In News:

India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The guide seeks to improve recognition and conservation of India’s open natural ecosystems, which include grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, ravines, rocky plateaus and other naturally open landscapes. It documents their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity and associated communities.

Key Ecosystems Covered

The guide covers diverse landscapes such as:

• Himalayan and Terai grasslands
• Thar and Banni landscapes
• Deccan savannas
• Aravalli scrublands
• Yamuna–Chambal ravines
• Western Ghats rocky plateaus
• Central Nicobar grasslands
• Tamil Nadu’s Theri Kaadu

Why are ONEs Important?

A major focus of the guide is to challenge the perception that areas with little or no tree cover are “wastelands.” Grasslands, scrublands, savannas and ravines are distinct naturally occurring ecosystems, not degraded forests. They support biodiversity, regulate soil and water processes, contribute to carbon sequestration and climate resilience, and sustain pastoral and livestock-based livelihoods.

They provide habitat to species such as the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, Indian Wolf and Blackbuck. Traditional community-managed landscapes such as Orans and Gauchars also demonstrate their socio-economic importance.

Conservation & Restoration

The guide advocates science-based restoration, improved assessment of land degradation and landscape-level planning rather than indiscriminate tree plantation. This is particularly relevant to India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) commitments under the UNCCD.

The initiative was developed under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with organisations including ATREE and IUCN.