8th World Reindeer Herders Congress (August 4-8, 2026) brought together reindeer herders from across the circumpolar North in Tsagaannuur soum, Khuvsgul province of Mongolia, to strengthen cooperation on the future of reindeer husbandry and resilient rangelands. Hosted in the homeland of Mongolian Dukha reindeer herders, the Congress placed Indigenous knowledge and herders’ experiences at the centre of discussions on land degradation, grazing resources and sustainable land management. Delegates from Mongolia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Scotland exchanged knowledge and experience. The gathering highlighted the importance of combining traditional knowledge with research, mapping and monitoring to support informed management of reindeer herding landscapes. It also strengthened international networks, intergenerational knowledge exchange, and reindeer herders’ participation in decisions affecting their lands and livelihoods.
The Congress facilitated global dialogue with practical action to strengthen the resilience of reindeer herding communities and ecosystems through exchanging best practices. As land degradation and access to grazing areas were central themes of the Congress, it created space for herders from different reindeer husbandry regions to compare experiences, identify common challenges, and exchange practical knowledge across cultures and landscapes. Reindeer herders emphasized that their knowledge, observations, and experience are essential for understanding environmental changes and developing sustainable approaches to land and pasture management.
Held during the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the Congress reinforced pastoralist communities’ contributions to sustainable rangeland management, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and resilient landscapes.
Resilient reindeer landscapes require resilient herding communities, with herders’ knowledge and participation at the heart of decision-making process. The Reindeer Herding and Resilience project focuses on building knowledge on land degradation and grazing resources, strengthening monitoring, supporting capacity development, and facilitating knowledge exchange, while recognising Indigenous and traditional knowledge as an essential foundation for sustainable management of reindeer landscapes.
Photo credit: Andreas Ausland / ICR