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

The Guide is an important initiative to recognise the ecological, socio-economic and cultural importance of India’s grasslands and other naturally open landscapes, which have often been neglected or wrongly classified as wastelands.

What are Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs)?

Open Natural Ecosystems are naturally occurring landscapes characterised by relatively low tree cover. They include:

• Grasslands and savannas
• Deserts and semi-arid landscapes
• Scrublands
• Ravines
• Rocky plateaus
• Alpine and high-altitude pastures
• Other naturally open habitats

These ecosystems are not degraded forests. They have evolved naturally and support species and communities specifically adapted to open landscapes.

Key Ecosystems Covered in the Guide

The Guide documents the wide diversity of ONEs found across India, including:

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

It provides information on their geographical setting, ecological characteristics, biodiversity, associated communities and traditional land-use systems.

The Guide also discusses themes such as pastoralism, fire ecology, land degradation and carbon sequestration.

Correcting the ‘Wasteland’ Perception

One of the most important objectives of the Guide is to correct the misconception that landscapes without dense tree cover are unproductive or degraded.

Grasslands, scrublands, deserts and ravines are often categorised as “wastelands”, which may result in their conversion into plantations, agriculture or infrastructure projects.

However, these landscapes are distinct natural ecosystems with high ecological value.

Therefore, conservation and restoration policies should focus on maintaining the natural character of the ecosystem, rather than assuming that increasing tree cover is suitable everywhere.

Ecological Importance of ONEs

Grasslands and other open ecosystems perform several important ecological functions.

• Biodiversity Conservation: They provide habitats for specialised and threatened species such as the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, Indian Wolf and Blackbuck.
• Soil Conservation: Grass cover helps reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility.
• Water Regulation: Healthy grasslands improve water infiltration and regulate surface runoff.
• Carbon Sequestration: Grasslands store significant quantities of carbon, particularly in their soils and root systems.
• Climate Resilience: They help landscapes withstand drought, heat and other climate-related stresses.

Thus, protecting ONEs is important for both biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Livelihood and Social Significance

ONEs are closely linked with the livelihoods of pastoralists, livestock-rearing communities and farmers.

Many traditional communities depend on open grazing lands for:

• livestock fodder,
• seasonal migration,
• agriculture,
• collection of natural resources, and
• local livelihood security.

Traditional landscapes such as Orans and Gauchars are examples of community-managed grazing and common lands that reflect long-standing systems of sustainable resource use.

Conservation of ONEs therefore also requires the participation of local and pastoral communities.

Science-Based Restoration

The Guide calls for a more scientific approach to the conservation and restoration of open ecosystems.

It emphasises:

• improved mapping and documentation of ONEs,
• better assessment of land degradation,
• landscape-level planning,
• protection of native biodiversity,
• sustainable grazing management, and
• integration of traditional ecological knowledge.

This approach is important for supporting India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goals.

Institutional Collaboration

The Guide was developed under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with participation from organisations such as:

• Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• other scientific and conservation institutions.

Such institutional collaboration brings together ecological research, land management, conservation policy and community knowledge.

Global Significance

The launch of the Guide at UNCCD COP17 gives India an opportunity to highlight the importance of its grasslands and open ecosystems in global discussions on:

• land restoration,
• desertification,
• rangeland conservation,
• pastoral livelihoods, and
• Land Degradation Neutrality.

The issue is especially significant because the United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).

Further, 17 June is observed as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Theme for 2026:

“Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”

HPAS Relevance

For Himachal Pradesh, this issue is particularly important because the state has extensive temperate and alpine pastures that support Himalayan biodiversity and traditional pastoral communities such as the Gaddis and Gujjars.

These pastures play an important role in:

• livestock-based livelihoods,
• seasonal transhumance,
• conservation of Himalayan biodiversity,
• soil and water conservation, and
• climate resilience.

Therefore, sustainable management of grasslands is relevant not only from an environmental perspective but also for preserving the traditional pastoral economy and culture of Himachal Pradesh.

Major Challenges Facing India’s ONEs

Despite their importance, grasslands and open ecosystems face several pressures:

1. Misclassification as wastelands
2. Conversion to agriculture and other land uses
3. Infrastructure development and urbanisation
4. Mining and quarrying
5. Invasive alien species
6. Unsustainable or poorly regulated grazing in some areas
7. Fragmentation of wildlife habitats
8. Climate change and increasing drought
9. Weak ecological mapping and monitoring
10. Decline of traditional pastoral mobility and community-management systems

Way Forward

India’s Guide to ONEs should be followed by a broader conservation strategy based on the principle:

“Right ecosystem at the right place.”

India should focus on:

• preparing detailed national and state-level maps of ONEs;
• recognising ecologically valuable grasslands in land-use planning;
• avoiding indiscriminate conversion of natural grasslands;
• restoring ecosystems according to their natural ecological character;
• integrating pastoral communities into conservation decision-making;
• protecting traditional grazing corridors and common lands;
• using satellite and GIS technology for monitoring;
• controlling invasive species;
• promoting sustainable grazing systems; and
• integrating grassland conservation with India’s climate, biodiversity and LDN commitments.

Quick Facts for Prelims

• Guide: First-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India
  Launched: 17 August 2026
  Venue: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  Event: UNCCD COP17
  COP17 Dates: 17–28 August 2026
  COP17 Theme: Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.
  Convention: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
  MoEFCC: Nodal ministry associated with the Guide
  Important Partners: ATREE, IUCN, ICFRE, CoE-SLM, SAC-ISRO
  India’s Restoration Target: 26 million hectares by 2030
  Relevant SDG: SDG 15, particularly Target 15.3
  2026: International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
  Lead UN Agency for IYRP: FAO
  World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17 June
  2026 Theme: “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”