertification and drought. Decades of conflict combined with climate change have accelerated land degradation across the country. The daily reality for Afghan communities: Farmers watch their fields dry up and harvests fail season after season Herders lose their animals and traditional grazing routes disappear Women and children walk ever-longer distances in search of water Families are pushed into food insecurity, poverty, and displacement 🎯 The 2026 theme: three calls to action This year’s observance — hosted by Kenya — calls on the world to take three steps for rangelands and the communities who depend on them. 👁 Recognize Acknowledge the economic, ecological, and cultural value of rangelands in food security, water supply, and biodiversity. 🤝 Respect Honor the knowledge and rights of pastoralists and Indigenous communities who have sustainably managed these lands for generations. 🌱 Restore Invest in sustainable land and water management, community-led restoration, and stronger policies that protect rangelands.