‘Wastelands’ No More: India Charts a Future for Its Grasslands
Since the colonial era, India has regarded its native scrublands and savannas as little more than degraded forest. Now, amid a growing recognition of rangelands globally, officials are working to map the nation's ailing grasslands, with a view to restoring these vital ecosystems. Read more on E360 →
Gulunche, a village in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, lies surrounded by sugarcane fields, grassy pastures, and short trees. Though the landscape may appear lush, it hides ecological vulnerabilities. Sugarcane demands significant water resources in this semi-arid region; introduced trees from South America are attempting to combat desertification and supply firewood; and the grassland has become overrun by a single species of plant that yields meager nutrition for wild herbivores and sheep.
At a nearby nursery, conservationist Mihir Godbole showcases tall green grasses planted along the edge of a trench. These indigenous grasses, which had vanished from the land for decades, are being revived by Godbole's organization, the Grasslands Trust. These grasses can thrive without irrigation or fertilizers, demonstrating that they are well-suited for the region.
The conservationist's efforts are a modest part of a larger plan to restore the grasslands in the area, which now forms part of a new conservation agenda in a nation more renowned for its tiger-filled forests than open savannas.
Such conservation initiatives have shown promising results. In Rajasthan's arid northwestern state, grassland restoration in the Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary has led to a resurgence of wildlife and birds. In Gujarat's Banni grasslands, pastoralists have helped eliminate invasive species and restored around 7,000 acres of land.
A nationwide mapping plan for India's grasslands is seen as a significant change in government thinking about these ecosystems, according to a researcher. The National Board for Wildlife of India directed government agencies to map the extent and biodiversity of these ecosystems across the country in April, with the findings eventually compiled in an "Atlas of Grasslands" to create a national policy framework to protect and manage these lands.
The shift in government focus is not limited to India. Internationally, attention to grasslands and other scrublands has increased in recent years. A key policy moment was the 2024 United Nations' Global Land Outlook report, which highlighted the potential of rangelands and pastoralism in enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity, and rural development.
This year marks the U.N. International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, aimed at recognizing rangelands as essential infrastructure and pastoralists as vital partners in their protection, management, and restoration.
In the United States' northern Great Plains, the National Audubon Society has restored over 20,000 acres of grassland through a program working with farmers and ranchers. Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative has protected around 12 million acres of grassland across the Central Asian steppe, bolstered the population of native saiga antelope, and reintroduced wild horses.
Since 2021, China has annually restored an average of about 7.7 million acres of degraded grassland. Savannas, steppes, grasslands, and scrublands are open lands characterized by grass or shrubby vegetation and sparse tree cover. These ecosystems, though they may seem barren, possess extensive root systems that stabilize soil, improve rainwater infiltration, and store carbon over the long term.
They also serve as vital habitats for migratory birds, native bees and butterflies, and diverse wildlife. According to the UNEP, these landscapes cover more than half of Earth's surface, support 2 billion people, provide 16 percent of global food production, and store up to 30 percent of terrestrial carbon. Despite their significance, such landscapes have not been prioritized in policy or investment until recently, says Susan Gardner, director of the ecosystems division at the UNEP.
Much of this landscape has already been lost to agriculture, industry, and invasive species. In the U.S., more than half of its historic prairies have been lost, primarily due to industrial agriculture. In India, grasslands have shrunk from roughly 110 million acres in 1880 to 60 million in 2010.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
