Author: Elena Diaz Vicuna
My name is Elena Diaz Vicuna. I am a PhD student at the University of Turin and, thanks to a 6-month Erasmus+ Traineeship, I had the opportunity to participate in the PATHWAYS project (Task 1.2), whose results I presented in a poster at the XII International Rangeland Pre-Congress Workshop.
The poster (see Figure 1) described the various relationships across different sustainability dimensions in European extensive farming systems, based on sustainability evaluations conducted with the PG tool.
Among them, we highlighted how combining the environmental ambitions with an economically and socially sustainable production seems easier in larger farms, although the general results supported the idea that a good environmental performance in the livestock sector is possible in both small and large farms with a low stocking density.
Additionally, we also reported how systems that integrate diverse land-use practices (e.g., agroforestry, semi-natural grazing, and diversified production) tend to support biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and cultural landscape preservation.
Thanks to this opportunity, I was also able to attend the full congress, which was held in Adelaide (AUS) from the 1st to the 6th of June 2025.
During the pre-congress workshop, titled: “Multifunctionality of livestock grazing systems, a lever to envision its possible futures”, and organised by INRAe, I was directly involved in theme-focused discussions with researchers from all over the world, involving representatives from FAO, INRAe, CIRAD and other major institutions (see Figure 2).
The workshop aimed to explore three key questions, outlined below, along with a summary of our responses to each:
Question 1: How can the different facets of multifunctionality be described and characterised? Which descriptors are most appropriate, and what is at stake in different situations or local contexts when considering multifunctionality to enhance the sustainability of livestock grazing systems?
It was highlighted that the concept of multifunctionality currently lacks a clear definition. A potential description could be a concept involving:
- The provision of commodities, usually a main one (food, fibre, leather, etc), and the direct economic benefits associated with it, in terms of market sales and trades.
- The fulfilment of sociocultural needs, in the form of religious and cultural connectivity, through traditions, arts, and crafts, but also nature/landscape connectivity.
- The inclusion of the multiple functions related to ecosystem services, from both positive and negative perspectives. These are most often considered in terms of supporting biodiversity or storing carbon to tackle climate change, but there is now a growing necessity to understand the direct (and indirect) beneficiaries of their impacts, and their extent. For this, it is also necessary to consider that the definition of “benefits” is also shaped by the point(s) of view of the stakeholders involved, in terms of culture, religion and value. Nonetheless, while the scenario is variable and volatile, and the reality of business and production is moving fast, the methodology for valuing benefits is yet slow to come.
We heard cases from Australia and the Tibetan plateau, each one with its historic, cultural and value system’s perspective which ultimately influences the way people manage the land and their willingness or attitude towards restoration and improved management.
So, when discussing multifunctionality, the questions should be: what’s in it for landholders? How can they be engaged, willing to invest money, effort, interest in their lands? Culture is clearly a determinant here, guiding landholders’ perspective, value systems, religion, etc. People need this cultural support to invest in the land combined with the social and economic benefits they perceive as linked to it.
Question 2: How can we elicit the relationships within and between the dimensions to build assessment frameworks and construct dynamic models, e.g. simulation models, to explore scenarios across the system and to identify trade-offs and synergies?
Rangelands across the globe have evolved through deeply diverse histories and relationships with local peoples, yet often face a common set of challenges. These multifunctional systems are increasingly stressed by a convergence of global drivers, including climate change, expanding land conversion for agriculture and urban development, and non-local governance – manifested through top-down regulations or externally imposed land-use changes. Further pressures arise from widespread misconceptions among the general public and consumer behavior, favoring low-cost products without awareness of the production systems or their ecological implications. Addressing these complexities requires an integrated, multi-scalar approach. Local policies tailored to the realities of land managers and producers are essential, while broader regional and global frameworks must also engage consumers and foster responsible demand. Public education plays a central role in shifting perceptions and fostering appreciation for the nuanced value of rangeland systems.
Within this context, the case of rangelands is particularly unique: for instance, in Namibia, the lack of policy understanding around transhumance and spatial mobility has led to governance missteps that fail to support pastoralists. Effective policymaking depends on a deep, contextual understanding of ecosystem dynamics across vast spatial and temporal scales – an understanding often missing in such top-down approaches. Equally important is the integration of indigenous and experiential knowledge, which resides not in quantifiable indicators or digital sensors but in lived experience stories, images, seasonal patterns, and embodied observations. Yet incorporating this kind of knowledge remains a challenge, especially given the lack of relevant, well-designed data collection systems for extensive grazing environments. Based on the many interventions made by researchers actively involved in pastoral contexts, such areas often present shared core features such as reliance on common lands, seasonal variability, and temporary land use, as concepts that transcend cultural and geographic boundaries. Moving forward requires drawing on the wisdom of the past while embracing new ways of thinking and adapting to the unpredictable futures that lie ahead.
Question 3: How do stakeholders perceive the key dimensions of multifunctionality that are critical for strengthening the future of livestock grazing systems, and how can public policies, innovations, and the roles of different actor groups support these systems?
The governance and perception of rangelands are shaped by a plurality of actors, including not only current landholders and producers, but also those with historical, cultural, or legal claims to the land, such as First Nation communities, states asserting control over former commons, and conservation entities that often disregard existing land uses and tenure systems. These overlapping claims raise critical questions about legitimacy, equity, and the distribution of power.
Historically framed as “wastelands,” rangelands have suffered from reductive perceptions that obscure their multifunctionality and productive value. This has implications for both policy and public understanding, highlighting the urgent need to educate diverse stakeholders, from producers to consumers, on the complexity and multifunctionality of these systems. Policy interventions must be strategically scaled: while producers engage more directly with local governance, consumers are typically influenced by national-level narratives. Aligning these policy levels could enhance both the visibility and value of rangeland-based production systems. At the market level, efforts to promote rangeland-derived products often face the paradox of consumer disconnect, products do not align with expectations due to limited understanding of their origins and uses. As such, consumers, too, must be considered key targets for education initiatives that support multifunctional land systems.
These three major topics emerged as the most significant take-home messages of the entire Congress.
The event brought together a remarkably diverse group of participants, across professional backgrounds, gender, geographical regions, and more. It was not limited to researchers; farmers, primary producers and pastoralists from around the world also had the opportunity to make their voices heard. Through workshops, networking sessions, and the mid-congress field tour, I had the opportunity to explore a new dimension of the research landscape, one shaped by committed individuals who strive to drive change from a perspective that is often overlooked yet holds remarkable potential to reshape the global climate narrative: the rangelands.