SCR 123: Highlighting the Role of Rangelands in Idaho (2026)

Summary: Recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and highlights the importance of sustainable rangeland management and conservation policies that support pastoral communities and healthy ecosystems.

ICL’s Position: Support

Current Bill Status: 10th Order

Issue Areas: Rangelands, Natural Resources, Conservation

Senate Concurrent Resolution 123, introduced by Sen. Van Burtenshaw (R–District 31), recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. The resolution defines pastoralists as individuals whose livelihoods depend on managing livestock on rangelands.

It highlights the importance of national policies that support the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in rangeland ecosystems and emphasizes the need for coordinated approaches to managing grazing lands, wildlife habitat, water sources, livestock movement, land use planning, and ecosystem resilience.

Idaho’s sagebrush steppe and rangelands face growing challenges, including invasive annual grasses, increasing wildfire frequency and severity, and development pressures. These threats underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to maintain and restore rangeland ecosystems.

ICL supports efforts that recognize the ecological and cultural importance of rangelands and encourage cooperation among land managers, pastoralists, and public agencies to sustain these landscapes for future generations.