India Launches First-Ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs)

India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UNCCD, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on August 17, 2026. The document highlights the ecological and socio-economic importance of India's grasslands, savannas, deserts, and other open ecosystems, marking a key step toward their conservation and sustainable management.

India's First Guide to Grasslands Launch at COP17

Minister's Remarks

The launch featured a special video message from Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who noted that grasslands, scrublands, and ravines have long been dismissed simply for lacking trees, despite sheltering unique species and supporting pastoral communities. He shared that the Guide held personal significance for him, having grown up in Ajmer, Rajasthan, surrounded by grazing lands and desert scrub often labelled as "wasteland." He also referenced traditional Oran or gauchar landscapes, protected by villages for generations, reflecting local communities' understanding of the link between land, livestock, and livelihoods.

Organisers and Collaborators

The event was organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), in collaboration with IUCN, the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), ICFRE, and ISRO's Space Applications Centre, under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Key Discussion Points

Discussions during the event covered the ecological importance of grasslands, their role in achieving India's Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, and the need for better scientific assessment and landscape-level planning. Two fireside chats also brought together experts and community organisations to discuss dryland restoration, rangeland governance, and climate resilience.

What Does India's First Guide to Grasslands Contain?

Coverage and Content

The Guide compiles detailed information on India's major Open Natural Ecosystems, covering their geography, ecological features, biodiversity, and the communities and tribes connected to them. It also includes dedicated sections on pastoralism, fire ecology, and carbon sequestration.

Ecosystems Covered

India's ONEs span a wide range of landscapes:

1. Himalayan and Terai grasslands
2. Thar and Banni landscapes
3. Deccan savannas
4. Rocky plateaus and ravines
5. Scrublands, coastal ecosystems, and deserts

Ecological and Economic Role

These ecosystems support biodiversity, maintain soil and water systems, store carbon, and sustain pastoral and agricultural livelihoods across the country. The Guide is expected to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and conservation practitioners working on India's grasslands going forward.