India has launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India, marking an important step towards recognising and conserving ecosystems that have often received less attention than forests. The guide was launched on 17 August 2026 during the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Grasslands, savannas, scrublands and other open ecosystems support a rich variety of plants and animals. They also provide important ecosystem services such as supporting livestock, conserving biodiversity, storing carbon and helping maintain ecological balance. However, these ecosystems are often wrongly treated as “wastelands” or degraded areas, leading to inappropriate land-use changes.
The new guide is significant because it provides a framework for identifying, understanding and managing India’s diverse open natural ecosystems. It can help policymakers, researchers, conservationists and local communities adopt ecosystem-specific conservation strategies instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why It Matters
India is facing increasing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change. Conserving grasslands and other open ecosystems can strengthen biodiversity protection while also supporting sustainable livelihoods, particularly in pastoral and rural communities.
The initiative also highlights an important principle of modern conservation: every ecosystem has its own ecological value. Conservation should therefore focus not only on increasing tree cover but also on protecting naturally treeless ecosystems where grasslands and open landscapes are essential to native species.
Exam Relevance
Prelims Focus:
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Grassland ecosystems and their ecological importance
- Land degradation and desertification
- Biodiversity conservation
- Ecosystem services
Mains Focus:
“Effective environmental conservation requires protecting ecosystems according to their ecological characteristics rather than viewing afforestation as the universal solution.”
India’s new guide to grasslands and other open natural ecosystems reflects a growing recognition that biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable land management must work together.