India puts grasslands on conservation map with first guide to open natural ecosystems
first guide to open natural ecosystems. (Image courtesy: PIB)
New Delhi: India has launched its first-ever national guide on grasslands and other open natural ecosystems, highlighting their role in biodiversity, livelihoods, climate resilience and land restoration. The guide was unveiled at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Monday.
The guide to grasslands and other open natural ecosystems (ONEs) of India brings together information on the country’s grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, ravines, rocky plateaus and other open landscapes. It aims to improve understanding of these ecosystems and strengthen their conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
The launch was preceded by a video message from environment minister, Bhupender Yadav. He said grasslands, scrublands and ravines have often been judged by the absence of trees, despite supporting unique wildlife and communities whose livelihoods depend on them.
Traditional conservation highlighted
Yadav recalled growing up in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where grazing lands and desert scrub were often described as “wasteland”. He referred to traditional Oran and gauchar landscapes protected by villages, saying local communities had long understood the close link between land, livestock and livelihoods.
The minister said open natural ecosystems need science-based conservation alongside forests. He described the guide as an important step towards recognizing their ecological importance and hoped it would encourage greater awareness and protection.
What India’s open natural ecosystems include
India’s ONEs cover a wide range of landscapes, from Himalayan and Terai grasslands to the Thar Desert and Banni region. They also include Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems and other desert landscapes.
These ecosystems support rich biodiversity and perform important ecological functions. They contribute to soil and water processes, store significant amounts of carbon in their soils and support pastoral, livestock-based and agricultural livelihoods.
The publication provides details about the geography, ecology and biodiversity of major open natural ecosystems across India. It also looks at the communities and tribes associated with these landscapes and includes sections on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration.
Grassland restoration linked with land degradation targets
The guide was launched at an official UNCCD COP17 side event held under the aegis and guidance of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The event was organized by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), along with IUCN, the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management, ICFRE and ISRO’s Space Applications Centre.
Representatives from the government, scientific and research institutions, international organizations and civil society took part in the event. Discussions focused on the diversity of India’s ONEs, their ecological value and the role of their restoration in meeting India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.
Experts also highlighted the need for stronger scientific knowledge, better assessment of land degradation and landscape-level planning. Two fireside discussions examined grassland and dryland conservation, community-centred rangeland governance, climate resilience and the policy measures needed for sustainable management.
India pushes for greater recognition of open ecosystems
The launch reinforces India’s approach towards science-based and landscape-level land restoration. It also seeks to bring grasslands, rangelands and other open ecosystems into wider discussions on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, land degradation and sustainable livelihoods.
The guide is expected to serve as a resource for policymakers, researchers, conservation practitioners, development agencies and local communities. Its launch at COP17 also gives India an opportunity to showcase its diverse open ecosystems and strengthen their representation in the global debate on land restoration, rangelands and land degradation neutrality.
