On October 20 and 21, 2026 , the CDI of the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Cuenca will host the II Living Transhumance Meeting , a space for knowledge, reflection and exchange on the importance of transhumance as historical, cultural and natural heritage.
This edition takes on special relevance as it coincides with the FAO's declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Grasslands and Pastoralists .
The meeting will address, in two sessions, the value of transhumance, its role in the conservation of heritage and territories, the opportunities for rural development and the current situation of transhumant livestock farming, as well as its main difficulties and future challenges.
The program will feature experts, researchers, professionals, and transhumant livestock farmers from various autonomous communities. The sessions will conclude with roundtables open to the exchange of experiences and dialogue with the public.
📍 CDI of the Menéndez Pelayo International University, C/ Palafox, nº 1 · 16001 Cuenca
📅 October 20 and 21, 2026
🎟️ Free entry until full capacity is reached.
Program:
OCTOBER 20TH, TUESDAY.
16.15. OPENING. Joaquín Cascón López. Head of the UIMP CDI in Cuenca and César Sánchez Menéndez. Vice-Rector of Culture, Sports and Social Commitment. University of Castilla-La Mancha.
16:30-20:30. FIRST SESSION. TRANSHUMANCE, A TREASURE TO VALUE, PRESERVE AND ENJOY.
What Spain owes to transhumance. José Antonio Gil Naharro. Ministry of Sustainable Development. Cuenca.
The discovery of transhumance by young people. Carmen Vázquez Varela. University of Castilla-La Mancha. Cuenca.
Success stories in the recreational and cultural use of land in territories with a pastoral tradition. Tirso Moreno Ortega. Vestal Ethnography. Cuenca.
Research and technology transfer related to livestock trails and livestock movement. Roberto Pascual Rico. Researcher. Miguel Hernández University. Orihuela (Alicante).
Rural endogenous development initiatives. and Víctor Alcocer Navalón. Manager of PRODESE. Villalba de la Sierra (Cuenca).
Opportunities and public support in the promotion of activities linked to transhumance.
Virgilio Antón Antón. Delegate for Demographic Challenge. Cuenca.
There is more gold than meets the eye. Vidal Montoro Angulo. University of Castilla-La Mancha. Ciudad Real.
ROUND TABLE: All speakers participate. Moderated by: Vidal Montoro Angulo.
OCTOBER 21, WEDNESDAY.
10:00-14:00. SECOND SESSION. CURRENT STATE OF TRANSHUMANCE: DIFFICULTIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
The ingredients for the round trip. Manuel Cardo Montes, cattle farmer, Vega del Codorno (Cuenca) and Mestanza (Ciudad Real), and Carlos Marín Guzmán, cattle farmer, Salvacañete (Cuenca) and Requena (Valencia).
The countless stones found along the route with livestock through these autonomous communities. Alberto Rustarazo Pérez, livestock farmer, Orea (Guadalajara) and La Carolina (Jaén), and Tomás González Rubio, livestock farmer, Frías (Teruel) and Vilches (Jaén).
The richness of biodiversity linked to livestock movement. Francisco López Jiménez. Veterinarian and livestock farmer. Beas de Segura (Jaén).
Short-distance displacement for the use of crop residues. Felipe Molina Pérez. Biologist, livestock farmer and president of the National Association of Extensive Livestock Farmers (ANGGEX). Córdoba.
Actions and uses of livestock trails. Susana Zapata López. Ministry of Sustainable Development. Cuenca.
Livestock health: Risk or benefit? Ángel Gómez Martín. Researcher. CEU Cardenal Herrera University. Valencia.
We've run up against the Administration. Lydia Benítez García. Director General of Agricultural Production. Toledo.
The essential management of territories of high environmental value as a key to the future. María del Carmen García Moreno. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Regional Government of Andalusia. Cazorla (Jaén).
ROUND TABLE: Presentations by all speakers. Moderated by: María del Carmen García Moreno