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invited to tell their stories. IYRP is an opportunity to connect with people beyond the bush, including city folk and decision-makers. If you know a story that could help city folk and decision-makers better understand the rangelands, please contact your local IYRP representative: • WA – Debbie Dowden - debandash@bigpond.com • NSW – Gus Whyte - wyndham3@bigpond.com or • NSW – Danielle Connolly - danielle@westernland- carensw.com.au • QLD – Maree Tulley - maree.tulley@gmail.com • NT – Stacey Holzapfel - Stacey.Holzapfel@nt.gov.au • Other states – Dana Kelly - iyrp.australianchair@ gmail.com A New Narrative for the Rangelands Australia’s rangelands cover more than 75 per cent of the continent. As home to vast cattle, sheep and goat enterprises, rangelands provide some of the greatest opportunities for maintaining healthy landscapes. The IYRP 2026 is about telling this story. It is about showing that pastoralism is not just about running stock, but about people applying science and innova- tion to work with animals, soils and plants as a whole system. Australian producers are leading the way. Pastoralists are not only food producers. They are in- novators and custodians - masters at working with un- certainty and managing the land while feeding the world. Please follow IYRP Australia, and share our posts on your social media. Dana Kelly , Chair of Australia IYRP, is a retired pas- toralist, internationally recognised for her rangelands passion and fostering collaborations. Cindy Eiritz is so- cial media manager of IYRP Australia, who loves shar- ing knowledge, amplifying voices and ideas from rural communities.
Science and lived knowledge from people who live on the land, provide the evidence that the IYRP will spotlight. Technology in Rangelands Management One of the strongest messages for the International Year is that livestock management is quite sophisticated, using high-tech innovations. Australian producers are among the most adaptive innovators in the world. Cell grazing and holistic management are re- cognised as practical technologies for managing stock. Virtual fencing, GPS ear tags, digital collars and grazing Apps help producer spread grazing pressure evenly, allow pastures to recover, and match stock movements with rainfall and forage availability. Other technology is becoming part of daily oper- ations, such as drones, satellites and soil spectros- copy provide large-scale data on biomass and land condition. Remote and smart monitoring systems make water use more efficient. These innovations show where science and technology are used is firmly in the hands of people on the ground. Innovation through People and Partnerships Behind every new technology or management sys- tem are the people who test, adapt, and improve it. Across the rangelands, innovation is often collabora- tive — producers working with researchers and tech developers, to share what works. Peer networks, producer groups, and local field days are vital platforms for learning, trialling ideas, and building confidence in practical innovation. IYRP will highlight successful partnerships to illustrate how knowledge flows from paddock to policy, keeping pastoral communities vibrant. Sharing Australia’s Stories In Australia, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists is a grass roots movement, run predomin- antly by producers/pastoralists. Sharing stories will highlight the diversity and importance of the range- lands – to raise awareness. Stories will be told through social media, in classrooms, and at community events to celebrate the good things happening in the bush. Australian pastoralists /producers/graziers are
IYRP 2026
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RANGELANDS AND PASTORALISTS
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