With 2026 declared the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, press cartoons are taking centre stage to give a voice (and a stroke of the pen) to those who roam the drylands. Here’s a look back at a marathon selection that has mobilised artists from all over the world.
A global success for a vital cause
Who said pastoralism was a niche subject? Certainly not the 272 artists from 53 countries who responded to the call of the Désertif’actions summit. With 486 drawings received, this fourth international competition literally broke all records, proving that the resilience of territories and the mobility of herds are subjects that inspire from Iran (64 entries) to China (21), via Brazil, Indonesia and France.
The Jury in the arena: four hours of passionate debate
From left to right : Isabelle Teysseidre, Manuel Lapers, Jean-Michel Renault, Pierre Balhouet, Alain Plombat, Adeline Derkimba, Patrice Burger
On 11 December, the atmosphere was electric at the Maison des Relations Internationales in Montpellier. A jury of experts — including leading cartoonists (Jean-Michel Renault, MAN, Pierre Ballhouet), journalists and pastoralism specialists — had to make a decision.
“It’s a tremendous success in terms of participation,” said jury president J.M. Renault.
But the task was difficult. The theme — “Pastoralism, mobility at the heart of balance” — was demanding. Between biting humour, satire and social criticism, it took five rounds of judging to narrow down nearly 500 entries to a final selection of 30 exceptional drawings.
Why press cartoons?
For Patrice Burger, president of CARI and initiator of the competition, the challenge is clear: to transform complex subjects (climate, biodiversity, land) into powerful images that speak to everyone. It is a “key to communicating with the widest possible audience” and a vibrant tribute to the creativity of artists.
See you in Djerba for the final showdown
The suspense remains! While the 30 best drawings will be publicly exhibited at the Désertif’actions summit in Tunisia, the identities of the two grand prize winners will not be revealed until 27 March 2026.
The prize for the winners:
- 1st Prize: €1,500 and an invitation to Djerba for the event.
- Second Prize: €750.
One thing is certain: thanks to these artists, the cause of pastoral peoples will never again be invisible.
The 30 selected drawings
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