India calls for community led restoration of grasslands in UNCCD COP17

26/08/26 | 4:57 pm | Bhupeन्द्र Yadav | grassland restoration | land degradation neutrality | pastoral communities | South-South Cooperation | sustainable grazing | UNCCD COP17

India called for community-led restoration of grasslands at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav said that successful rehabilitation begins with considering cattle herders not as mere beneficiaries but as protectors. He stressed the need to adopt a restoration model based on science, secure rights and community care.

Addressing the minister-level dialogue on the topic 'Restoration of grasslands and welfare of pastoral communities', Bhupendra Yadav said that grasslands play an important role in the livelihood of pastoral communities, biodiversity conservation and regulation of water and carbon cycles. He shared India's experiences in restoring grasslands and pastures through a combination of scientific planning and community participation.

Bhupendra Yadav said that by bringing together traditional knowledge and modern science, a restoration system can be developed which is ecologically suitable, economically viable and socially inclusive. He said that instead of limiting the participation of cattle herders to just being beneficiaries, they should be made custodians of natural resources.

The Union Minister said that India's grasslands are spread across different types of landscapes. These include areas ranging from the Himalayan grasslands and savannas of central India to the dry Thar and Kutch areas and the Shola forests of South India. These areas are the basis of livelihood for the country's large animal and human population.

Yadav said satellite-based desertification and land degradation atlases provide a scientific basis for mapping grasslands and planning their restoration. He said that recognition of grazing rights and community forest resource rights further strengthens the role of local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Example of 'Oran' community conservation of Rajasthan

Giving examples of traditional systems of community conservation in India, Bhupendra Yadav mentioned 'Oran' of Rajasthan. These are sacred groves, which are preserved by local communities because of their cultural and environmental importance. He said that about 25,000 community-protected sacred groves spread over an area of ​​about 0.6 million hectares across the country are an example of community care.

The Union Minister said that these sacred groves help in securing the land rights of cattle herders and also help in conserving important natural habitats. These also include the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard. He informed that many sacred groves are protected under legal provisions.

Yadav also mentioned India's efforts to restore open forest and grassland ecosystems. These include plans to rehabilitate cheetahs and expand them into grasslands such as Banni in Gujarat. He said that grasses with deep roots contribute significantly to carbon accumulation in the soil, increasing water percolation capacity and groundwater recharge.

Emphasis on conservation of 10 million hectares of grasslands

According to the Union Minister, India has about 10 million hectares of permanent pasture and animal grazing land. The deep roots of grasslands in these areas also help in soil carbon storage and water conservation as well as groundwater recharge.

Integrated models from landscape management to livelihoods

Bhupendra Yadav said India's approach integrates landscape management, watershed development, sustainable grazing, fodder development and livelihood support. Community participation is given a central role in this entire process.

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