Kathmandu April 20, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Director General Pema Gyamtsho Release a press statment and said happya day of first yak on ocasssion of yak conference 2025, organizing conference of first time in Nepal, he said.
\n,.Today marks a historic and heartfelt moment for Nepal and for all those who call the mountains home. Nepal has made history as the first yak range country \u2013 or country in which yaks are found \u2013 in the Hindu Kush Himalaya to declare a national day dedicated to this magnificent species of long-haired domesticated cattle. This is a proud and timely recognition of the immense cultural, ecological, and economic value of yaks in our mountain regions.
\nIn 27 mountain districts across Nepal, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities \u2013 particularly Sherpa, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, and Limbu \u2013 have nurtured and protected yak herding traditions for generations. These communities are the backbone of mountain agropastoralism \u2013 which combines growing crops with raising livestock \u2013 their lives deeply intertwined with the rhythms of transhumance, the seasonal movement of livestock across mountain pastures. This unique system, recently inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, is not only vital for food and livelihood security, but also for the sustainable management of fragile alpine ecosystems.
\nYak: more than a mountain animal
\nYaks are a lifeline for the people of the mountains. They provide meat, milk, fibre, manure for fertiliser and draught power for agricultural tasks such as ploughing, in some of the world\u2019s most challenging terrains. They play a vital role in the high mountain communities \u2013 not just as a source of sustenance, but as a keystone of cultural identity and socio-economic resilience. Their hybrids have enabled access to wider resource areas across altitudinal gradients, helping agropastoralists adapt to their mountain environments. The \u2018folk taxonomy\u2019 \u2013 or the way people name and organise these generational hybrids is a fascinating expression of deep Indigenous knowledge \u2013 scientific, spiritual, and cultural all at once.
\nIn many respects, the yak is an iconic animal and can be described as both the ecological and cultural architect of the Himalaya. Yak herding is deeply embedded in the traditions, festivals, and spiritual practices of Himalayan communities. Conserving yak is not only about protecting an animal \u2013 it is about safeguarding mountain livelihoods, Indigenous knowledge, and fragile ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).
\nHowever, yak herding livelihoods are increasingly under pressure.
\nClimate change, shifting socio-economic patterns, and increasing restrictions on traditional mobility have placed immense pressure on yak herding systems. Rangelands are degrading. Genetic erosion is on the rise due to reduced cross-border exchange. And yet, the solutions are within reach \u2013 if we act together.
\nICIMOD\u2019s commitment to yak and rangeland resilience
\nAt ICIMOD, we are proud to support the revitalisation of yak-based agropastoralism. Our work includes:
\n\u2022Formation of the Nepal Yak Chauri Farmers\u2019 Federation, a national platform uniting district yak networks to amplify herder voices. We have established a similar federation in Bhutan and are planning new federations in Pakistan and India, building a regional network of yak herders across the HKH.
\n\u2022Supporting national partners to develop evidence-based policies and institutions for managing these lands to provide multiple benefits \u2013 livelihoods, carbon sequestration, water provisioning, biodiversity, and cultural tourism.
\n\u2022Conducting dietary research to understand the nutritional needs and improve productivity of yaks in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
\n\u2022Addressing the seasonal feed scarcity, piloting winter fodder development initiatives to improve year-round nutrition for yaks.
\n\u2022Mapping grazing areas and understanding pastoral mobility patterns, which are crucial for sustainable rangeland management and climate resilience.
\n\u2022Piloting rangeland restoration activities to enhance pasture quality, support biodiversity, and secure the long-term viability of yak herding systems.
\nOn this first National Yak Day, I call on all of us \u2013 policymakers, researchers, development partners, and mountain advocates to celebrate, support, and sustain yak herding in the HKH. Let us listen to the voices of herders, invest in their knowledge, restore their rangelands, and ensure that future generations continue to witness the majestic silhouette of a yak on a mountain ridge. ICIMOD stands committed to supporting our partner countries in promoting sustainable, climate-resilient agropastoralism in the high mountains of the HKH.
\nNepal has shown the way by dedicating a day to honour the yak. Let this be the beginning of a regional movement to recognise and protect the high-altitude heritage of the HKH.
\nLet Nepal\u2019s leadership in declaring this National Yak Day inspire the region. It is time to elevate the yak \u2013 a symbol of resilience, heritage, and harmony with nature \u2013 to its rightful place on the sustainable development agenda.
\nLet us not relegate the existence of this majestic animal and the beautiful landscape it occupies to photographs and paintings for future generations of the Himalayan communities. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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