Ø
Union
Environment Minister stresses the need for Science-based Conservation of Open
Natural Ecosystems alongside Forests
Ø
Healthy
Grasslands are indispensable for Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Climate
Resilience
·
First-ever
national guide: India
launched the Guide to
Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on
17 August 2026.
·
Focus
of the Guide:
Documents the diversity,
ecological importance and socio-economic value of India’s
grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, ravines and other open ecosystems.
·
Minister’s
message:
Environment Minister Bhupender
Yadav stressed that ecosystems should not be judged merely by
the absence of trees, as grasslands support unique biodiversity, livelihoods and climate resilience.
·
Traditional
knowledge recognised: The
Minister highlighted traditional Oran
and gauchar landscapes of Rajasthan,
where communities have historically protected grazing lands and recognised
their link with livestock and livelihoods.
·
Conservation
approach: Calls
for science-based
conservation of open natural ecosystems alongside forests,
rather than treating them as wastelands.
·
Key
ecosystems covered: The
Guide includes:
o Himalayan and Terai grasslands
o Thar and Banni landscapes
o Deccan savannas
o Rocky plateaus
o Ravines and scrublands
o Coastal ecosystems
o Desert landscapes
·
Thematic
coverage:
Includes dedicated sections on pastoralism,
fire ecology and carbon sequestration.
·
Ecological
role: ONEs
support biodiversity, soil
and water processes and substantial soil carbon storage.
·
Livelihood
importance: These
ecosystems sustain pastoral,
livestock-based and agricultural communities, including
traditional rangeland-dependent livelihoods.
·
Land
Degradation Neutrality:
Discussions at the COP17 event highlighted the role of grassland restoration in achieving
India’s LDN targets.
·
Need
for better science:
Participants emphasised improved scientific
knowledge, land-degradation assessment and landscape-level planning.
·
Collaborative
initiative: The
Guide was organised by ATREE
in collaboration with IUCN,
Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM),
ICFRE and SAC-ISRO, under the guidance of MoEF&CC.
·
Policy
significance: The
initiative seeks to mainstream grasslands and other ONEs into policies
concerning land
degradation, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable
livelihoods.
·
Global
significance: The
launch provides India an important platform to showcase its open ecosystems and
strengthen their representation in global discussions on land restoration, rangelands and Land
Degradation Neutrality.
·
Expected
use: The
Guide will serve as a reference for policymakers,
researchers, conservation practitioners, development agencies and local
communities working on conservation and sustainable management
of ONEs.
India
launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs)
of India at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia),
on 17.08.2026. The document highlights the rich diversity, ecological significance
and socio-economic importance of India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts and other
open natural ecosystems. It marks an important step towards strengthening their
conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
The
launch was preceded by a special video message from Bhupender Yadav, Minister for
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. He informed that grasslands,
scrublands and ravines have for too long been judged by the absence of trees, despite
these ecosystems sheltering species found nowhere else on earth and sustaining pastoral
communities. He said modern science reinforces the understanding of local communities
that healthy grasslands are indispensable for biodiversity, livelihoods and climate
resilience.
Mr.
Yadav said the Guide was close to his heart as he grew up in Ajmer, Rajasthan, surrounded
by grazing lands and desert scrub that were often described as “wasteland”. Recalling
the traditional Oran or gauchar landscapes protected by
villages, he said local communities understood that land, herds and their own lives
were closely interconnected.
The
Minister described the Guide as an important step towards recognising India’s open
natural ecosystems and stressed the need for their science-based conservation alongside
forests. He hoped it would inspire greater understanding and conservation of these
ecosystems.
The
Guide was launched at an official UNCCD COP17 side event under the aegis and guidance
of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC),
Government of India. The publication of the Guide and the event was organised by
the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in collaboration
with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Centre of Excellence
on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), Indian Council
of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), and Space Applications Centre (SAC),
ISRO. It brought together representatives from Government, scientific and research
institutions, international organisations and civil society.
Presentations
and discussions highlighted the diversity and distribution of India’s grasslands
and ONEs, their ecological importance, and the role of their restoration in achieving
India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. The need for stronger scientific
knowledge, improved land-degradation assessment and landscape-level planning was
also emphasised.
The
Guide brings together information on major Open Natural Ecosystems across India,
covering their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity,
and the communities and tribes associated with them. It also contains thematic sections
on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration. India’s ONEs range from Himalayan
and Terai grasslands to the Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus,
ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems and desert landscapes. These ecosystems
support diverse biodiversity, contribute to soil and water processes, store substantial
carbon in their soils, and sustain pastoral, livestock-based and agricultural livelihoods.
The
event also featured two fireside chats with national and international experts,
scientific institutions, civil society and community-focused organisations. Discussions
focused on grassland and dryland conservation and restoration, people-centred rangeland
governance, climate resilience, and the institutional, scientific and policy measures
needed for landscape-scale conservation and sustainable management of ONEs.
The
launch reaffirmed India’s commitment to a science-informed and landscape-based approach
to land restoration and sustainable land management. It underscored the need to
bring grasslands, rangelands and other open natural ecosystems into mainstream discussions
on land degradation, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable
livelihoods.
The
Guide is expected to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers,
conservation practitioners, development agencies and communities working towards
the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of India’s grasslands and
other ONEs. Its launch at COP17 also provides an important platform for India to
showcase its diverse open ecosystems and strengthen their representation in the
global discourse on land restoration, rangelands and Land Degradation Neutrality.