The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists was officially launched on 2 December 2025 in Rome, Italy. Since the proclamation of this international year in 2018, more than 550 organizations from 102 countries have been actively organizing various activities. One of the key global priorities during this year has been addressing the challenges faced by herder women, identifying practical solutions, amplifying their voices to policymakers, and developing an international declaration.
As part of this effort, the Asian Women Pastoralists Forum is being held on 10–12 December 2025 in Gujarat, India.
For its contribution, the Green Gold Rangeland Research Center organizes Mongolia’s National Rangeland Forum annually, and in 2025 this forum included a special gathering of women herders. Representatives from 19 aimags participated and discussed what they are doing in their soums to support women herders. Based on the outcomes, two participants were selected to represent Mongolia at the Asian Women Pastoralists Forum:
J. Ijilseg, a herder from Ikhes bagh, Darvi soum, Govi-Altai aimag 
J. Oyunbileg, a herder from Shuranga bagh 4, Uyanga soum, Uvurkhangai aimag
This forum will discuss the challenges faced by women pastoralists across Asia and identify solutions. The key proposals will then be submitted to the Global Women Pastoralists Forum, which will take place in June 2025.
J. Oyunbileg has been actively working since 2023 to organize the herder households of Shuranga bagh into a Primary Herder Association structure. The bagh community has now been organized into one large association consisting of six smaller groups. Alongside managing her own livestock, she works to introduce Responsible Nomads sustainable rangeland management practices among herder households and carries out peer-learning assessments on how these practices are being adopted. 
Each of the six small groups has its own leader, and these leaders form the governing council of the Primary Herder Association. Only herders who reside permanently in the bagh are included, ensuring local ownership and long-term stewardship of pasturelands. Oyunbileg is participating in the forum to share how her community is working to protect rangeland resources and improve household incomes through collective action.