# IYRP January: What are rangelands? Who are pastoralists? Why do they matter? - Igshaan Samuels

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-range-podcast-1151383/iyrp-january-what-are-rangelands-who-are-pastoralists-why-do-they-matter-igshaan-samuels
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-range-podcast-1151383/iyrp-january-what-are-rangelands-who-are-pastoralists-why-do-they-matter-igshaan-samuels.md
Podcast: [The Art of Range Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-range-podcast-1151383)
Published: 2026-02-01T00:46:10+00:00
Episode link: https://soundcloud.com/art-of-range/aor_iyrp_01_igshaansamuels_v2
Audio file: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/2257162376-art-of-range-aor_iyrp_01_igshaansamuels_v2.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-art-of-range-podcast-1151383/episodes/iyrp-january-what-are-rangelands-who-are-pastoralists-why-do-they-matter-igshaan-samuels
Duration seconds: 783

## Resource

Why are rangelands and pastoralists vital to the culture, ecology, and economy of the world? Igshaan Samuels, a rangeland scientist in South Africa and co-chair of the IYRP Global Alliance, defines and describes these people and places. You will learn in this interview that pastoralists are the front-line custodians of over half of the world's land area! The International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026) aims to raise awareness of these lifeways, the oldest in human civilization. Visit the episode page at https://artofrange.com/episodes/iyrp-january-what-are-rangelands-who-are-pastoralists-why-do-they-matter-igshaan-samuels to experience pastoralists caring for rangelands and to learn how to share these important people and places with the people you interact with every day.

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## Transcript

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