Mountain Alliance for Pastoralists & Minority People
Facilitated by:
The Grassroots Institute aims to undertake innovative research, strengthen human development initiatives and take appropriate grassroots field action to empower marginalized communities and Indigenous people to bring about environmental and social consciousness as a societal change agent. The Grassroots Institute envisions effecting positive change through participation in a world in which local communities and First Nations who have been marginalized by environmental degradation, poverty, conflict and other forms of injustice gain control over their natural and biocultural resources, lives and livelihoods, and the policy decisions that affect their lives directly or indirectly. The Grassroots Institute was founded in 2005 in India and over these many years the Institute organized lot many IFTs (intensive field trainings) and several Summer Field Schools for the students. These Summer Field Schools offered high-quality interdisciplinary practical education giving grassroots exposure to the students. The Summer Field Schools were designed to teach students about critical/local problems and train them to do field work, field research and community development. Field exercises and exposure complimented classroom lectures and helped students develop skills needed for correlating the theory with the practice. The Grassroots Institute is recently shifted and established in Canada. In Canada, the Institute considers field-based programs in Alberta and British Columbia with a campaign under evolution to be operated worldwide. The Grassroots Institute is strategically evolving partnerships in South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
A total of 132 participants registered for the webinar on Zoom.
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A key preparatory meeting of the organizing group was held in Librazhd to initiate the organization of an important event dedicated to livestock farmers and pastoralism, with the ambition of developing it into a regional platform for cooperation across the Western Balkans.
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The Fourth Albanian Rural Parliament, held in the municipalities of Lezhë and Mirditë, emerged as a landmark national and regional event under the theme “Europe in Rural Albania.” This year’s gathering not only addressed Albania’s rural development priorities but also positioned the country within a broader Western Balkans movement aimed at revitalizing pastoralism and strengthening cross-border cooperation.
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On March 16, 2026, two working meetings were held at the Municipality of Pukë as part of the ongoing efforts for the organization of WBRG. As part of the ongoing efforts for the organization of WBRG, on March 16, 2026, two working meetings were held at the Municipality of Pukë.
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There were 8 participants of this Revision Planning Meeting held on Google Meet held on 22 November 2025. Some participants could not join due to excessive rains. We received prior intimation from Prof. Luigj Turmalaj about the excessive rains and his inability to join.
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Given the global momentum under IYRP 2026, the shared challenges and rich heritage of pastoralism in the Western Balkans, a Regional Gathering of Pastoralists offers a strategic opportunity to strengthen pastoralist resilience, voice, and sustainability. It can catalyze regional cooperation, inform policy, mobilize funding, and help ensure that pastoralists are recognized as key partners in sustainable land‐use, grazing resources management, ecosystem conservation, climate adaptation, and cultural heritage protection.
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As part of the preparatory activities for Western Balkan Regional Gathering of Pastoralists | 25-26 April 2026, we are organizing Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Rangelands, Transhumance and Pastoralism (1 day) with the partnership and leadership of local organizations in Western Balkan countries/ zones.
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