Why in News?
India on 17 August 2026 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.
The guide seeks to highlight the ecological, economic and social importance of India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts and other open ecosystems and promote their conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
Key Points
The guide addresses the long-standing perception that grasslands, scrublands and ravines are merely landscapes lacking trees. It highlights that these ecosystems support distinct biodiversity, important ecological processes and the livelihoods of pastoral and other local communities.
India’s Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) include Himalayan and Terai grasslands, the Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems and desert landscapes.
The publication provides information on the geographical distribution, ecological characteristics, biodiversity and communities and tribes associated with major open natural ecosystems across India.
These ecosystems support a wide variety of species and contribute to important soil and water processes. They also store substantial amounts of carbon in their soils, making their conservation relevant to climate-change mitigation.
India’s ONEs also sustain pastoralism, livestock-based livelihoods and agriculture, demonstrating their importance not only for biodiversity but also for rural economies and local communities.
The guide contains dedicated sections on pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration, thereby bringing together both the ecological functions and human dimensions of open natural ecosystems.
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