Easter, Pastoralism and Living Landscapes: What 2026 Can Teach Us About Shepherding in Europe, Part 1

As Easter approaches in the United Nations’ International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, shepherding in Europe deserves renewed attention. From the blessing of a shepherd’s staff at Berlin’s Green Week to transhumance routes in Abruzzo and the legacy of the LIFE project LIFEstockProtect, pastoralism emerges as a living practice that connects biodiversity, cultural heritage and the everyday work of caring for animals and landscapes.

A Global Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists

The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, drawing global attention to landscapes that are often overlooked despite their immense importance. According to FAO, rangelands cover about half of the world’s land surface and are home to unique biodiversity as well as pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Pastoralists also contribute to food security and maintain valuable cultural and practical knowledge that has shaped landscapes for generations.

This makes 2026 more than a commemorative year. It is an invitation to look more closely at the people who guide herds, care for animals, maintain open landscapes and pass on knowledge that remains highly relevant in a time of biodiversity loss, land degradation and growing conflict over land use.

Easter as a Season of Renewal and Lambing

As Easter approaches, pastoralism gains an additional layer of meaning. Lambs are among the most familiar symbols of spring, but behind that image lies demanding daily work. The LIFEstockProtect project describes shepherding as a profession that includes caring for animal health, guiding herds to grazing areas, building and repairing fences, protecting livestock from danger and helping during the lambing season.

Seen in this light, Easter is not only a symbolic moment for talking about sheep and shepherds. It is also a fitting seasonal occasion to recognise the real labour, responsibility and knowledge that define pastoral life. Spring is a time of birth, movement and close attention exactly the kind of work shepherds carry out every day in the field.

From Green Week to a Travelling Shepherd’s Staff

At the beginning of 2026, this living heritage became visible in a striking public gesture. A shepherd’s staff was blessed at Berlin’s Green Week in January and then sent on a journey through the Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. The staff is described not only as a symbol, but also as an everyday tool of shepherds used for guidance, support and practical flock management.

Green Week has also served as a stage for the European Wilderness Society and its project work. In the last years LIFEstockProtect presented at the fair as a place where farming organisations, conservationists and scientists could engage with practical solutions for livestock protection and sustainable agriculture.