Protecting the Land, Preserving Life
On June 17, the international community marks the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting the ecosystems on which billions of people around the world depend.
In 2026, the theme “Pastoral Pathways: Recognize, Respect, Restore” shines a spotlight on the vital role of grasslands and rangelands in food security, biodiversity, water cycles, and resilience to climate change.
Essential Ecosystems Under Pressure
Often overlooked, grasslands cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface and support the livelihoods of approximately two billion people worldwide. They also provide nearly 70% of the feed consumed by livestock globally.
Yet today, nearly half of the world’s grasslands are degraded or under threat. This situation jeopardizes not only the livelihoods of rural communities but also food security, access to water, biodiversity, and communities’ ability to adapt to climate change.
In response, the United Nations encourages greater investment in sustainable land and water management, ecosystem restoration, and support for the communities that depend on these landscapes.
Water, Land, and Environmental Justice
These concerns resonate deeply with the commitments of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM). Since adopting a corporate stand in 2008 recognizing water as a universal human right, the Congregation has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint.
This commitment reflects the principles of integral ecology, which emphasize the close relationship between caring for Creation, promoting social justice, and respecting human dignity.
Learning in Order to Act
To mark this international day, the SNJM invite everyone interested in these issues to explore the SNJM Water-Ecology Committee newsletter, published in 2024. Available in English, Spanish and French, it features videos, testimonies, and practical actions to help readers better understand the challenges surrounding water, ecosystems, and our shared responsibility toward the planet.
Protecting land, safeguarding water resources, and supporting the communities that depend on them are all meaningful ways to help build a more just, sustainable, and compassionate future. It is also time to recognize the value of grasslands, respect the peoples and communities who have long stewarded these landscapes, and restore these vital ecosystems so they can continue to sustain life for generations to come.