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OUR PROJECTS

Our projects and collaborations play a key role in the way we address challenges and strive to ensure the sustainable future of our rangelands. Recognising the importance of research in facilitating informed decision-making, we actively maintain strong connections with the research community. Engaging in collaborative projects, we unite a diverse range of stakeholders.

Global Rangelands Standard

The Global Rangelands Standard (GRS) is a core component of the RSC’s voluntary sustainability system. It sets out the foundational principles, criteria and indicators for responsible and collaborative rangeland stewardship.

Developed through engagement with pastoralists, Indigenous governance institutions, scientists, practitioners and market actors, the GRS offers a shared and credible framework grounded in traditional ecological knowledge and scientific understanding. It guides regenerative land management, supports ecosystem health, conserves biodiversity, prevents degradation, and promotes inclusive governance, recognised rights and fair working conditions.

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The GRS is developed in partnership with the UNCCD, the SFA, and with the support of rangeland stakeholders. It is supported by the Global Environment Facility-funded STELARR (Sustainable Investments for Large-Scale Rangeland Restoration) Project, which is implemented by IUCN and executed by ILRI and partners.

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Take part in the GRS consultations.

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VoIR

VoIR (Validation of Impact Results) is the RSC’s shared approach for confirming the ecosystem service benefits generated through responsible rangeland management. It provides a consistent and credible method for assessing outcomes across biodiversity, carbon, water, soils, cultural values and recreation.

Drawing on scientific evidence, data-driven indicators and local knowledge, VoIR provides transparency for communities, producers and supply-chain partners by offering trusted, third-party confirmation of positive change. By linking verified ecosystem service outcomes with clear claims, it supports nature-positive investment, responsible sourcing and long-term improvements across rangeland landscapes.

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TEK Research

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) reflects generations of observation and lived experience of land, livestock, weather and ecological change by pastoralist and Indigenous communities. As part of a wider global initiative on community knowledge, the Steppe research project is the first in a series of regional TEK studies the RSC is undertaking across rangeland countries. Through this initial project, the RSC is working to understand how these knowledge systems assess rangeland health, and how TEK can complement scientific and data-driven monitoring to provide a fuller picture of ecosystem conditions.

By integrating TEK into monitoring and decision-making, the RSC supports more holistic monitoring, recognises community expertise and helps ensure that sustainable management approaches reflect locally observed conditions.

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The TEK Steppe Project is supported by ISEAL (International Social Environmental Accreditation and Labelling) and conducted in collaboration with the SFA (Sustainable Fibre Alliance).

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Landscape Verification
Project

This project aims to develop a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework using a landscape-based approach.

In collaboration with local and international partners as well as local government entities, the RSC is testing this approach to monitor environmental impact at the ecosystem level. The initiative seeks to provide valuable insights into the implementation of a holistic multi-stakeholder MEL framework for global rangeland ecosystems.

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The Landscape Verification Project is supported by ISEAL (International Social Environmental Accreditation and Labelling) and conducted in collaboration with the SFA (Sustainable Fibre Alliance).

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Rangeland Research

Decent Work, Gender and Family Health

The findings from the Rangeland Research on Decent Work, Gender and Family Health provide a critical foundation for informing the development of a rangeland standard.

By understanding the nuances of family roles, social dynamics, and the specific contributions of women herders, the aim is to integrate these insights into a standard that is sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of pastoral communities.

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This research was conducted in collaboration with the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), Colorado State University, and the Nutag Action Research and Training Center.

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PARTNER PROJECTS

Our esteemed partners are leading the way in advancing rangeland stewardship through a variety of exceptional projects. These initiatives showcase dedicated approaches and sustainable preactices that preserve and enhace our rangelands and biodiversity, while also safeguarding livelihoods.

STELARR Project

The overall objective of the Sustainable Investments for Large-Scale Rangeland Restoration (STELARR) project is “to reverse rangeland degradation and improve productivity of rangelands globally through sustainable livestock value chains, and thereby reduce poverty and secure livelihoods, with inclusive benefits to women and youth”.

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IYRP Initiative

The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists aims to raise awareness and advocate for the value of healthy rangelands and sustainable pastoralism, as well as advocating for the need to further build the capacity of and increase responsible investment in the pastoral livestock sector.

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B4L Strategy

The Business4Land strategy, presented by UNCCD during the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, seeks to mobilize the power of the private sector to advance Land Degradation Neutrality by enabling transition from our current extractive and extensive land-use models towards sustainable land management.

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BIA for Mountains & Islands Programme

The Business Incubator and Accelerator (BIA) for Mountains and Islands programme aims to increase mountain and island communities’ resilience by supporting innovative entrepreneurship in agricultural and textile value chains through the provision of grants, technical assistance and capacity development.

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Global Rangelands Standard

Objective: The aim of the GRS is to establish a fundamental set of principles and indicators, informed by a One Health perspective linking ecosystem, livestock and community well-being, to achieve the following environmental, economic and social goals:

  1. Strengthen soil, water and biodiversity by guiding producers, customary institutions and other rangeland users to maintain healthy ecosystems and prevent degradation through regenerative and adaptive management suited to diverse pastoral contexts.
  2. Support resilient and secure livelihoods by recognising pastoral mobility, cultural identity and Indigenous and local knowledge, and by ensuring equitable participation and rights within rangeland systems.
  3. Promote responsible production and transparent value chains by enabling recognition of sustainably produced rangeland products and encouraging their integration into aligned global markets.

Key Principles: 

  • Effective Management – Ensures clear roles, simple processes and collaborative planning systems that support adaptive learning and consistent implementation.
  • Responsible Land Governance & Tenure – Ensures land and resource use is based on legitimate statutory or customary rights, inclusive decision-making and transparent arrangements that reduce conflict.
  • Regenerative Management & Ecosystem Health – Promotes adaptive grazing and sustainable land-use practices that protect soil, water, vegetation and biodiversity, and support restoration.
  • Resilient Livelihoods – Strengthens community resilience through risk planning, responsible diversification and support for vulnerable groups.
  • Rights, Equity & Inclusion – Upholds the rights, dignity and participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, youth, children and workers.

The GRS safeguards rangeland health through collaboration with producers, customary governance systems and other stakeholders, offering a landscape-based framework that reflects pastoral systems and strengthens alignment and collective impact without replacing existing commodity standards.

For more details on collaborations and consultations, contact us at info@rangelandstewardship.org.

VoIR

What VoIR Is

VoIR (Validation of Impact Results) is the Rangeland Stewardship Council’s approach for verifying the ecological and cultural outcomes of responsible rangeland stewardship. Aligned with the core principles and key performance indicators of the Global Rangelands Standard (GRS), it assesses biodiversity, carbon storage, water and soils, recreation and cultural values. By combining scientific evidence, data-driven indicators and local and Indigenous knowledge, VoIR offers a holistic understanding of rangeland condition and performance.

Objectives

VoIR aims to:

  • generate credible, independently verified evidence of ecosystem service outcomes
  • increase transparency and accountability for producers, communities and market partners
  • support responsible sourcing and nature-positive investment with reliable data
  • strengthen value chains through consistent metrics and shared assessment approaches
  • recognise and elevate the contributions of Indigenous Peoples, traditional users and local communities

Purpose and Impact

VoIR links measurable impact with transparent claims, helping partners demonstrate improvements in soil and pasture condition, biodiversity, cultural values and climate resilience. As part of the broader RSC system, VoIR reinforces the sustainability commitments of the GRS and strengthens confidence in responsible rangeland products by providing verifiable and trusted evidence of positive change.

Find out how you can support the development of VoIR by contacting: info@rangelandstewardship.org.

TEK Research

What TEK Is

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) encompasses the observations, practices and interpretations developed by pastoralist and Indigenous communities through long-term engagement with their landscapes. These knowledge systems offer detailed insights into pasture conditions, animal wellbeing, weather patterns and the ecological shifts that shape rangeland health.

As part of a broader global initiative to integrate community knowledge into the Global Rangelands Standard, the TEK Steppe Project is the first in a series of region-specific studies that will document and analyse TEK across rangeland countries. Supported by ISEAL and the Sustainable Fibre Alliance, the project draws on literature reviews, interviews, participatory workshops and comparative field studies.

Objectives

The TEK research initiative aims to:

  • identify locally relevant indicators of pasture health, animal wellbeing and ecosystem resilience
  • understand how TEK can work alongside scientific and data-driven monitoring
  • recognise and value the expertise of pastoralists and Indigenous knowledge holders
  • contribute to the preservation of knowledge that is at risk of erosion due to social, economic and environmental pressures
  • expand learning across rangeland countries through inclusive partnerships and community participation

Get Involved

The RSC is expanding TEK research across rangeland countries and welcomes participation from pastoralist communities, Indigenous organisations, researchers, governments, NGOs and global partners. Contributions may include sharing local knowledge or taking part in field activities and country-level studies.

For more information or to discuss participation, contact: info@rangelandstewardship.org.

Landscape Verification
Project ✓

Objective: The Landscape Verification Project aims to develop a comprehensive, robust and effective Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework using a landscape-based approach.

By collaborating with local and international partners as well as local government entities, the RSC is testing this approach to monitor environmental impact at the ecosystem level. This initiative seeks to provide valuable insights into the implementation of a holistic multi-stakeholder MEL framework for global rangeland ecosystems. It will enable the RSC to refine methodologies and establish a framework that meets global standards while taking into account landscape and jurisdiction-level factors.

The pilot phase began in the Eastern Steppes of Mongolia, and the inception report for this phase has been submitted. The project has now entered Phase 2, expanding into other geographic regions.

For more information about the Landscape Verification Project, contact us at info@rangelandstewardship.org.

Rangeland Research

Decent Work, Gender and Family Health

Objective: The Rangeland Research on Decent Work, Gender and Family Health aims to provide a critical foundation for developing a rangeland standard that is sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to the diverse needs of pastoral communities.

Key Focus Areas:

  • Decent Work – Evaluating the quality of work conditions for herders, including fair wages, safe working environments, and reasonable working hours.
  • Gender Dynamics – Understanding the roles and contributions of women in herding communities, their participation in decision-making processes, and their access to resources and opportunities.
  • Family Health – Assessing the impact of rangeland management on family health, including access to healthcare, nutrition, and overall well-being.

Research Methodology:

  • Consultation – Engaging with local communities through consultations to gather firsthand insights and experiences.
  • Surveys and Interviews – Conducting surveys and interviews with herders to collect data on work conditions, gender roles, and family health.
  • Field Observations – Observing daily activities and interactions within herding communities to understand the practical implications of rangeland management practices.

Findings and Implications: The research findings highlight the critical role of women in herding communities, often balancing multiple responsibilities including herding, household management, and caregiving. The insights gathered underscore the need for the rangeland standard to:

  • Ensure equitable work conditions for both men and women.
  • Promote gender inclusivity in decision-making processes.
  • Enhance access to healthcare and social services for families.

For a detailed analysis and complete findings, you can access the full report by contacting us.

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