Structure and governance of the Hindu Kush Himalaya yak network

Organisers: ICIMOD, Lanzhou University, and IYRP

The consultation

At the Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries (SAADC 2025) conference in Vietnam, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Lanzhou University and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) Secretariat will co-host a dedicated session on the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) yak network. Aligned with the conference theme of “Circular animal production systems: solutions for sustainable development,” this session will offer a critical platform for yak herders, researchers, businesses, and policymakers to connect, exchange knowledge, and promote sustainable pastoralism. Furthermore, the session will contribute to global discussions by addressing two key IYRP themes: sustainable livestock production, and sustainable livestock consumption. Insights from this session are expected to inform IYRP messaging and amplify the voices and experiences of mountain pastoralists to a broader international audience.

ICIMOD played an active role in the 7th SAADC conference, in Pokhara, Nepal, in 2019. During the event, ICIMOD brought together yak herders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. A key outcome of the 2019 conference was a shared commitment by these countries to strengthen the regional yak network, originally launched during the 6th International yak conference in Xining, China, in 2018. Following the event, ICIMOD’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs) have made considerable progress in mobilising local and national yak cooperatives, associations and federations. Notable milestones include establishment of the Bhutan Yak Federation (2022), formation of the Nepal Yak Chauri Federation (2023), and ongoing efforts to organise national yak networks in India and Pakistan. In 2024, the Hongyuan Roadmap for an Asian Highland Pastoralist Alliance was initiated, aiming to formalise the HKH yak network in alignment with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026.

To build on this progress, ICIMOD, Lanzhou University, and IYRP propose a dedicated session at SAADC 2025.

This session will:

• bring together key stakeholders from across the HKH and highland Asia
• advance the formalisation of the HKH yak network and the Asian Highland Pastoralist Alliance
• lay the groundwork for official recognition of these networks during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026

The SAADC 2025 presents a unique opportunity to align the goals of yak herders, researchers, and policymakers with global efforts to promote sustainable livestock systems. The session will ensure that the voices of highland pastoralists are heard, and their needs addressed, contributing to inclusive and resilient animal agriculture in the region.

Objectives

• Develop collective governance for the HKH yak network to be launched at IYRP 2026
• Connect with organisations from the central and eastern Asia to form the Asian Highland Pastoralist Alliance
• Advocating for greater investment and attention to challenges of yak-based pastoralism
• Recommend key approaches to enhance sustainability of Asian highland pastoralism.

Expected outcomes

• Draft HKH yak network governance structure for IYRP 2026 launch
• Initiate dialogue on formation of the Asian Highland Pastoralists Alliance
• Identify key measures to improve highlanders’ livelihood, and food security

Background

The Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries (SAADC) conference was founded in 2007 to provide a platform for researchers, policymakers, livestock producers, and students to exchange knowledge and innovations in sustainable animal agriculture. Since its inception in Kunming, China, the biennial event has been hosted across Asia – including Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand  – drawing between 200 and 650 participants from Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas, and Europe.

SAADC 2025 will focus on “Circular animal production systems: solutions for sustainable development.” It aims to promote sustainable livestock practices that improve productivity, conserve resources, and reduce environmental impact. These themes support practices that enhance resource management, protect biodiversity, and adapt to environmental challenges – particularly in high-altitude regions like the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), where yak herding is central to livelihoods, and cultural heritage.

Yak herding sustains rural economies in the HKH region, which spans over 60% of the 4.3 million square km of rangelands. However, this traditional practice faces growing challenges from climate change, declining competitiveness and market access, limited institutional support and investment, and inadequate policy recognition at all levels. To address these gaps, ICIMOD and Lanzhou University have been working to build a regional yak network and promote collective action among pastoralist communities.

Key milestones along this journey:

• 2018: Concept of HKH yak network introduced at the 6th International yak conference, China
• 2019: Network development discussed at 7th SAADC, Nepal
• 2022–2024: National yak federations formed in Bhutan and Nepal; processes underway in India and Pakistan
• 2024: Hongyuan Roadmap developed for forming the Asian Highland Pastoralist Alliance